Bible Dictionary
FOLLOW
To follow means to go after, pursue, cling to, imitate, or obey. Jesus calls disciples to follow Him, while believers are urged to pursue faithfulness and imitate godly examples.
Definition
To follow means to go after, pursue, cling to, continue after, imitate, or obey. The word may describe physical movement, persistent pursuit, close attachment, or adopting another person’s faith and conduct. Biblical translations use several expressions for going after or coming after someone.
Biblical Usage
Jesus calls people to follow Him, and Scripture speaks of following fully, pursuing righteousness or faithfulness, and following hard after God. Believers are told to imitate the faith of worthy leaders and to pursue what is good. Following may therefore express discipleship, obedience, imitation, or persistent devotion.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>fol'-o ('achar, radhaph; akoloutheo, dioko) :</p><p>Frequently the translation of 'achar, "after," e.g. Nu 14:24, "hath followed me fully," literally, "fulfilled after me" (Nu 32:11,12; De 1:36; Am 7:15); radhaph is "to pursue," and is often so translated; it is translated "follow" (Ps 23:6; Isa 5:11, etc.); "follow after" (Ge 44:4; Ex 14:4); reghel, "foot," is several times translated "follow" (literally, "at the foot of"; Ex 11:8; Jud 8:5, etc.); halakh 'achar, "to go after" (De 4:3; 1Ki 14:8, etc.); yalakh 'achar, "to go on after" (Ge 24:5; Jud 2:19, etc.); dabheq, "to cause to cleave to" is "follow hard after" (1Sa 14:22; Ps 63:8, etc.).</p><p>In the New Testament, in addition to akoloutheo (Mt 4:20,22,25, etc.) various words and phrases are rendered "follow," e.g. Deute opiso mou, "Come after me" (Mt 4:19, "Follow me," the Revised Version (British and American) "Come ye after me"); dioko, "to pursue" (Lu 17:23; 1Th 5:15, the Revised Version (British and American) "follow after," etc.); mimeomai, "to imitate" (Heb 13:7, "whose faith follow," the Revised Version (British and American) "imitate their faith; 2Thes 3:7,9; 3Joh 1:11); compounds of akoloutheo with ex, para sun, etc. (2Pe 1:16; Mr 16:20; Ac 16:17; Mr 5:37, etc.).</p><p>English Revised Version, "Follow after faithfulness" makes an important change in Ps 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" (1Ti 4:6) the Revised Version (British and American) gives "followed until now."</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>