The meaning of Follow in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
fol'-o ('achar, radhaph; akoloutheo, dioko) : Frequently the translation of 'achar, "after," e.g. Numbers 14:24, "hath followed me fully," literally, "fulfilled after me" (Numbers 32:11-12; Deuteronomy 1:36; Amos 7:15); radhaph is "to pursue," and is often so translated; it is translated "follow" (Psalms 23:6; Isaiah 5:11, etc.); "follow after" (Genesis 44:4; Exodus 14:4); reghel, "foot," is several times translated "follow" (literally, "at the foot of"; Exodus 11:8; Judges 8:5, etc.); halakh 'achar, "to go after" (Deuteronomy 4:3; I Kings 14:8, etc.); yalakh 'achar, "to go on after" (Genesis 24:5; Judges 2:19, etc.); dabheq, "to cause to cleave to" is "follow hard after" (I Samuel 14:22; Psalms 63:8, etc.).
In the New Testament, in addition to akoloutheo (Matthew 4:20, Matthew 4:22, Matthew 4:25, etc.) various words and phrases are rendered "follow," e.g. Deute opiso mou, "Come after me" (Matthew 4:19, "Follow me," the Revised Version (British and American) "Come ye after me"); dioko, "to pursue" (Luke 17:23; I Thessalonians 5:15, the Revised Version (British and American) "follow after," etc.); mimeomai, "to imitate" (Hebrews 13:7, "whose faith follow," the Revised Version (British and American) "imitate their faith; II Thessalonians 3:7, II Thessalonians 3:9; III John 1:11); compounds of akoloutheo with ex, para sun, etc. (II Peter 1:16; Mark 16:20; Acts 16:17; Mark 5:37, etc.).
English Revised Version, "Follow after faithfulness" makes an important change in Psalms 37:3, where the King James Version has "and verily thou shalt be fed"; but the American Standard Revised Version has "feed on his faithfulness," margin "feed securely or verily thou shalt be fed." For "attained" (I Timothy 4:6) the Revised Version (British and American) gives "followed until now."
W. L. Walker
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
