παραπορεύομαι (paraporeuomai)
paraporeuomai
to pass by/through
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb paraporeuomai describes the physical act of going past or passing by something. It combines a prefix indicating position beside with a root meaning to journey or travel. This creates a specific image of movement that does not stop at the object but continues along its side.
In the New Testament, this word appears in only five verses, primarily within the Gospels of Mark and Matthew. It captures moments where people move through crowds or walk past locations without engaging them directly. For instance, it describes Jesus passing by the sea (Mark 2:23) or moving through Galilee (Mark 9:30), emphasizing the motion of transit rather than a destination.
The word also appears in accounts of mockery during the crucifixion, where those passing by shake their heads (Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:29). Here, the physical act of walking past underscores the social distance and rejection felt by Jesus. The term highlights the simple reality of movement through space, often contrasting those who linger with those who merely pass by.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word paraporeuomai paints a picture of movement that continues without stopping. It describes the simple act of passing by something or someone, often implying a lack of engagement with what is left behind. In the Gospels, this term captures both Jesus’ quiet journeys through Galilee and the harsh indifference of crowds during His crucifixion.
For your faith life, this word invites reflection on where you place your attention. Do you linger in the presence of Christ, or do you merely pass by? The text reminds us that physical proximity does not equal spiritual connection. Even when surrounded by people, one can feel isolated if hearts are turned away.
Yet there is comfort in knowing that Jesus’ journey was purposeful. He moved through spaces not to ignore them, but to fulfill His mission. We are invited to walk with Him, staying close enough to hear His voice and see His heart, rather than just walking alongside Him in routine.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- passing by3×
- they were passing through1×
- passing through1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παραπορευόμενοι3×
- παρεπορεύοντο1×
- παραπορεύεσθαι1×
Key Verses
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Mark 9:30
They went out from there and passed through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know it,
This verse highlights Jesus’ deliberate choice to move through Galilee in secret, showing that His journey was guided by divine timing rather than public acclaim.
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Matthew 27:39
Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads
Here the act of passing by becomes an act of rejection, as the crowd’s movement away from Jesus underscores their spiritual blindness and mockery.
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Mark 15:29
Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,
The repetition of this phrase during the crucifixion emphasizes the depth of Jesus’ isolation, as those walking past offered no help but further scorn.