*WALK
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BY WILLIE WONG
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology – Walk
Walk
The verb “walk” in its literal sense of going along or moving about on foot at a moderate pace is found numerous times in the Gospels. However, this same verb is more often used throughout the Old Testament and the epistles of the New Testament in a metaphorical way. In this sense it means to follow a certain course of life or to conduct oneself in a certain way. Many times the verb translated “walk” is present tense in the Greek of the New Testament, which means that the writer is referring to a continued mode of conduct or behavior. In fact, the infinitive “to walk” can be translated, in a Hebraistic way, “to live.” Such a use is common in the Old Testament and the writings of Paul and of John, but is not found in those of Peter or James.
Throughout the New Testament, the verb “walk” is qualified in various ways to ensure that the reader understands what correct Christian living or conduct is and what it is not. Christians are not to continue to walk in darkness ( 1 John 1:6 ; 2:11 ). What John means is that Christians should not continue living in ignorance of divine truth, an ignorance that is associated with sin and its evil results. Along with this, their walk should not be characterized by craftiness and cunning ( 2 Cor 4:2 ) or by such sins as immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, sins, the writer says, which used to characterize their continual living before salvation ( Col 3:5-7 ).
To the contrary, Christian living should be characterized by newness of life ( Rom 6:4 ), good works ( Eph 2:10 ), love ( Eph 5:2 ), wisdom ( Col 4:5 ), truth (3 John 4), and obedience to the light received from the apostle ( 1 Thess 4:10 ).
Wesley L. Gerig
1.) Gen 17:1, “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him,“I AM God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.”
God was the first One who uses the word “walk” in a figurative sense, not to move along on foot; and God spoke to Abraham.
The covenant in its spiritual aspect. “The Lord,” the Author of existence and performance. “God Almighty,” El Shaddai. “El,” the Lasting, Eternal, Absolute. “Shaddai,” the Irresistible, Unchangeable, Destructive Isaiah 13:6; Joel 1:15. This term indicates on the one hand his judicial, punitive power, and points to his holiness; and on the other hand, his alterative, reconstructive power, and points to his providence. The complex name, therefore, describes God as the Holy Spirit, who works in the development of things, especially in the punishment and eradication of sin and its works, and in the regeneration and defense of holiness. It refers to potence, and potence combined with promise affords ground for faith.
Walk before me and be perfect. – In the institution of the covenant we had “fear not” – an encouragement to the daunted or the doubting. In its confirmation we have a command, a rule of life, prescribed. This is in keeping with the circumstances of Abraham. For, first, he has now faith in the Lord, which is the fruit of the new man in him prevailing over the old, and is therefore competent to obey; and, next, the Lord in whom he believes is God Almighty, the all-efficient Spirit, who worketh both to will and to do in the destroying of sin and building up of holiness. “Walk” – act in the most comprehensive sense of the term; “before me,” and not behind, as one conscious of doing what is, not displeasing, but pleasing to me; “and be perfect,” not sincere merely, unless in the primitive sense of duty, but complete, upright, holy, not only in walk, which is provided for in the previous clause, but in heart, the spring of action.”
2.) Exo 16:4, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from Heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, so that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.”
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
- I will rain bread from heaven for you.—This first announcement at once suggests that the supply is to be supernatural. “Bread from heaven” was not simply “food out of the air” (Rosenmüller), but a celestial, that is, a Divine supply of their daily needs.
A certain rate every day.—Heb., a day’s meal each day—sufficient, that is, for the wants of himself and family for a day.
That I may prove them.—Human life is a probation. God proves and tries those most whom He takes to Himself for His “peculiar people,” and the trial is often by means of positive precepts, which are especially
Calculated to test the presence or absence of a spirit of humble and unquestioning obedience. Our first parents were tested by a positive precept in Paradise; the family of Abraham were tested by a positive precept—circumcision on the eighth day; the Israelites were tested, both in the wilderness and afterwards throughout their career as a nation, by a number of positive precepts, whereof this concerning the manna was one. Christians are tested by positive precepts with respect to common worship, prayer, and sacraments—the object being in all cases to see whether men “will walk in God’s law or no.” Men are very apt to prefer their own inventions to the simple rule of following at once the letter and the spirit of God’s commandments.”
