πεζῇ (pezē)
pezē
on foot
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb pezē simply means "on foot" or "by land." It serves as a direct contrast to traveling by sea or by riding an animal. In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, both in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark.
It is used to describe Jesus’ movement after feeding the five thousand. He sent the crowds away and then went up on a mountain to pray alone. The texts note that he traveled pezē, meaning he walked along the shore rather than taking a boat. This detail highlights his physical presence and the ordinary nature of his journey.
The word comes from the root for "foot." Its use here is straightforward and literal. It does not carry deep symbolic weight but grounds the narrative in physical reality. Readers see Jesus moving through the world in a human way, walking where others might sail.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pezē simply means walking on foot. It appears in the New Testament only twice, both describing movement by land rather than by boat or animal. In these accounts, Jesus and the crowds travel along the shore after significant events. This detail grounds the story in physical reality, showing Jesus moving through the world in a human way.
For your faith, this reminds us that God is present in ordinary moments. Jesus did not always take the fastest route; He walked among people, sharing their pace and path. When life feels heavy or uncertain, remember that He walks with you step by step. His presence is not distant but near, moving alongside you in daily life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- on foot2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πεζῇ2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 14:13
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.
This verse shows the crowd following Jesus on foot after He withdrew to pray, highlighting their desire to stay close despite His need for solitude.
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Mark 6:33
They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him.
Here, many people ran ahead on foot to meet Jesus, demonstrating urgent devotion and recognition of His presence before He even arrived.