Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "going away" in the Bible often signifies a physical departure, a spiritual journey, or a metaphorical transition. It can denote both positive and negative connotations depending on the context and the individuals involved.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, "going away" frequently involves physical movement, often as part of God's divine plan. For instance, Abram's departure from his homeland is a significant act of faith and obedience.
Genesis 12:1 records God's command: "Go forth from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you." Abram's willingness to go away from his familiar surroundings marks the beginning of God's covenant relationship with him and his descendants.
The Israelites' exodus from Egypt is another pivotal example. Their going away from slavery to the Promised Land is a central narrative of deliverance and divine intervention.
Exodus 14:21-22 describes the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to go away from their oppressors: "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, "going away" often involves Jesus and His disciples. Jesus frequently withdrew to solitary places to pray, indicating a spiritual going away for communion with the Father.
Mark 1:35 notes, "Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray."
The departure of Jesus after His resurrection is a significant event. In
John 16:7 , Jesus explains the necessity of His going away: "But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." Here, Jesus' ascension is portrayed as a necessary step for the coming of the Holy Spirit, marking a transition in the divine plan for humanity.
Spiritual and Metaphorical ImplicationsSpiritually, "going away" can symbolize repentance and turning away from sin. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger son's initial departure from his father's house represents a journey into sin and separation from God. However, his eventual return signifies repentance and reconciliation.
Luke 15:13 states, "After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living."
The concept also appears in the teachings of Jesus regarding discipleship. In
Matthew 19:21-22 , Jesus challenges the rich young ruler to go away from his material possessions: "Jesus told him, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.' When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth."
ConclusionThe theme of "going away" in the Bible encompasses physical journeys, spiritual transitions, and metaphorical departures. It serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience, faith, and the transformative power of God's presence in the lives of His people.
Topical Bible Verses
John 14:27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Topicalbible.orgJohn 14:1-31
Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.
Topicalbible.org
John 14:1
Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.
Topicalbible.org
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.
Topicalbible.org
Greek
565. aperchomai -- to go away, go after ... erchomai Definition to go
away, go after NASB Word Usage came (1), depart (1), departed
(3), drew (1), go (20), go
away (6), go over (1),
going away (1),
going ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/565.htm - 8k5217. hupago -- to lead or bring under, to lead on slowly, to ...
... to lead on slowly, to depart NASB Word Usage get (2), go (45), go their way (1),
go away (3), goes (5), going (20), going away (1), going back (1), went (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5217.htm - 8k
4198. poreuomai -- to go
... am on my way (1), depart (1), departed (1), departure (1), following (3), go (69),
go on their way (1), go away (1), goes (7), going (15), going away (2), gone ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4198.htm - 10k
3901. pararreo -- to flow by, hence slip away
... 3901 ("drift away from") only occurs in Heb 2:1 where it refers to going --
"sinning by slipping away" (from God's anchor). 3901 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3901.htm - 7k
3855. parago -- to lead by, to pass by or away
... para and ago Definition to lead by, to pass by or away NASB Word Usage going along
(1), passed (2), passer-by (1), passing (1), passing away (3), went (2). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3855.htm - 6k
1553. ekdemeo -- to be away from home, absent
... experience . See Rev 19:7-9. 1553 () is always used , of the desire to be
(away) from of this world and going on to enjoy God's . Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1553.htm - 7k
71. ago -- to lead, bring, carry
... arrest (1), bring (11), bringing (3), brought (26), go (5), going (2), lead (1),
leads (1), led (12), led away (1), session (1), taking (1), took away (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/71.htm - 8k
1831. exerchomai -- to go or come out of
... forth (3), comes (1), coming (7), departed (1), departing (1), descended* (1), eluded
(1), get (2), go (21), go away (2), go* (1), goes (2), going (2), gone (13 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1831.htm - 10k
4297. prokope -- progress
... For the believer, this means going in sanctification, cutting through obstacles .
