A way, road, path, or journey — both literal and figurative. Hodos describes physical roads and the metaphorical 'way' of life, conduct, or teaching. Early Christianity was called 'the Way' (hē hodos) in Acts, before the term 'Christian' existed.
Jesus' claim 'I am the way' (John 14:6) is exclusive and absolute — not a way among many but the way to the Father. The early church was called 'the Way' (Acts 9:2, 19:23), defining itself as a path to follow, not just a belief to hold. The OT background is rich: God's 'ways' are His character and conduct (Psalm 25:4), and Israel was constantly called to 'walk in His ways.' Christianity is a hodos — a way of walking, not just thinking.