Original Word: διερχομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: dierchomai
Pronunciation: dee-er'-khom-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-er'-khom-ahee)
KJV: come, depart, go (about, abroad, everywhere, over, through, throughout), pass (by, over, through, throughout), pierce through, travel, walk through
NASB: passed through, passing through, went about, go over, gone through, pass, passes
Word Origin: [from G1223 (διά - through) and G2064 (ἔρχομαι - came)]

1. to traverse
{literally}

come, depart, go, pass.

From dia and erchomai; to traverse (literally) -- come, depart, go (about, abroad, everywhere, over, through, throughout), pass (by, over, through, throughout), pierce through, travel, walk through.

see GREEK dia

see GREEK erchomai

Word Origin
from dia and erchomai
Definition
to go through, go about, to spread
NASB Translation
come (1), coming (1), go (1), go across (1), go over (2), go straight (1), go through (1), going (1), going through (1), going throughout (1), gone through (2), made their way (1), pass (2), pass through (1), passed (1), passed through (7), passed...through (1), passes (2), passing (2), passing through (3), pierce (1), spread (1), spreading (1), through* (1), traveling through (2), went about (3).

STRONGS NT 1330: διέρχομαι

διέρχομαι; imperfect διηρχομην; future διελεύσομαι (Luke 2:35; see Winers Grammar, 86 (82); (cf. Buttmann, 58 (50))); 2 aorist διῆλθον; perfect participle διεληλυθως (Hebrews 4:14); (from Homer down);

1. where διά has the force of through (Latinper; (cf. διά, C.)): "to go through, pass through (on its constructions cf. Winers Grammar, § 52, 4, 8);

a. διά τίνος, to go, walk, journey, pass through a place (German den Durchweg nehmen): Matthew 12:43; Matthew 19:24 R L Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading; Mark 10:25 Rec.st εἰσελθεῖν); Luke 11:24; Luke 18:25 L Tr marginal reading; John 4:4; 1 Corinthians 10:1; διά μέσου αὐτῶν, through the midst of a crowd, Luke 4:30; John 8:59 Rec.; (διά μέσου (L T Tr WH διά μέσον, see διά, B. I.) Σαμαρείας, Luke 17:11); :2di) ὑμῶν, i. e. διά τῆς χώρας ὑμῶν, 2 Corinthians 1:16 (where Lachmann text ἀπελθεῖν); (διά πάντων namely, τῶν ἁγίων (see πᾶς, II. 1), Acts 9:32).

b. with an accusative to travel the road which leads through a place, go, pass, travel through a region: Luke 19:1; Acts 12:10; Acts 13:6; Acts 14:24; Acts 15:3, 41; Acts 16:6; Acts 17:23 (τά σεβάσματα); ; 1 Corinthians 16:5; Hebrews 4:14; of a thing: τήν ψυχήν διελεύσεται ῤομφαία, penetrate, pierce, Luke 2:35 (of a spear, dart, with the genitive Homer, Iliad 20, 263; 23, 876).

c. absolutely: ἐκείνης namely, ὁδοῦ (δἰ before ἐκείνης in Rec. is spurious) ἤμελλε διέρχεσθαι, for he was to pass that way, Luke 19:4.

d. with specification of the goal or limit, so that the prefix διά makes reference to the intervening space to be passed through or gone over: ἐνθάδε, John 4:15 T WH Tr marginal reading; (εἰς τήν Ἀχαΐαν, Acts 18:27); εἰς τό πέραν to go, cross, over to the farther shore, Mark 4:35; Luke 8:22; ὁ θάνατος διῆλθεν εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους, passed through unto all men, so that no one could escape its power, Romans 5:12; ἕως τίνος, go even unto, etc. Luke 2:15; Acts 9:38; Acts 11:19, 22 R G (Winer's Grammar, 609 (566)).

2. where διά answers to the Latindis (cf. διά, C.); to go to different places (2 Chronicles 17:9; Amos 6:2): Acts 8:4, 40; (Acts 10:38); διελθόντες ἀπό τῆς Πέργης having departed from Perga namely, to various places, Acts 13:14 (others refer this to 1, understanding διελθονες of passing through the extent of country); ἐν οἷς διῆλθον, among whom, i. e. whose country I went about, or visited different places, Acts 20:25; διήρχοντο κατά τάς κώμας, they went about in various directions from one village to another, Luke 9:6; of a report, to spread, go abroad: διέρχεται ὁ λόγος, Luke 5:15; Thucydides 6, 46; Xenophon, an. 1, 4, 7. (Synonym: see ἔρχομαι.)

Overview

The verb rendered “to pass through, go across, travel about, make one’s way” appears forty-four times in the Greek New Testament. Its range stretches from literal movement across geographical space to figurative movement through spiritual or cosmic realms. With each use Scripture portrays a purposeful advance that cannot be hindered—whether it is Jesus moving freely in earthly ministry, the Gospel spreading in Acts, death’s entrance through sin, or the resurrected Christ ascending through the heavens.

