3595. hodégos
Lexical Summary
hodégos: Guide, leader

Original Word: ὁδηγός
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: hodégos
Pronunciation: ho-day-GOS
Phonetic Spelling: (hod-ayg-os')
KJV: guide, leader
NASB: guides, guide
Word Origin: [from G3598 (ὁδός - way) and G2233 (ἡγέομαι - regard)]

1. a conductor
2. (figuratively) teacher
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
guide, leader.

From hodos and hegeomai; a conductor (literally or figuratively (teacher)) -- guide, leader.

see GREEK hodos

see GREEK hegeomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from hodos and hégeomai
Definition
a leader, guide
NASB Translation
guide (2), guides (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3595: ὁδηγός

ὁδηγός, ὁδηγοῦ, (ὁδός and ἡγέομαιt; cf. χορηγός), a leader of the way, a guide;

a. properly: Acts 1:16 (Polybius 5, 5, 15; Plutarch, Alex. 27; 1 Macc. 4:2; 2 Macc. 5:15).

b. in figurative and sententious discourse ὁδηγός τυφλῶν, i. e. like one who is literally so called, namely a teacher of the ignorant and unexperienced, Romans 2:19; plural, τυφλοί ... ὁδηγοί τυφλῶν, i. e. like blind guides in the literal sense, in that, while themselves destitute of a knowledge of the truth, they offer themselves to others as teachers, Matthew 15:14; Matthew 23:16, 24.

Topical Lexicon
Concept Overview

The term describes one who leads the way, whether literally along a road or figuratively in teaching, counsel, or influence. In Scripture it is employed both positively and negatively, drawing attention to the critical role and solemn accountability of anyone who directs others in matters of faith and conduct.

Old Testament Anticipation of God-Authorized Guidance

Although the specific Greek term does not appear in the Septuagint, the idea of guidance permeates the Hebrew Scriptures. The LORD guides Israel by cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21), David prays, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5), and wisdom herself calls to the naive, “I will direct my words to you” (Proverbs 1:23). These antecedents prepare readers to understand human guides as either cooperating with, or opposing, God’s own shepherding of His people.

New Testament Occurrences

1. Matthew 15:14 – Jesus dismisses Pharisaic teachers as “blind guides of the blind,” exposing religious authority divorced from true knowledge of God.
2. Matthew 23:16, 24 – In His woes against the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus repeats the accusation, revealing that meticulous ritualism without inner righteousness leaves both leaders and followers in peril.
3. Romans 2:19 – Paul challenges self-confident Jews who claim to be “a guide for the blind” yet fail to obey the very Law they commend, underscoring hypocrisy and the need for humble obedience.
4. Acts 1:16 – Peter notes that Judas “became a guide to those who arrested Jesus,” illustrating how guidance can be sinister when divorced from loyalty to Christ.

Historical and Cultural Setting

In the first-century Mediterranean world, travelers unfamiliar with dangerous, winding roads relied on trusted guides. By extension, rabbis served as guides for Scripture, and political revolutionaries sometimes acted as guides through Judea’s rugged terrain. The New Testament exploits these everyday realities to communicate spiritual truths: authority figures are expected to know the way; if not, they imperil everyone.

Theological Insights

Blindness versus sight: Every usage in the Gospels and Epistles revolves around true versus false perception. To guide correctly one must first see. Spiritual blindness arises from unbelief (John 12:40) and self-righteousness (John 9:41), whereas sight is granted by the revelatory work of Christ (John 9:25, 39).

Accountability before God: In each context the guide is judged not only for personal steps but for the destiny of the led. Echoes of Ezekiel 34, where shepherds are indicted for feeding themselves, resound behind Jesus’ denunciations.

Sovereignty and human agency: Acts 1:16 clarifies that even Judas’s treacherous “guidance” fulfilled Scripture. God’s purposes stand, yet moral responsibility for misguidance remains.

Warnings and Admonitions

Jesus’ triple use of “blind guides” (Matthew 15:14; 23:16; 23:24) issues an enduring caution:

• Knowledge without repentance corrupts leadership.
• Scrupulous rule-keeping (straining gnats) cannot compensate for inward impurity (swallowing camels).
• Misguided teachers multiply confusion; the pit awaits guide and follower alike.