Walk in God’s instruction is obedience.
- ) Exo 18:20, “then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.”
Verse 20. – Thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws. Or, “statutes and laws,” as in ver. 16. It is not quite clear how these differ. Some regard “statutes” as connected with religion, and laws as regulations with respect to civil and social matters. Others explain the first as “specific” and the second as “general enactments.” The way wherein they must walk. The general line of conduct which all axe bound to pursue. The work that they must do. The special task which each has to perform individually. Exodus 18:20.”
- ) Lev 26:3-4, “If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit.”
Verses 4-6. – These verses appear to have been in the mind, not of Joel only, as already pointed out, but of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 34:20-31). In Leviticus we find, Then I will give you rain in due season; in Ezekiel, “And I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” In Leviticus, And the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit; in Ezekiel, “And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth her increase.” In Leviticus, Ye shall dwell in your land safely; in Ezekiel, “They shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.” In Leviticus, And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land; in Ezekiel, “And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land…. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.” The promise, Your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time, is similar to that in the prophet Amos, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed” (Amos 9:13). Leviticus 26:4.”
5.) Deu 5:33, ”You shall walk entirely in the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and that it may be well for you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you,…. None are to be avoided or departed from on any consideration whatever; see Psalm 119:6 an instance of this we have in Zacharias and Elizabeth, Luke 1:6 that ye may live; corporeally, comfortably, in all the outward enjoyments of life needful for them, particularly in the possession of the land of Canaan, and the benefits of it; for these promises of life upon obedience seem to reach no further, unless as types and emblems of what is enjoyed through the obedience and righteousness of Christ, as the following phrases show:
and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess; the land of Canaan; though the Jewish writers (m) carry it further, even to heaven and eternal happiness; and so may we in the sense before given.”
6.) Deu 8:6, “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God,…. Not only because they are the commands of God, and of a covenant God and Father, which are reasons sufficient for the observance of them; but because the Lord had dealt so bountifully with them, in providing food and raiment for them in the wilderness, which always continued with them; and because, when he afflicted them, it was a fatherly chastisement, with great tenderness and compassion, and for their good; all which laid them under obligations to keep the commands of God, whatsoever he had enjoined them, whether of the moral, ceremonial, or judicial kind:
to walk in his ways, and to fear him; to walk in the ways he directed, to be under an awe of his majesty, a fear of offending him, and a reverential affection for him, such as children have to a father.”
7.) Deu 10:12, “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 10:12. What doth he require? — By way of duty and gratitude for such amazing mercies? But to fear the Lord thy God, &c. — When Jehovah is our God in Christ, pacified toward us after all we have done, and has received us for his adopted children, then, and not before, are we qualified to comply with his will as here enjoined, to love as well as fear him, and to walk in all his ways, yea, to serve him, as it is here expressed, with all our heart and all our soul. For then, beholding what manner of love be hath bestowed upon us, in making us his children, we love him because he hath first loved us, and that love becomes a source of never failing obedience in our souls: it makes the tree good, and then the fruit is good also. Reader, consider this well, lest thy religion be mere formality and hypocrisy, and while thou hast a name to live, thou be dead to God and things divine!”
8.) Deu 11:22, “For if you are careful to keep all of this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and cling to Him.”
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
- To walk in all his ways.—“He is compassionate, and thou shalt be compassionate. He showeth mercies, and thou shalt show mercies.” Again Rashi’s comment is worthy of the New Testament. What follows shows the need of a mediator.
To cleave unto him.—Is it possible to speak so? Is He not “a consuming fire “? (and how can we cleave unto Him?) “But cleave unto wise men and their disciples (the students of the Law), and I tell thee it will be as though thou didst cleave unto Him.” In New Testament language this would read, “Be ye followers of me, as I am of Christ;” and “He that receiveth Me, receiveth Him that sent Me.”