Physical Journeys in the Life of Jesus

The Synoptic Gospels frequently depict the Lord “passing through” villages, crowds, and regions in tireless service. Luke emphasizes this itinerant compassion:
• Luke 5:15 – “...vast crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, but Jesus often withdrew to solitary places to pray.” Even when retreating, He is portrayed as one who continually moves for others’ sake.
• Luke 17:11 – Jesus is found “passing between Samaria and Galilee,” ministering to the ten lepers and thus breaking ethnic barriers.
• Luke 19:1 – “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.” That simple movement becomes the setting for Zacchaeus’ life-changing encounter.
• Luke 4:30 – When threatened in Nazareth, “He passed through the crowd and went on His way.” No hostile force could detain His redemptive route.

Mark 4:35 records His directive, “Let us cross to the other side,” typifying a ministry that continually reaches the next shore.

Typology of Deliverance: The Red Sea Passage

Paul recalls Israel’s exodus to illustrate baptismal identity: “Our fathers...all passed through the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:1). The same verb that marks Christ’s journeys underscores God’s power to carry His people through impossible barriers. That foundational deliverance forms the backdrop for every New-Covenant crossing—whether missionary travel or final entrance into glory.

Progress of the Gospel in Acts

Luke uses the word to trace the unstoppable expansion of the message:
• Acts 8:4 – Persecuted believers “went from place to place preaching the word.”
• Acts 15:3 – Paul and Barnabas “passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles.”
• Acts 16:6 – Paul and his companions “passed through the region of Phrygia and Galatia,” guided by the Spirit toward Macedonia.
• Acts 20:25 – Paul testifies, “I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will see my face again.”

These movements demonstrate the sovereign orchestration of God in scattering witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Apostolic Travel Plans and Pastoral Strategy

Paul’s letters mirror the narrative in Acts:
• 1 Corinthians 16:5 – “I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia.”
• 2 Corinthians 1:16 – He intends to “pass through” Corinth on his way to and from Macedonia.

Such remarks reveal deliberate planning under divine guidance, modeling strategic stewardship of time and route in ministry.

Cosmic Movement: The Ascended Christ

Hebrews 4:14 applies the verb to a realm beyond geography: “Since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.” Christ’s passage guarantees unfettered access for believers to the throne of grace and assures them that no barrier—earthly or heavenly—remains.

The Spread of Death and the Gift of Life

Romans 5:12 uses the verb in a sobering way: “death passed to all men, because all sinned.” The entrance of death is pictured as a relentless traveler moving through humanity. Yet the surrounding context (Romans 5:15-21) reveals that the gracious gift in Christ overcomes that deadly advance, offering eternal life.

Spiritual Warfare and Personal Piercing

• Matthew 12:43 / Luke 11:24 – An unclean spirit “passes through arid places” seeking rest, illustrating restless evil that can be expelled only by a stronger presence.
• Luke 2:35 – Simeon’s prophecy to Mary, “A sword will pierce your own soul,” adopts the verb to depict intense personal sorrow that would accompany the redemptive mission.

Missionary Implications

The consistent motif of purposeful passage urges contemporary believers to:

1. Embrace mobility for the Gospel, recognizing that God directs steps just as surely today.
2. Expect opposition yet trust Christ to lead “through the crowd” when necessary.
3. Hold fast to the confession that the ascended High Priest has navigated every realm, ensuring the success of His mission and the security of His people.

Devotional Reflection

Where Christ leads, no obstacle—crowd, sea, desert, or demonic stronghold—can ultimately stand. His followers are called to the same forward motion until the day they, too, “pass through” the heavens into His presence.

διελευσεται διελεύσεται διελεύση διελεύσομαι διελευσόμεθα διελεύσονται διελήλυθα διεληλυθοτα διεληλυθότα διέλθατε δίελθε διελθειν διελθείν διελθεῖν διέλθετε διελθέτω διελθέτωσαν διέλθη διέλθης διέλθοι διελθοντα διελθόντα διελθοντες διελθόντες διελθόντος διελθόντων διελθω διέλθω Διελθωμεν Διέλθωμεν διελθων διελθών διελθὼν διελθωσιν διερχεσθαι διέρχεσθαι διερχεται διέρχεται διερχομαι διέρχομαι διερχομενον διερχόμενον διερχομενος διερχόμενος διερχωμαι διέρχωμαι διήλθε διηλθεν διήλθεν διῆλθεν διήλθες διήλθομεν διηλθον διήλθον διῆλθον διήλθοσαν διηρχετο διήρχετο διηρχοντο διήρχοντο dieleluthota dielēluthota dielelythota dielelythóta dielēlythota dielēlythóta dieleusetai dieleúsetai dielthein dieltheîn dielthen diêlthen diēlthen diē̂lthen dieltho dielthō diéltho diélthō Dielthomen Dielthōmen Diélthomen Diélthōmen dielthon dielthōn dielthṑn diêlthon diēlthon diē̂lthon dielthonta dielthónta dielthontes dielthóntes dierchesthai diérchesthai dierchetai diérchetai diercheto diērcheto diḗrcheto dierchomai dierchōmai diérchomai diérchōmai dierchomenon dierchómenon dierchomenos dierchómenos dierchonto diērchonto diḗrchontoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts