In the biblical narrative, the theme of escape is prevalent, illustrating God's providence, protection, and deliverance of His people. Throughout Scripture, various individuals and groups experience miraculous escapes, often highlighting God's sovereignty and faithfulness.

Old Testament Escapes

1. Noah's Ark: One of the earliest accounts of escape is Noah's deliverance from the flood. God instructed Noah to build an ark to save his family and pairs of every living creature from the impending judgment. Genesis 7:23 states, "Every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained."

2. Lot's Escape from Sodom: Lot's escape from Sodom is another significant event. God sent angels to rescue Lot and his family before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19:16 recounts, "But when he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters, and led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them."

3. The Exodus: The escape of the Israelites from Egypt is a central narrative in the Old Testament. God delivered His people from slavery through a series of plagues and the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. Exodus 14:29 describes, "But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left."

4. David's Escapes from Saul: David experienced numerous escapes from King Saul, who sought to kill him. These escapes demonstrate God's protection over David, who was anointed to be king. In 1 Samuel 23:14, it is noted, "David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands."

New Testament Escapes

1. Jesus' Escape from Herod: As an infant, Jesus was saved from King Herod's massacre of the innocents. An angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. Matthew 2:13 records, "An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up!' he said. 'Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.'"

2. Peter's Escape from Prison: In the book of Acts, Peter's miraculous escape from prison is a testament to God's intervention. An angel of the Lord freed him, leading him past guards and through the prison gates. Acts 12:7 states, "Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. 'Quick, get up!' he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists."

3. Paul's Escapes: The Apostle Paul experienced several escapes during his missionary journeys. In Damascus, he was lowered in a basket through an opening in the city wall to avoid capture (Acts 9:25). Additionally, in Acts 16:26, during an imprisonment in Philippi, "Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose."

Theological Implications

The theme of escape in the Bible underscores God's active role in the lives of His people. These narratives reveal His power to deliver and His commitment to His covenant promises. They also serve as reminders of the spiritual deliverance available through faith in Jesus Christ, who provides ultimate escape from sin and death.2990. lanthano -- to escape notice
... root lath- Definition to escape notice NASB Word Usage escape...notice (2), escape
notice (1), escaped notice (1), escapes...notice (1), without knowing (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2990.htm - 7k6413. peletah -- an escape
... Word Origin from palat Definition an escape NASB Word Usage deliverance (2), escape
(7), escaped (2), escaped remnant (3), escapes (1), fugitives (1 ...
/hebrew/6413.htm - 6k

6412a. palit -- escaped one, fugitive
... Word Usage escaped (1), fugitive (1), fugitives (4), one escape (1), refugee (1),
refugees (4), survivors (1), who escape (2), who escaped (3), who escapes (1 ...
/hebrew/6412a.htm - 5k

5674a. abar -- to pass over, through, or by, pass on
... 31), crossed (31), crossed over (17), crossing (5), crossing over (5), current
(1), devote (1), drew across (1), drifting (1), enter (1), escapes the notice (1 ...
/hebrew/5674a.htm - 7k

5956. alam -- to conceal
... root Definition to conceal NASB Word Usage blind (1), disregard* (1), escapes (1),
ever (1), hidden (10), hide (6), hides (1), melts (1), neglect (1), pay no ...
/hebrew/5956.htm - 6k

4422. malat -- to slip away
... root Definition to slip away NASB Word Usage certainly rescue (1), deliver (7),
delivered (9), escape (26), escaped (25), escapes (3), gave birth (1), get away ...
/hebrew/4422.htm - 6k

8444. totsaah -- an outgoing, extremity, perhaps source, escape
... Word Origin from yatsa Definition an outgoing, extremity, perhaps source, escape
NASB Word Usage borders (1), ended* (13), escapes (1), exits (1), farthest ...
/hebrew/8444.htm - 6k

