Lexical Summary pheugó: to flee, escape, avoid Original Word: φεύγω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance escape, flee away. Apparently a primary verb; to run away (literally or figuratively); by implication, to shun; by analogy, to vanish -- escape, flee (away). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. verb Definition to flee NASB Translation escape (2), escaped (2), fled (5), fled away (2), flee (13), flees (2), ran away (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5343: φεύγωφεύγω; future φεύξομαι; 2 aorist ἔφυγον; from Homer down; the Sept. for נוּס and בָּרַח; to flee, i. e. a. to flee away, seek safety by flight: absolutely, Matthew 8:33; Matthew 26:56; Mark 5:14; Mark 14:50; Luke 8:34; John 10:12 (13 (here G T Tr text WH omit; L Tr marginal reading brackets the clause)); Acts 7:29; followed by εἰς with an accusative of the place, Matthew 2:13; Matthew 10:23; (Matthew 24:16, here R G T WH marginal reading ἐπί); Mark 13:14; Luke 21:21; (John 6:15 Tdf.); Revelation 12:6; followed by ἐπί with an accusative of the place, Matthew 24:16 (here L Tr WH text εἰς); ἐκ τοῦ πλοίου, Acts 27:30; followed by ἀπό with a genitive of the place, in a purely local sense, to leave by fleeing, as in Greek writings (cf. Winers Grammar, 223 (210); (Buttmann, § 131, 1)), Mark 16:8: by ἀπό with a genitive of the person inspiring fear or threatening danger (after the Hebrew), John 10:5; James 4:7: poetically, φεύξεται ἀπ' αὐτῶν ὁ θάνατος, death shall flee from them, opposed to ζητησουσι θάνατον, Revelation 9:6. b. metaphorically, to flee (to shun or avoid by flight) something abhorrent, especially vices: with an accusative of the thing, 1 Corinthians 6:18 (Wis. 1:5; 4 Macc. 8:18); opposed to διώκειν, 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22; Hebraistically followed by ἀπό with a genitive of the thing, 1 Corinthians 10:14 (ἀπό ἁμαρτίας, Sir. 21:2). c. to be saved by flight, to escape safe out of danger: absolutely Hebrews 12:25 R G; with an accusative of the thing, Hebrews 11:34; Hebraistically followed by ἀπό with a genitive — of the thing, Matthew 3:7; Matthew 23:33; Luke 3:7; of the person Mark 14:52 (T Tr text WH omit; L Tr marginal reading brackets ἀπ' αὐτῶν). d. poetically, to flee altar equivalent to vanish: πᾶσα νῆσος ἔφυγε καί ὄρη οὐχ εὑρέθησαν, Revelation 16:20; with the Hebraistic addition ἀπό προσώπου τίνος (as in Deuteronomy 28:7; Joshua 7:4; Joshua 8:5; 2 Chronicles 10:2, etc.; see πρόσωπον, 1 b., p. 551b middle), Revelation 20:11. (Compare the synonyms: ἀποφεύγω (emphasizes the inner endeavor or aversion), διαφεύγω (suggests the space which the flight must traverse), ἐκφεύγω (looks rather to the physical possibility), καταφεύγω (points to the place or the person where refuge is sought); Schmidt, Syn., chapter 109.) The verb denotes swift departure for safety, avoidance, or deliverance, whether from physical danger, moral evil, or divine judgment. In Scripture it embraces literal flight, commanded escapes, and metaphorical withdrawal from sin. Old Testament Background and Greek Usage In the Septuagint the term often renders the Hebrew “barach,” depicting Lot’s flight from Sodom or David fleeing Saul. This backdrop shapes New Testament nuance: the act of running finds ultimate reference to God’s protection and the believer’s obedience. Fleeing as Divine Directive • Matthew 2:13 records Heaven’s urgent instruction: “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt.” The safety of the Messiah depends upon immediate compliance, illustrating that flight can be an act of faith, not cowardice. Fleeing from Evil and Temptation The apostolic letters employ the verb primarily in the imperative: – “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18). – “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14). – “But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness” (1 Timothy 6:11). – “Flee from youthful passions” (2 Timothy 2:22). These commands show that moral victory often begins with physical or decisive separation rather than debate with temptation. James 4:7 adds the converse promise: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” revealing that evil itself retreats before resolute submission to God. Fleeing in Times of Persecution Prophetic discourse foresees urgent exodus: “Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:16; Mark 13:14; Luke 21:21). Historically fulfilled in the Jewish believers’ departure from Jerusalem before A.D. 70, these instructions also preview end-time tribulation strategy—flight directed by prophetic warning, sustained by divine care. Eschatological Flight Revelation intensifies the motif. The persecuted woman “fled into the wilderness” (Revelation 12:6), echoing Israel’s exodus and the Church’s preservation. Cosmic upheaval climaxes in creation itself recoiling: “Every island fled, and no mountain could be found” (Revelation 16:20); “Earth and heaven fled from His presence” (Revelation 20:11). What humans do in microcosm, the universe enacts before the unveiled glory of God. Failure and Flight: Negative Examples • Mark 14:50 depicts the disciples: “Then everyone deserted Him and fled.” Such texts expose fear-driven desertion and self-interest, warning believers against forsaking trust when crisis erupts. Faith-Induced Escape Hebrews 11:34 celebrates saints who “escaped the edge of the sword.” Their flight is credited as faith, not failure, demonstrating that trusting obedience may look like running away yet remains conqueror’s ground. Pastoral Applications 1. Discern the difference between faithful retreat and faithless desertion: motive and command decide. Christological Reflection Jesus Himself never fled duty, yet He commanded others to flee when obedience required it. His resolute advance to the cross redeems every fearful flight and empowers Spirit-led escapes. Theological Summary The verb gathers the biblical tension between weakness and wisdom, fear and faith. Whether danger, temptation, or eschatological upheaval, Scripture presents fleeing as a legitimate, sometimes mandated, response under God’s sovereignty. Ultimately, the only secure asylum is the Lord Himself; all lesser flights succeed only because they lead into His providential care. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 2:13 V-PMA-2SGRK: αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον NAS: and His mother and flee to Egypt, KJV: mother, and flee into Egypt, INT: of him and flee into Egypt Matthew 3:7 V-ANA Matthew 8:33 V-AIA-3P Matthew 10:23 V-PMA-2P Matthew 23:33 V-ASA-2P Matthew 24:16 V-PMA-3P Matthew 26:56 V-AIA-3P Mark 5:14 V-AIA-3P Mark 13:14 V-PMA-3P Mark 14:50 V-AIA-3P Mark 14:52 V-AIA-3S Mark 16:8 V-AIA-3P Luke 3:7 V-ANA Luke 8:34 V-AIA-3P Luke 21:21 V-PMA-3P John 10:5 V-FIM-3P John 10:12 V-PIA-3S Acts 7:29 V-AIA-3S Acts 27:30 V-ANA 1 Corinthians 6:18 V-PMA-2P 1 Corinthians 10:14 V-PMA-2P 1 Timothy 6:11 V-PMA-2S 2 Timothy 2:22 V-PMA-2S Hebrews 11:34 V-AIA-3P James 4:7 V-FIM-3S Strong's Greek 5343 |
    |