[This root () is also used in antiquity of and -- clearing away (chopping down ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4297.htm - 7k
1826. exeimi -- to go forth
... originally: I shall go out), I go out (away), depart. Word Origin from ek and eimi
(to go) Definition to go forth NASB Word Usage get (1), going (1), leave (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1826.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
3318. yatsa -- to go or come out... the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get
away (forth, hence,
out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out),
going out, grow
... /hebrew/3318.htm - 8k 5674a. abar -- to pass over, through, or by, pass on
... 1), go over (3), go through (3), go* (1), goes (1), going (2), going over (3 ... 1),
overflowing (1), overlook (1), pass (72), pass along (2), pass away (5), pass ...
/hebrew/5674a.htm - 7k
5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... 1), exalt (1), exalted (2), excel (1), falls (1), fell (2), get (1), get back (1),
give off (1), go (140), goes (6), going (8), gone (18), gone away (2), got ...
/hebrew/5927.htm - 8k
7725. shub -- to turn back, return
... go back (10), go* (1), going back (1), gone back (1), indeed (1), indeed bring
(1), indeed bring me back (1), indeed return (2), indeed turn away (1), keeps (2 ...
/hebrew/7725.htm - 9k
5307. naphal -- to fall, lie
... 4), falling (3), falling down (2), falls (22), falls away (1), fell (98), fell down
(8), felled (1), felling (1), give birth (1), go over (1), going over (2 ...
/hebrew/5307.htm - 7k
1980. halak -- to go, come, walk
... 2), followed* (21), following (1), following* (5), follows* (1), get (1), get away
(2), get ... 4), goes (22), goes to and fro (1), goes down (1), going (30), gone ...
/hebrew/1980.htm - 8k
Library
How one Loses by Going Away from One's Cell.
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XV. How one loses by going away from
one's cell. And so we ought always to remain shut up in our cell. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xv how one loses.htm
The Runaway
... I'm certainly going away.". Paul was waxing eloquent again, but Stanislaus turned
on his heel and walked away. ... Going away!' Going to Augsburg! ...
/.../greater things the story of saint stanislaus kostka /chapter x the runaway.htm
The Story of Perpetua.
... And the soldiers laughed, and said to the woman: Why dost thou wish, woman, to lose
thy handkerchief? Knowest thou not that he is going away to be beheaded? ...
/.../unknown/acts of the holy apostles peter and paul/the story of perpetua.htm
Morgan -- the Perfect Ideal of Life
... fact! Now He stands upon the mountain, with this handful of men around
Him, His disciples, and He is going away from them. "All ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/morgan the perfect ideal.htm
The Praying Mother.
... All her pleading was in vain, and at last, when I was going away, she took out a
watch and said: 'My son, your father left this to me when he died. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/the praying mother.htm
Last Years
... of the city thronged Christ Church not to say "Farewell," but "Hail!", for as Alfred
Segal grandly put it, "He was like one going away to gather in his victory ...
//christianbookshelf.org/herrick/frank h nelson of cincinnati/last years.htm
Stones Rolled Away
... Of course, many very fair minded men are kept away from going into this subject
as they would like by a number of exceedingly surface reasons. ...
/.../stones rolled away and other addresses to young men/i stones rolled away.htm
The Giving up of Pontius Pilate.
... And Pilate, going away to the place, prayed in silence, saying: Lord, do not destroy
me along with the wicked Hebrews, because I would not have laid hands upon ...
/.../unknown/the giving up of pontius pilate/the giving up of pontius.htm
Possessing, and "Working Out. "
... Suppose I say to my son: "You are going away from home; and I want you to be very
careful how you spend that [USD]500." "Well," he says, "if you will give me ...
/.../moody/sovereign grace/chapter iii possessing and working.htm
Abraham's Four Surrenders
... "Father is going away to meet his God, and the angels may come down and talk
with him as at Hebron. That is what he is so agitated about.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/i abrahams four surrenders.htm
Resources
Is it okay to have premarital sex if you know you are going to marry the person? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about going into debt? | GotQuestions.orgWhy was God going to kill Moses in Exodus 4:24-26? | GotQuestions.orgGoing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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