χωρέω (chōreō)

The verb chōreō describes the physical act of making room, whether by yielding space for another to enter or by advancing forward into an open area. In the Gospels, it captures moments where movement creates possibility: Jesus tells his followers that his word has no place to advance in them (John 8:37), and Mark notes that a crowd could not even enter a house because there was no room left (Mark 2:2). The word implies a tangible lack of capacity that must be resolved.

Its meaning extends beyond physical space into the realm of reception and understanding. When used metaphorically, it suggests opening one’s heart or mind to receive something new, as seen when Paul asks the Corinthians to make room for him in their affections (2 Corinthians 7:2). It also appears in contexts of practical capacity, such as describing the large stone jars at Cana that held significant amounts of water (John 2:6), highlighting the word’s root sense of holding or containing.

Derived from the base for "space" or "room," chōreō emphasizes the condition of availability. It is not merely about size, but about the functional ability to accommodate what is coming. Translators often render it as "make room," "have no place," or simply "hold," depending on whether the context involves people moving, words being heard, or vessels being filled.