ἐπᾰκολουθ-έω G1872
to follow after, accompany closely; to pursue or devote oneself to
Built from epi ('upon, after') and akoloutheo ('to follow'), this verb intensifies the idea of following with closeness and persistence. Its NT uses span a wide range: confirming signs that 'follow after' the gospel proclamation (Mark 16:20), a widow's record of good deeds she has 'followed after' or devoted herself to (1 Tim 5:10), sins that 'follow after' a person to judgment (1 Tim 5:24), and Christ's sufferings whose example believers are to 'follow' (1 Pet 2:21).
Senses
1. sense 1 — To follow closely upon or accompany, either literally or figuratively. In Mark 16:20 miraculous signs 'follow after' the preaching, confirming the word. In 1 Timothy 5:10 the verb describes devoted pursuit of good works ('she followed after every good work'), while 5:24 uses it of sins that trail after certain people to judgment. First Peter 2:21 calls believers to follow in Christ's footsteps of suffering. Spanish 'siguió/siguen' and French 'suivre' consistently render the core sense of close, purposeful following. The figurative extensions — from accompanying signs to pursuing virtue — all retain the root image of determined pursuit. 4×
AR["اتَّبَعَتْ", "المُتْبِعَةِ", "تَتبَعوا", "تَتْبَعُهُم"]·ben["অনুসরণকারী", "তারা-অনুসরণ-করে।", "তোমরা-অনুসরণ-কর", "সে-অনুসরণ-করেছে।"]·DE["nachfolgen"]·EN["following", "she-followed-after", "they-follow-after", "you-should-follow"]·FR["suivre"]·heb["הָלְכָה-אַחַר", "נִלְוִים", "עוֹקְבוֹת", "תֵּלְכוּ"]·HI["अनुसरण-करो", "अनुसरन-किय", "पेएछे-अअते-हैन", "साथ-चलनेवाले"]·ID["kamu-mengikuti", "mengikuti", "yang-menyertai"]·IT["epakolouthounton", "epakolouthousin", "epakolouthēsēte", "epēkolouthēsen"]·jav["ingkang-sami-ndèrèk", "ndhèrèkaken.", "panjenengan-ndhèrèk", "sampun-nindakaken."]·KO["뒤따른다.", "따랐다면.", "따르게-하려-함이니", "따르는"]·PT["seguem", "seguiu", "sigais"]·RU["последовали", "следовала", "следуют-за", "сопровождающих"]·ES["que-acompañaban", "siguen", "siguió", "sigáis"]·SW["alifuata", "mfuate", "zinafuata", "zinazofuata"]·TR["eşlik-eden", "izleyin", "kendini-adamışsa", "peşinden-gelir"]·urd["تم-پیروی-کرو", "ساتھ-آنے-والی", "پیروی-کی۔", "پیچھے-آتے-ہیں۔"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπᾰκολουθ-έω, follow close upon, follow after, pursue, τινί Refs 5th c.BC+; move with, τῷ ἄλλῳ σώματι Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 pursue as an enemy, Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 attend to, follow mentally, understand, τῷ λόγῳ Refs 5th c.BC+ __4 attend to, follow, i.e. obey or comply with, ταῖς τῶν συμμάχων γνώμαις Refs 5th c.BC+; αὐτῶν τῇ προαιρέσει Philipp. cited in Refs 4th c.BC+; ταῖς τῶν ποιητῶν βλασφημίαις ἐ.…