- ) Deu 13:5, “But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken falsely against the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to drive you from the way in which the LORD your God
commanded you to walk. So you shall eliminate the evil from among you.”
He hath spoken, i.e. taught or persuaded you.
To turn you away from the Lord; to forsake God and his worship. He shows that the chiefest and most certain character of a true prophet, is to be taken from his doctrine rather than from his miracles.
To thrust thee out of the way: this phrase denotes the great force and power of seducers to corrupt men’s minds. Compare Deu 4:19 2 Kings 17:21 Matthew 24:2,14.
The evil; either
1. That evil thing, that wicked doctrine and practice. Or,
2. That wicked and scandalous man, that idolater and seducer.”
10.) Deu 26:17, “Today you have declared the LORD to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God,…. Said, affirmed, protested, and in the most solemn manner declared, that the Lord was their God, and him only; and that they would have no other God, nor worship, serve, or obey any other. The Lord is the God of all mankind, as he is the Creator and Preserver of them, and was of the people of Israel in a peculiar manner, they being chosen, redeemed, and privileged by him above all others; and especially is of his elect in Christ among all nations, whom he has loved and set apart for himself, and determined to save; whom he has adopted and regenerated; he provides for them, protects and preserves them, gives them grace here and glory hereafter: he is their God in Christ, and by virtue of the covenant of his grace made with them in him; and is known by them to be so in the effectual calling by the application of covenant blessings to them; and which is certified to them by the Spirit of God, upon which they claim their interest in him, and make profession of him as their God:
and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice; that is, this was then their resolution and determination, their protestation and declaration, to walk in all the ways of God, both in private and in public, he directed unto; and to observe all his laws, ceremonial, moral, and judicial, which he had given them as the rule of their walk and behaviour; and to regard whatsoever he should reveal by his prophets and ministers as his will; and a view of covenant interest in God lays all good men under the strongest obligation in the strength of divine grace to attend to his will; nor can there be a greater motive to them than covenant love, grace, and mercy.”
11.) Deu 28:9-11, “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you. And the LORD will give you more than enough prosperity, in the children of your womb, in the offspring of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.”
In old time, prosperity involved the children of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your ground.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
28:1-14 This chapter is a very large exposition of two words, the blessing and the curse. They are real things and have real effects. The blessings are here put before the curses. God is slow to anger, but swift to show mercy. It is his delight to bless. It is better that we should be drawn to what is good by a child-like hope of God’s favour, than that we be frightened to it by a slavish fear of his wrath. The blessing is promised, upon condition that they diligently hearken to the voice of God. Let them keep up religion, the form and power of it, in their families and nation, then the providence of God would prosper all their outward concerns.”
12.) Jos 22:5, “Only be very careful to follow the commandment and the Law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways, and keep His commandments and cling to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
22:1-9 Joshua dismisses the tribes with good counsel. Those who have the commandment have it in vain, unless they do the commandment; and it will not be done aright unless we take diligent heed. In particular to love the Lord our God, as the best of beings, and the best of friends; and as far as that principle rules in the heart, there will be constant care and endeavour to walk in his ways, even those that are narrow and up-hill. In every instance to keep his commandments. At all times, and in all conditions, with purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord, and to serve him and his kingdom among men, with all our heart, and with all our soul. This good counsel is given to all; may God give us grace to take it!”
13.) 1Sa 2:30, “Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father was to walk before Me forever‘; but now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be insignificant.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- saith] The Heb. word is one rarely used except of a solemn divine utterance, as in Genesis 22:16, and very commonly in the prophets.
I said indeed that thy house, and the house of the father, should walk before me for ever] God had promised that the family of Aaron in all its branches should serve perpetually as priests in His presence (Exodus 29:9; Numbers 25:13): but now the decree must be reversed, for the faithlessness of Eli’s sons had broken the covenant.”
