Path — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

A worn track or road. “Path(s)” and “pathway(s)” are used to translate a variety of words used in the Bible: (1) a well-trodden and much-used roadway (Gn 49:17; Pss 16:11; 139:3; Prv 2:8, 19 OET PRO 2:8 · OET PRO 2:19); (2) a thoroughfare or highway (Is 59:7; Jl 2:8); (3) a beaten track as across fields, over hills, and through valleys (Jb 30:13; Ps 119:35; Prv 3:17); (4) a track or passage in which the idea of flowing along is included (Ps 77:19; Jer 18:15); (5) a circular path, as in a trench or in a parapet (Ps 65:11; Prv 2:9); and (6) a narrow passage, as through a hole (Nm 22:24). “Path” is used to translate the Greek words meaning a worn track (Mt 3:3; Mk 1:3; Lk 3:4) and a wheel rut (Heb 12:13).

Show passage in OET: GEN 49:17

OET-RV GEN 49:17

17 He’ll be a snake beside the road,
⇔ ≈ a viper on the path,
⇔ that bites a horse’s heels
⇔ and its rider falls backwards.

OET-LV GEN 49:17

17 May _he _be Dān a _snake on a _road a _viper on a _path which_bites the_heels _of a _horse and_ rider _of_its _he _fell backwards.

Show passage in OET: PSA 16:11

OET-RV PSA 16:11

11 You show me the path that leads to life.
⇔ I’m always happy in your presence.
⇔ I’ll have pleasure forever when I’m with you.”

OET-LV PSA 16:11

11 You_will _make _known _to _me the_path _of life abundance _of gladness(es) are_with presence _of_your pleasant_things are_at_your _right _of_hand perpetuity.

Show passage in OET: PSA 139:3

OET-RV PSA 139:3

3 You’ve watched where I go and where I rest,
⇔ ≈ and you’re familiar with everything I do.

OET-LV PSA 139:3

3 Travelling_my and_my _lying_down you _sift and_all ways _of_my you _know _intimately.

Show passage in OET: PRO 2:8; PRO 2:19

OET-RV PRO 2:8

8 to guard the paths of justice,
⇔ and he will preserve the way of those who are faithful to him.

OET-RV PRO 2:19

19 No one who goes into her place will return,
⇔ ≈ and they won’t find the paths that lead to life.

OET-LV PRO 2:8

8 To_guard the_paths _of justice and_the _way _of his _faithful_people he _will _preserve.

OET-LV PRO 2:19

19 All _of those _of_who_go _to _her not they_return and_not they _reach the_paths _of life.

Show passage in OET: ISA 59:7

OET-RV ISA 59:7

7 Their feet run towards evil,
⇔ and they’re quick to shed innocent blood.
⇔ They’re always thinking about wickedness—
⇔ they walk the paths of causing ruin and destruction.

OET-LV ISA 59:7

7 Feet _of_their to_evil they _run and_they _hasten to_shed blood innocent thoughts _of_their are_thoughts _of wickedness devastation and_destruction are_on_highways _of_their.

Show passage in OET: JOL 2:8

OET-RV JOL 2:8

8 There’s no jostling each other—
⇔ each man marches straight forward.
⇔ They handle those who present weapons against them
⇔ and their progress isn’t interrupted.

OET-LV JOL 2:8

8 And_each his/its_brother not they_thrust a _man on_track _of_its they_go and_through the_weapon[s] they _fall not they _stop.

Show passage in OET: JOB 30:13

OET-RV JOB 30:13

13 They’ve torn down my path.
⇔ They benefit from my destruction—
⇔ there’s no helper for them.

OET-LV JOB 30:13

13 They _have _torn _down pathway _of_my to_destruction _of_my they _benefit not a _helper belongs_to_them.

Show passage in OET: PSA 119:35

OET-RV PSA 119:35

35 Guide me in the way of your commands,
⇔ because I delight in your way.

OET-LV PSA 119:35

35 Lead_me in_the _path _of your(pl)_commands _of_your if/because in_him/it I _delight.

Show passage in OET: PRO 3:17

OET-RV PRO 3:17

17 The ways of wisdom are pleasant,
⇔ ≈ and all its ways are peaceful.

OET-LV PRO 3:17

17 ways _of_her are_ways _of kindness and_all pathways _of_her are_well-being.

Show passage in OET: PSA 77:19

OET-RV PSA 77:19

19 Your path went through the sea
⇔ and your trail through the surging waters,
⇔ but your footprints couldn’t be seen.

OET-LV PSA 77:20

20  Was_in_sea way _of_your and was_in_waters many and_footprints _of not they _were _known.

Show passage in OET: JER 18:15

OET-RV JER 18:15

15 Yet my people have forgotten me.
⇔ They offer incense to useless idols
⇔ that have made them stumble on the ancient paths
⇔ that haven’t had any maintenance.