Paul extends the warning in Romans 2:19–24: possession of divine revelation does not equal compliance. Religious instructors must embody what they teach.

Christ as the True Guide

While the noun is never applied directly to Jesus, He embodies its ideal: “I am the way” (John 14:6) and “When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them” (John 10:4). The contrast with Pharisaic blindness is stark; Jesus sees perfectly, for He is Light (John 8:12). Christian leaders therefore guide only in so far as they follow Him (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Guidance of the Holy Spirit

Post-resurrection, the believer’s ultimate guide is the Spirit: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Thus the church is safeguarded from error, provided she listens. Human teachers serve as secondary agents under divine direction (Ephesians 4:11–13).

Practical Ministry Applications

Discipleship: Mentors must cultivate spiritual sight through Scripture, prayer, and obedience before leading others. Regular self-examination prevents blind spots.

Teaching: Expositors are to handle the Word accurately, avoiding selective emphasis that strains trivialities and neglects foundational doctrines.

Counseling: Biblical counselors serve as guides to the broken. Their credibility hinges on personal submission to God’s precepts.

Evangelism: Believers point the lost toward Christ, not themselves. As Philip guided the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:31), evangelists interpret Scripture so hearers may see Jesus.

Church governance: Elders are overseers, a guiding role vested with gravity (Hebrews 13:17). The Acts portrayal of Judas warns that positional authority without fidelity to Christ betrays the flock.

Historical Examples in the Church

• Early patristic writers such as Polycarp were revered as faithful guides because their teaching mirrored apostolic doctrine.
• In contrast, heresiarchs like Marcion misled many by rejecting the Old Testament, proving that intellectual brilliance apart from truth breeds destructive guidance.
• Reformers—Martin Luther, John Calvin—sought to realign guidance with Scripture’s authority, illustrating the perennial need for sighted leadership.

Contemporary Relevance

Digital media amplifies voices; believers must discern between sighted and blind guides. A teacher’s popularity cannot substitute for fidelity to the gospel. The narratives of Matthew and Acts call the modern church to vet influencers by their adherence to Christ’s revealed Word.

Concluding Reflection

The biblical portrait of the guide summons every Christian—especially those in leadership—to pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23). Only the one who sees God’s truth clearly may safely lead others along the narrow path that culminates in life eternal.

Forms and Transliterations
οδηγοι οδηγοί ὁδηγοί ὁδηγοὶ οδηγον οδηγόν ὁδηγὸν οδηγου οδηγού ὁδηγοῦ hodegoi hodegoí hodegoì hodēgoi hodēgoí hodēgoì hodegon hodegòn hodēgon hodēgòn hodegou hodegoû hodēgou hodēgoû odegoi odēgoi odegon odēgon odegou odēgou
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 15:14 N-NMP
GRK: τυφλοί εἰσιν ὁδηγοί τυφλῶν τυφλὸς
NAS: they are blind guides of the blind.
KJV: blind leaders of the blind.
INT: blind they are guides blind Blind

Matthew 23:16 N-VMP
GRK: Οὐαὶ ὑμῖν ὁδηγοὶ τυφλοὶ οἱ
NAS: to you, blind guides, who say,
KJV: [ye] blind guides, which
INT: Woe to you guides blind who

Matthew 23:24 N-VMP
GRK: ὁδηγοὶ τυφλοί οἱ
NAS: You blind guides, who strain
KJV: [Ye] blind guides, which strain at
INT: Guides blind those who

Acts 1:16 N-GMS
GRK: τοῦ γενομένου ὁδηγοῦ τοῖς συλλαβοῦσιν
NAS: who became a guide to those
KJV: was guide to them that took
INT: having become guide to the [ones] having arrested

Romans 2:19 N-AMS
GRK: τε σεαυτὸν ὁδηγὸν εἶναι τυφλῶν
NAS: that you yourself are a guide to the blind,
KJV: art a guide of the blind,
INT: moreover you yourself a guide are named of [the] blind

Strong's Greek 3595
5 Occurrences


ὁδηγοί — 3 Occ.
ὁδηγὸν — 1 Occ.
ὁδηγοῦ — 1 Occ.

3594
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