14.) 1Ki 2:3, “Do your duty to the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.”
Verse 3. – And keep the charge [lit., “watch the watch” (custodies custodiam Jehovae), or, “serve the service.” Bahr paraphrases, “be a true watcher in the service of Jehovah.” The words are constantly employed to denote a strict performance of the service of the tabernacle or of the duties of the priests and Levites (Leviticus 8:35; Leviticus 18:30; Numbers 1:53; Numbers 3:7, 8, 25, 28, 32, 38; Numbers 31:30; 1 Chronicles 23:32, etc.; also Genesis 26:5). “The reference,” says Rawlinson, “is to the charge given to all the kings in Deuteronomy 17:18-20.” But there is no necessity for restricting it to that one injunction. What the charge is is explained presently] of the Lord thy God to walk in His ways, to keep [same word] His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies [it is impossible to draw any clear and sharp distinction between these four words, as the older expositors do. “The phrase is derived from the Pentateuch” (Wordsworth). The force of the accumulation of practically synonymous terms is to represent the law in its entirety (“Die Totalitat des Gesetzes,” Keil); cf. Deuteronomy 5:31; Deuteronomy 8:11, and especially Psalm 119.], that thou mayest prosper. [The marginal rendering, “do wisely,” is preferred by some (Keil, e.g.); but the translation of the text has the authority of Gesenius and others on its side, and gives a better meaning. “The context evidently requires ‘prosper’ here, as in Joshua 1:7” (Rawlinson). “That thou mayest… do wisely” is a very lame and impotent conclusion to ver. 3. We have here an evident reminiscence of Joshua 1:7; possibly also of Deuteronomy 29:9. David was unquestionably well versed in the Scriptures of that age, of which every king was commanded to make a copy. 1 Kings 2:3.”
15.) 1Ki 2:4, “so that the LORD may fulfill His
promise which He spoke regarding me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful about their way, to walk before Me
in truth with all their heart and all their soul, you shall not be deprived of a man to occupy the throne of Israel.’”
Confirm his word, i.e. fulfil his promise, the condition upon which it was suspended being performed.
Take heed to their ways, i.e. diligently observe all their actions, to order them according to God’s word.
To walk before me; to live as those that have God before their eyes, and endeavour to approve themselves to him.
In truth; not only in pretence and show, but truly and sincerely. With all their heart, and with all their soul, i.e. universally, freely, and fervently.
There shall not fail thee a man on the throne of Israel; the succession shall be continued in thy line without any interruption.”
16.) 1Ki 3:14 “And if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David
walked, then I will prolong your days.”
There may be peoples who do not know that God is able to prolong the days of a king and the life of a person.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
- I will lengthen.—In this promise only one point, “length of days,” is conditional; and it was not fulfilled. For though Solomon’s age at the time of death is not given, yet, as his reign is given as lasting forty years, it could hardly have exceeded sixty. (Josephus, indeed, with his usual tendency to amplification, extends the reign to eighty years, and makes Solomon die in extreme old age.) The rest received an extraordinary fulfilment. The greatness of Solomon’s kingdom stands out remarkable in its sudden and unique development, the fruit of David’s long career of conquest and improvement, destined to wither at once at Solomon’s death. Then, for the first and last time, did the monarchy assume something of the character of an empire, unequalled in peaceful prosperity of wealth and power, and in splendour of civilisation.”
As for me, I can testify if it were not for the grace of God, I would have died long time ago. I live because God wants me to live.
17.) 1Ki 8:36, “then hear in Heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel; indeed, teach them the good way in which they are to walk. And provide rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.”
1 Kings 8:36. That thou teach them the good way — The way of their duty, which is good in itself, and both delightful and profitable to those that walk in it. But this clause is better translated, 2 Chronicles 6:27, (where the Hebrew words are the same with these here,) When thou hast taught them the good way wherein they should walk, namely, when their afflictions have had the desired effect to teach them better obedience. And give rain upon the land — The order of Solomon’s prayer is very observable; first and chiefly, he prays for their repentance and forgiveness, which is the chief blessing, and the only solid foundation of all other mercies; and then he prays for temporal mercies, thereby teaching us what to desire principally in our prayers; which also Christ hath taught us in his perfect prayer, wherein there is but one petition for outward, and all the rest are for spiritual blessings.”
