Follow

FOLLOW 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; 1 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" (1 Samuel 14:22; Psalms 63:8, etc.).

In the New Testament, in addition to akoloutheo (Matthew 4:20,22,25, 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; 1 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;

2 Thessalonians 3:7,9; 3 John 1:11); compounds of akoloutheo with ex, para sun, etc. (2 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" (1 Timothy 4:6) the Revised Version (British and American) gives "followed until now."

W. L. Walker

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Bibliography Information

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'FOLLOW'".  "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".  1915.