OET-LV JER 18:15

15 If/because they_have _forgotten _me people _of_my to_falsehood they _make _smoke and_they_have _caused _them _to _stumble in_ways _of_their paths _of antiquity to_go paths a _way not throw _up.

Show passage in OET: PSA 65:11

OET-RV PSA 65:11

11 You crown the yearly harvest with your bounty,
⇔ and your farm-wagons overflow with plenty.

OET-LV PSA 65:12

12  You _crown the _year _of your _goodness _of_your and_tracks _of_your they_drip fatness.

Show passage in OET: PRO 2:9

OET-RV PRO 2:9

9 Then you’ll understand righteousness and justice and integrity—every good path to walk,

OET-LV PRO 2:9

9 Then you _will _understand righteousness and_justice and_uprightness(es) every _of track _of good.

Show passage in OET: NUM 22:24

OET-RV NUM 22:24

24 Then Yahweh’s messenger moved to a place where the road was very narrow, with vineyard walls on each side of the road.

OET-LV NUM 22:24

24 And_ the _messenger _of YHWH _he _stood in_the _narrow _way _of the _vineyards a _wall was_from_this and_a _wall was_from_this.

Show passage in OET: MAT 3:3

OET-RV MAT 3:3

3 This is the man that the prophet Yeshayah (Isaiah) was talking about when he wrote:
⇔ ‘The voice of one shouting in the wilderness
⇔ prepare the road for Yahweh;
⇔ straighten his paths.’

OET-LV MAT 3:3

3 For/Because this is the one having _been _spoken through Aʸsaias/(Yəshaˊ^yāh) the prophet saying:
The_voice of_a_shouting one in the wilderness prepare the way of_the_master, be _making the paths of _him straight.

Show passage in OET: MRK 1:3

OET-RV MRK 1:3

3 The voice out in the wilderness shouting,
⇔ ‘Get the path ready for Yahweh—
⇔ ≈ make it smooth for him to walk on.’ ”

OET-LV MRK 1:3

3 The_voice of_a_shouting one in the wilderness prepare the way of_the_master, be _making the paths of _him straight.

Show passage in OET: LUK 3:4

OET-RV LUK 3:4

4 just like the prophet Yeshayah (Isaiah) had written:
⇔ ‘The voice shouting in the wilderness
⇔ prepare Yahweh’s road,
⇔ make his paths straight.

OET-LV LUK 3:4

4 as it _has _been _written in the_scroll of_the_messages of _Aʸsaias/(Yəshaˊ^yāh) the prophet:
The_voice shouting in the wilderness prepare the way of_the_master, be _making the paths of _him straight.

Show passage in OET: HEB 12:13

OET-RV HEB 12:13

13 Make your paths straight so that those who are lame won’t be discouraged, but rather come and be healed.

OET-LV HEB 12:13

13 and paths straight be _making for _the feet of _you _all, in _order _that not the lame may _be _turning _away, but may _be _healed rather.

Jump to OET GEN 49:17 section.

Jump to OET PSA 16:11 section.

Jump to OET PSA 139:3 section.

Jump to OET PRO 2:8 section. · OET PRO 2:19 section.

Jump to OET ISA 59:7 section.

Jump to OET JOL 2:8 section.

Jump to OET JOB 30:13 section.

Jump to OET PSA 119:35 section.

Jump to OET PRO 3:17 section.

Jump to OET PSA 77:19 section.

Jump to OET JER 18:15 section.

Jump to OET PSA 65:11 section.

Jump to OET PRO 2:9 section.

Jump to OET NUM 22:24 section.

Jump to OET MAT 3:3 section.

Jump to OET MRK 1:3 section.

Jump to OET LUK 3:4 section.

Jump to OET HEB 12:13 section.

A careful review of the use of the terms “path(s)” and “pathway(s)” reveals that the Bible uses them literally to speak of a stretch of ground over which traffic passes. This could be in the form of a crooked mountain path, an unpaved and much-traveled way, or a well-prepared pavement. Biblical writers also used the words metaphorically to speak of or to describe the way human life is lived in relation to God, and how God directs, and can and does either enrich or impoverish human life. Writers used the terms figuratively to refer to human conduct and experiences in the midst of the various dimensions of human life. Especially colorful in the last two uses are such expressions as the path of life (Ps 16:11), the plain (level) path (27:11), the good path (Prv 2:9), the path of the wicked (4:14), the path of the just (v 18), the path of judgment (Is 40:14), the right paths (Prv 4:11), and paths of peace (3:17).