18.) Mat 11:5, “those who are BLIND RECEIVE
SIGHT and those who limp walk, those with leprosy
are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead
are raised, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL
PREACHED TO THEM.”
When Jesus began His ministry, not only the poor have the Gospel preached to them, those who are blind receive sight, and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, and the dead are raised.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
- The blind receive their sight.—Apparently no facts were stated which might not have already come to the ears of the Baptist. At least one instance of each class of miracle has already been recorded by St. Matthew, the blind (Matthew 9:27), the lame (Matthew 9:6), the leper (Matthew 8:2), the dead (Matthew 9:25). The raising of the widow’s son at Nain, which in St. Luke follows closely upon the healing of the centurion’s servant, must also have preceded what is here narrated. What the Baptist needed was, not the knowledge of fresh facts, but a different way of looking at those he already knew. Where these works were done, there were tokens that the coming One had indeed come. But above all signs and wonders, there was another spiritual note of the kingdom, which our Lord reserves as the last and greatest: Poor men have the good news proclaimed to them. They are invited to the kingdom, and told of peace and pardon. It is as though our Lord knew that the Baptist, whose heart was with the poor, would feel that One who thus united power and tenderness could be none other than the expected King.”
The limp walk. It is no longer figurative. The limp who were cured really walked.
19.) Mar 5:42, “And immediately the girl got up
and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astonished.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- And immediately her spirit came again and she arose straightway (Luke 8:55), and began to walk. There is no struggle, no effort on his part, Who is “the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25); we read of no “crying unto the Lord,” or “stretching himself upon the child three times” as in the case of Elijah at Sarepta (1 Kings 17:21); He “lieth not upon the child, or putteth his mouth upon her mouth, and his eyes upon her eyes, and his hands upon her hands” as in the case of Elisha (2 Kings 4:34), He speaks but a word and instantly He is obeyed.
a great astonishment] The word thus rendered denotes sometimes (1) a trance, as in Acts 10:10, “but while they made ready, he (St Peter) fell into a trance;” and Acts 22:17, “while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance,” with which comp. 2 Cor. 12:23 (ii) amazement, awe, as in Luke 5:26, “and amazement seized all;” Mark 16:8, “trembling and amazement seized them;” Acts 3:10, “and they were filled with wonder and amazement.” Here it points to a very extremity of astonishment.”
The twelve years old girl who died, got up at the command of Jesus and walked. The people were completely astonished, amazed.
Mar 5:38-42, “They came to the house of the synagogue official, and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. And after entering, He said to them, “Why are you making a
commotion and weeping? The child has not died, but is asleep.”And they began laughing at Him. But putting them all outside, He took along the child’s
father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was in bed. And taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha, kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). And immediately the girl got up
and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astonished.”
To walk means to literally move along on foot.
The Lord of life is able to raise the dead. Much more the Lord can give you eternal life. So do not neglect so great a salvation, but repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ the great God and Savior. You can do it now.
WILLLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
JANUARY 4, 2026
Copyright © 2018 – 2026 by Willie Wong
All African nations, South America, Asia and the world, where can you find a country which does not have large national debts and deficits? Africa is different because for 500 years, not one country has become self-sufficient and solvent, they glorify with their primitive cultures and brag about their scientists and experts, joy to kill each other. International aid actually fuel their official corruption. Any nation that shares destinies with Africa will be doomed! No resources can fill the Black holes! The international community should leave Africa alone, let them do or die.
China modernization must focus that every village will have:
- ELECTRICTY
- RUNNING WATER TO DRINK AND WASH
- GAS TO COOK & HEAT
- INTERNET
- LIVELIHOOD
- NEW TOILET BY LAW