Topical Encyclopedia
Traveling in biblical times was a significant aspect of life, often undertaken for various reasons such as trade, religious pilgrimage, military campaigns, or migration. The Bible provides numerous accounts of travel, reflecting both the physical and spiritual journeys of its characters.
Old TestamentIn the Old Testament, travel is frequently depicted as a response to divine command or necessity. Abraham's journey from Ur to Canaan is a foundational narrative, illustrating obedience to God's call.
Genesis 12:1-4 recounts, "The LORD said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.'"
The Israelites' exodus from Egypt is another pivotal journey, symbolizing liberation and faith.
Exodus 13:21 describes God's guidance: "And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night."
Travel for trade and commerce is also evident. The account of the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon (
1 Kings 10:1-2) highlights the exchange of goods and wisdom: "When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the LORD, she came to test Solomon with hard questions."
New TestamentIn the New Testament, travel is central to the spread of the Gospel. Jesus Himself traveled extensively throughout Judea and Galilee, teaching and performing miracles.
Matthew 9:35 notes, "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness."
The missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul are well-documented, showcasing the early Church's expansion.
Acts 13:2-3 records the Holy Spirit's directive: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off."
Spiritual SignificanceTraveling in the Bible often carries a deeper spiritual significance, symbolizing the journey of faith and obedience to God's will.
Hebrews 11:8-10 reflects on Abraham's faith: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
The concept of pilgrimage is also significant, as seen in the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134), which were sung by those traveling to Jerusalem for the feasts.
Psalm 122:1 expresses the joy of pilgrimage: "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD.'"
Practical AspectsTravel in biblical times was often arduous and fraught with danger. Roads were primitive, and travelers faced threats from bandits and harsh weather. The parable of the Good Samaritan (
Luke 10:30-37) illustrates the perils of travel and the call to compassion: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers."
Hospitality was a crucial aspect of travel, with hosts providing shelter and sustenance.
Hebrews 13:2 advises, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."
ConclusionTraveling in the Bible is a multifaceted theme, encompassing physical journeys, spiritual growth, and the spread of God's message. It serves as a reminder of the transient nature of life and the call to trust in God's guidance and provision.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Travel.
Greek
4923. sunodia -- a journey in company, by ext. a company (of...... of travelers). Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: sunodia Phonetic
Spelling: (soon-od-ee'-ah) Short Definition: a company
traveling together, a
...1330. dierchomai -- to go through, go about, to spread
... through (7), passed...through (1), passes (2), passing (2), passing through (3),
pierce (1), spread (1), spreading (1), through* (1),traveling through (2...
4848. sumporeuomai -- to journey together, hence to come together
... Word Origin from sun and poreuomai Definition to journey together, hence to come
together NASB Word Usage gathered (1), going along (2),traveling (1)....
4198. poreuomai -- to go
... gone (3), indulge (1), journey (1), journeying (2), leave (1), proceed (1), proceeded
(2), pursued a course (1), sets (1), started (3),traveling (3), walking...
4898. sunekdemos -- a fellow traveler
... Word Origin from sun and a comp. of ek and demos Definition a fellow traveler NASB
Word Usage travel (1),traveling companions (1). companion in travel....
4082. pera -- a leather pouch
... provisions. 4082 -- a traveler's bag, used for carrying food and money;
atraveling pouch ("a bread bag"). Word Origin a prim. word...
Strong's Hebrew
736. orechah -- atraveling company, caravan... 735, 736. orechah. 737 . a
traveling company, caravan. Transliteration: orechah
Phonetic Spelling: (o-rekh-aw') Short Definition: caravan.
...traveling company
...1979. halikah -- a going, way,traveling company
... 1978, 1979. halikah. 1980 . a going, way,traveling company. Transliteration:
halikah Phonetic Spelling: (hal-ee-kaw') Short Definition: procession....
Library
"Does this Railroad Lead to Heaven?"
... Intraveling we often meet with persons of different nationalities and languages;
we also meet with incidents of various character, some sorrowful, others...
Fourth Commandment
... goes. That is the direction in which we aretraveling.... respect. SABBATHTRAVELING.
Take, for instance, the question of sabbathtraveling....
An Account of the Several Annual Conferences, and of the General...
... This conference assembled in the city of Baltimore on the first day of November,
1792, and was composed of all thetraveling preachers who had been received...
A Personal Experience.
... Aftertraveling about two miles our horse became very lame.... After some two or
three miles oftraveling thus, our horse seemed much improved....
He was Transfigured
... mountainside. The Saviour and His disciples have spent the day intraveling
and teaching, and the mountain climb adds to their weariness....
An Account of the General Conference of 1800
... been able to travel, as heretofore, on horseback, nor to preach as often as usual,
and therefore had been obliged to take with him atraveling companion, that...
Preaching from the Stocks
... Wednesday, May 1.--- I set out early and the next afternoon reached Whitehaven;
and my chaise horses were no worse fortraveling nearly a hundred and ten miles...
An Account of the General Conference of 1796
... This useful class of men were often called upon to assist thetraveling preachers
in their work, to fill vacancies occasioned by sickness or death, in addition...
Volume iii. From the Year 1816 to the Year 1828.
... connection. Such names I have generally omitted altogether, as I have taken
no account of mere probationers in thetraveling ministry....
To his Praise!
... Missionaries, especially we missionary women, know only too well how we are criticized
in the matter of dress, when in the homeland and whentraveling....
Thesaurus
Traveling (22 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Traveling (22 Occurrences).
... (WEB). Luke 9:53 They
didn't receive him, because he was
traveling with his face set towards Jerusalem.
...Travel (25 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To pass by riding, or in any manner, to a distant place, or to many places;
to journey; as, a man travels for his health; he istraveling in California...
Andronicus (1 Occurrence)
... used in Acts 14:14 of Barnabas, in 2 Corinthians 8:23 of Titus, in Philippians
2:25 of Epaphroditus, and in the Didache of "thetraveling evangelists or...
Commerce (3 Occurrences)
... There were doubtlesstraveling merchants from very remote times, interchanging
commodities of other lands for those of Palestine Some of the Hebrew words for...
Travelled (7 Occurrences)
Hospitality (9 Occurrences)
... xenos, "guest," "friend"; pandocheus, "innkeeper"): 1. Among Nomads: When the
civilization of a people has advanced so far that sometraveling has become...
Host (261 Occurrences)
... xenos, "guest," "friend"; pandocheus, "innkeeper"): 1. Among Nomads: When the
civilization of a people has advanced so far that sometraveling has become...
Timothy (28 Occurrences)
... was reached. This journey involved muchtraveling, much work and much time.
At Ephesus alone more than two years were spent. And...
Wanderings (7 Occurrences)
... FIRST JOURNEY 1. Mode ofTraveling 2. The Route: the First Camp 3. Waters
of Marah 4. Camp by the Red Sea 5. The Route to Sinai III....
Voyage (5 Occurrences)
... country. 2. (n.) The act or practice oftraveling. 3. (n.) Course; way. 4.
(vi) To take a voyage; especially, to sail or pass by water....
Resources
Why does Acts 9:7 say that those traveling with Paul heard a voice, but Acts 22:9 says that they heard no voice? | GotQuestions.orgWhat happened on Paul's third missionary journey? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the Waldensians, and what did they believe? | GotQuestions.orgTraveling: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