Narrow Escapes. Is Thrown from a Horse. Has Pneumonia. Nearly ...
... PART I."AUTOBIOGRAPHY. CHAPTER X. Narrow Escapes. Is Thrown from a Horse. Has Pneumonia. ...
Reflections. Narrow Escapes. Is Thrown from a Horse. Has Pneumonia. ...
/.../chapter x narrow escapes is.htm

Nothing Escapes God's Knowledge. ...
... by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. Book I. Chapter XIV. Nothing escapes
God's knowledge.? Nothing escapes God's knowledge. This ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xiv nothing escapes gods.htm

Martin Escapes from a Falling Pine-Tree.
... Sulpitius Severus On the Life of St. Martin. Chapter XIII. Martin escapes
from a Falling Pine-tree. Again, when in a certain village ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xiii martin escapes from.htm

Why the Manich??ans Prohibit the Use of Flesh.
... For, according to you, some portion of that divine part escapes in the eating of
vegetables and fruits: it escapes while they undergo the infliction of rubbing ...
/.../chapter 15 name the manichaeans.htm

General Index to Socrates' Ecclesiastical History.
... Acesius, a Novatian bishop; his conversation with Constantine, [20]17. Achab
(called John), a false accuser of Athanasius, escapes, [21]31. ...
/.../general index to socrates ecclesiastical.htm

The Paradoxes of Christianity
... element of the quiet and incalculable. It escapes the rationalists, but it
never escapes till the last moment. From the grand curve of ...
/.../chesterton/orthodoxy/vi the paradoxes of christianity.htm

The Obscure Apostles
... not the least important fact about the Apostolate is that one to which we have referred,
which like the names of countries on the map, escapes notice because ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the obscure apostles.htm

God's Low Whisper
... Then every one who escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death; and every
one who escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/gods low whisper.htm

Whether we Should have Contrition for Every Actual Sin?
... Reply to Objection 2: One may forget a thing in two ways, either so that it escapes
the memory altogether, and then one cannot search for it; or so that it ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether we should have contrition.htm

The Programme of Christianity
... It was rather that of a man dwelling amidst the Destructions of the City and planning
escapes for the souls of others"escapes not to the other world, but to ...
/.../the programme of christianity 2.htm

Escapes (11 Occurrences)
...Escapes (11 Occurrences). ... Jeremiah 48:19 Inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and
watch: ask him who flees, and her who escapes; say, What has been done? ...
/e/escapes.htm - 9k

Escape (142 Occurrences)
... vi) To get free from that which confines or holds; -- used of persons or things;
as, to escape from prison, from arrest, or from slavery; gas escapes from the ...
/e/escape.htm - 38k

Fugitive (12 Occurrences)
... from naphal, "to fall"; bariach, beriach and mibhrach, from barach, "to flee"):
One who flees from danger (Isaiah 15:5 Ezekiel 17:21); escapes from bondage ...
/f/fugitive.htm - 11k

Escapeth (11 Occurrences)

/e/escapeth.htm - 9k

Hazael (23 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 19:17 It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu
will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. ...
/h/hazael.htm - 23k

Jehu (63 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 19:17 It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu
will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. ...
/j/jehu.htm - 47k

Japhlet (2 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia JAPHLET. jaf'-let (yaphleT, "he escapes"(?)) In 1
Chronicles 7:32, 33, a "son" of Heber, an Asherite. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/j/japhlet.htm - 7k

Information (14 Occurrences)
... (See RSV NIV). Ezekiel 24:26 that in that day he who escapes shall come
to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears? (See NAS). ...
/i/information.htm - 11k

Fowler (3 Occurrences)
... David's promise that the Almighty will deliver us from the evil plans laid to ruin
us, as a bird sometimes in its struggles slips the hair and escapes from the ...
/f/fowler.htm - 11k

Flees (19 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS). Jeremiah 48:19 Inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and watch: ask
him who flees, and her who escapes; say, What has been done? (WEB NAS RSV). ...
/f/flees.htm - 11k

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