Bible Dictionary
Journey
A journey in biblical usage could mean an ordinary day’s travel, commonly estimated at about sixteen to twenty miles, or a Sabbath-day’s journey, traditionally limited to about two thousand paces.
Definition
A journey is a period or distance of travel. In the supplied biblical usage, a day’s journey in the East was estimated at sixteen to twenty miles, while a Sabbath-day’s journey was measured as two thousand paces or yards from the city walls.
Biblical Usage
The Sabbath-day’s journey was understood in Jewish tradition as the distance one could travel without violating the Sabbath restriction associated with Exodus 16:29. Acts uses the expression in describing the distance from Jerusalem.
Historical Background
The customary Sabbath distance was measured from the city walls and was associated with Jewish tradition.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) A day’s journey in the East is from 16 to 20 miles (Num. 11:31). (2.) A Sabbath-day’s journey is 2,000 paces or yards from the city walls (Acts 1:12). According to Jewish tradition, it was the distance one might travel without violating the law of Ex. 16:29. (See SABBATH.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>jur'-ni.</p><p>See DAY'S JOURNEY; SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY.</p>