What does the Bible say about highways?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible presents highways as practical routes for travel, commerce, justice, and warfare, while also using them to picture God’s saving way and the moral choice between life and destruction. Numbers 20:17-19 and Deuteronomy 2:27 show Israel seeking peaceful passage along established roads, respecting the lands of others. Deuteronomy 19:2 calls for accessible roads to cities of refuge, reflecting God’s concern for righteous justice. Jeremiah 31:21 and Isaiah 40:3 transform the image into a call to prepare for the Lord’s restoring presence. Jesus finally warns in Matthew 7:13 that the broad way leads to destruction, while the narrow way leads to life, urging faith, repentance, and obedience to God.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- FIGURATIVE Proverbs 16:17; Isaiah 11:16; Isaiah 35:8-10; Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 40:4; Matthew 3:3; Matthew 7:13; Matthew 7:14
- See ROADS
- See WAY
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Roads for public use Numbers 20:19; Deuteronomy 2:27
- Called the king’s highway Numbers 20:17
- Marked out by heaps of stones Jeremiah 31:21
- Generally broad Judges 20:32; Judges 20:45; Matthew 7:13
- Generally straight 1 Samuel 6:12; Isaiah 40:3
- Made to all cities of refuge Deuteronomy 19:2; Deuteronomy 19:3
- Often made in deserts Isaiah 40:3
- Infested with
- Serpents Genesis 49:17
- Wild beasts 1 Kings 13:24; Isaiah 35:9
- Robbers Jeremiah 3:2; Luke 10:30-33
- Beggars sat by sides of Matthew 20:30; Mark 10:46
- Often obstructed Jeremiah 18:15
- All obstructions removed from, before persons of distinction Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 40:4; Matthew 3:3
- By-paths more secure in times of danger Judges 5:6
- Desolation of, threatened as a punishment Leviticus 26:22; Isaiah 33:8
- Illustrative
- Of Christ John 14:6
- Of the way of holiness Isaiah 35:8
- Of facilities for the restoration of the Jews Isaiah 11:16; Isaiah 62:10
- (Made in the deserts,) of facilities for the spread of the gospel Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 43:19
- (Narrow,) of the way of life Matthew 7:14
- (Broad,) of the way to destruction Matthew 7:13
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