3597. hodoiporia
Lexical Summary
hodoiporia: Journey, travel, wayfaring

Original Word: ὁδοιπορία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: hodoiporia
Pronunciation: ho-doy-por-EE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (hod-oy-por-ee'-ah)
KJV: journey(-ing)
NASB: journey, journeys
Word Origin: [from a compound of G3598 (ὁδός - way) and G4198 (πορεύομαι - go)]

1. travel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
journey.

From the same as hodoiporeo; travel -- journey(-ing).

see GREEK hodoiporeo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as hodoiporeó
Definition
a journey
NASB Translation
journey (1), journeys (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3597: ὁδοιπορία

ὁδοιπορία, ὁδοιπορίας, (ὁδοιπόρος), a journey, journeying: John 4:6; 2 Corinthians 11:26. (Wis. 13:18 Wis. 18:3; 1 Macc. 6:41; Herodotus, Xenophon, Diodorus 5, 29; Herodian, others.)

STRONGS NT 3597a: ὁδοποιέωὁδοποιέω, ὁδοποιῶ; in Greek writings from Xenophon down, to make a road; to level, make passable, smooth, open, a way; and so also in the Sept.: ὡδοποιησε τρίβον τῇ ὀργή αὐτοῦ, for פִּלֵס, Psalm 77:50 (); for סָלַל, to construct a lever way by casting up an embankment, Job 30:12; Psalm 67:5 (); for פִּנָּה, Psalm 79:10 (); for דֶּרֶך פִּנָּה, Isaiah 62:10; — and so, at least apparently, in Mark 2:23 L Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading (see ποιέω, I. 1 a. and c.) (with ὁδόν added, Xenophon, anab. 4, 8, 8).

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Biblical Usage

Strong’s Greek 3597 communicates the idea of a “journey,” especially one made on foot. The term is rare—appearing only twice in the Greek New Testament—yet its contexts illuminate important truths about the humanity of Christ and the endurance required of Christian ministers.

Occurrences

John 4:6 – “Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.”
2 Corinthians 11:26 – “[I have been] in frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, in danger at sea, and in danger among false brothers.”

Historical and Cultural Background

First-century travel was arduous. Roads were often unpaved, banditry was common, and physical fatigue a given. A “journey” meant exposure to heat, hunger, and hazard. The two New Testament writers who employ the word—John and Paul—do so with this shared cultural awareness, yet for distinct theological aims.

Christological Insight (John 4:6)

John presents Jesus seated by Jacob’s well, “worn out from His journey.” The word underscores genuine human fatigue, confirming the incarnation without diminishing divine authority. His physical weariness positions Him for a providential encounter with the Samaritan woman, illustrating how God uses ordinary human limitations to accomplish redemptive purposes.

Apostolic Endurance (2 Corinthians 11:26)

Paul catalogs the perils of his missionary “journeys” to defend the authenticity of his apostleship. The word evokes not leisurely travel but relentless, risk-laden movement in service of the gospel. “Frequent journeys” become a badge of credibility: love for Christ and the churches propelled Paul through rivers, wilderness, and seas despite mortal danger.

Theology of Journey

Scripture consistently portrays God’s people as travelers—Abraham leaving Ur, Israel crossing the wilderness, disciples sent two by two. Strong’s 3597 focuses this motif into concrete New-Covenant application: Christ walks the dusty road; Paul endures perilous routes; believers are likewise called to pilgrimage (Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11). Physical journeys mirror the spiritual one—marked by hardship yet guided by divine purpose.

Ministry Applications

1. Incarnational Compassion – Ministers should embrace the limits of body and circumstance, trusting God to work through fatigue and interruption as with Jesus at Sychar.
2. Missionary Resolve – Paul’s example urges gospel workers to accept logistical and physical challenges as normal costs of obedience. Modern equivalents include long flights, cross-cultural adjustment, and security risks.
3. Pastoral Encouragement – Congregations may draw comfort from knowing that weariness, travel complications, and danger have always accompanied faithful service, and that God’s grace proves sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).
4. Pilgrim Mindset – Every believer is on a journey toward the “city with foundations” (Hebrews 11:10). Strong’s 3597 invites personal reflection on endurance, reliance on God, and purposeful movement toward the kingdom.

Summary

Though occurring only twice, Strong’s Greek 3597 encapsulates both the realism of Christ’s humanity and the relentless advance of apostolic mission. The term gathers up the biblical theme of pilgrimage, reminding the church that gospel progress often travels on weary feet yet under sovereign direction.

Forms and Transliterations
οδοιποριαις ὁδοιπορίαις οδοιποριας οδοιπορίας ὁδοιπορίας οδοιπόροι οδοιπόρον οδοιπόρος οδοποιήσατε ωδοποίησας ωδοποίησε ωδοποίησεν hodoiporiais hodoiporíais hodoiporias hodoiporías odoiporiais odoiporias
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Englishman's Concordance
John 4:6 N-GFS
GRK: ἐκ τῆς ὁδοιπορίας ἐκαθέζετο οὕτως
NAS: being wearied from His journey, was sitting
KJV: with [his] journey, sat
INT: from the journey sat thus

2 Corinthians 11:26 N-DFP
GRK: ὁδοιπορίαις πολλάκις κινδύνοις
NAS: [I have been] on frequent journeys, in dangers
KJV: [In] journeyings often, [in] perils
INT: In journeyings often in perils

Strong's Greek 3597
2 Occurrences


ὁδοιπορίαις — 1 Occ.
ὁδοιπορίας — 1 Occ.

3596
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