Lexical Summary yalak: To go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away Original Word: יָלַךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance again, away, bear, bring, carry away, come away, depart, flow, A primitive root (compare halak); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) -- X again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, + follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, + pursue, cause to run, spread, take away ((-journey)), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, X be weak. see HEBREW halak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as halak, q.v. Topical Lexicon Yalak: Theological OverviewAlthough the exact form יָלַךְ (yalak, Strong’s 3212) does not appear in the extant Hebrew text, its root idea—going, walking, journeying—permeates Scripture through related forms (most commonly הָלַךְ, halak). Because the Bible repeatedly frames life with God around “walking,” this verbal root carries enduring weight for covenant history, prophetic proclamation, wisdom instruction, and New Testament discipleship. Journey and Pilgrimage From the moment the LORD summoned Abram to leave Ur (Genesis 12:1), the notion of going at God’s word became a paradigm for faith. “Go from your country…to the land I will show you” sets the stage for Scripture’s portrayal of pilgrimage: God calls, His people respond by moving—trusting what they have not yet seen (Hebrews 11:8). Israel’s exodus, wilderness trek, and entry into Canaan repeat the pattern, underscoring that salvation history is a lived journey rather than a static belief. Walking as Covenant Obedience To “walk” before the LORD expresses more than physical movement; it denotes relational fidelity. Genesis 17:1 records God’s charge to Abraham, “Walk before Me and be blameless.” Later the covenant at Sinai employs the same imagery: “If you follow My statutes and carefully keep My commandments” (Leviticus 26:3). Obedience is pictured as steady, purposeful progress in the manner and direction God sets. Ethical and Wisdom Dimensions Wisdom literature contrasts righteous and wicked pathways. “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn… The way of the wicked is like deep darkness” (Proverbs 4:18–19). Psalm 1:1 blesses the person who “does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.” The verb group rooted in yalak therefore becomes an ethical metaphor: every step reveals allegiance—to God or to sin. Prophetic Calls to Walk in the Light Prophets frequently appeal to Israel’s walk. Isaiah exhorts, “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:5). Micah distills covenant duty: “to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Such appeals ground moral reform in renewed relationship: returning to God means resuming a faithful walk with Him. Presence and Guidance The language of going often accompanies divine presence. The LORD went before Israel in pillar and cloud (Exodus 13:21). David confesses, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4). As long as God goes with His people, movement—even through hardship—is secure and purposeful. Fulfillment in Christ and the New Covenant The New Testament echoes these themes with the Greek verb περιπατέω (peripateō, to walk). Believers are urged to “walk in the same way He [Jesus] walked” (1 John 2:6) and to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). Jesus Himself embodies the obedient walk, journeying from Galilee to Jerusalem, resolutely advancing toward the cross (Luke 9:51). His resurrection vindicates the path of obedience and opens a new and living way for His followers (Hebrews 10:20). Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Discipleship: Congregations cultivate obedience by teaching believers to take practical, daily steps—integrating Scripture, prayer, and service—rather than reducing faith to abstract belief. Devotional Reflection Because the biblical life is a walk, progress may seem slow and ordinary, yet each obedient step participates in God’s redemptive story. The believer confident in God’s presence can pray with Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” and press forward knowing that the final destination is assured: “They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy” (Revelation 3:4). Conclusion While יָלַךְ itself is unattested, its conceptual heritage is foundational. Scripture’s call is not merely to believe something about God but to travel with Him—one step at a time—until faith becomes sight and walking gives way to worship before the throne. Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance bə·yal·ḏū·ṯe·ḵā — 1 Occ.hay·yal·ḏūṯ — 1 Occ. yal·ḏu·ṯe·ḵā — 1 Occ. hay·yil·lō·wḏ — 2 Occ. hay·yil·lō·ḏîm — 2 Occ. wə·yā·lō·wn — 1 Occ. bî·lî·ḏê — 2 Occ. mî·li·ḏê — 1 Occ. wî·lîḏ — 1 Occ. yə·lîḏ — 4 Occ. ’ă·yê·lîl — 1 Occ. hê·lêl — 1 Occ. hê·lî·lî — 2 Occ. hê·lî·lū — 13 Occ. tə·yê·lî·lū — 1 Occ. wə·’ê·lî·lāh — 1 Occ. wə·hê·lêl — 1 Occ. wə·hê·lil — 1 Occ. wə·hê·lî·lū — 3 Occ. yə·hê·lî·lū — 1 Occ. |