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ἐκκλίνω

ekklínō

G1578 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ἐκκλίν- to turn, to bend, to deviate

Definition

To turn away from, to avoid, to deviate deliberately from a path, behavior, or association. In some contexts, to shun someone or something, particularly to turn aside from wrongdoing or from a prescribed moral or social path. Can also mean to retreat or withdraw, both physically and metaphorically.

Semantic Range

to turn aside (physically), to deviate (from a path or standard), to avoid (danger, person, or behavior), to withdraw (from association), to shun (wrong or evil), to decline (from piety or duty)

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἐκ ('out of') and the verb κλίνω ('to bend, to incline, to turn'), forming a compound meaning 'to bend out of (the way),' i.e., to turn away or aside. The root κλίνω is common in Greek verbs referring to physical or metaphorical turning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐκκλίνω primarily expressed the sense of turning aside from a physical path or object, sometimes with a neutral or even positive sense (e.g., avoiding a danger). In the Koine period (including the Septuagint and New Testament), its use broadens to encompass ethical, religious, and social turning aside or avoiding — particularly in exhortations to withdraw from evil, sin, or harmful behavior (as seen in Romans 3:12, echoing LXX Psalm 13:3). The sense of deliberate moral or social avoidance is prominent in biblical literature, often paralleling Hebrew סוּר (sur, to turn aside, depart, avoid). English translations such as 'avoid', 'eschew', or 'turn aside' can capture some of these nuances, though they may not always reflect the deliberateness or dimension of physical vs. moral turning. The term does not always imply shunning in the sense of formal exclusion—context determines whether the leaving is spatial, relational, or behavioral.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐκ and κλίνω; to deviate, i.e. (absolutely) to shun (literally or figuratively), or (relatively) to decline (from piety):--avoid, eschew, go out of the way.

Root Family

ἐκκλίνω (ekklinō) — to turn, to bend, to deviate

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1578-01 ἐκκλινάτω ekklinato V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG let him turn away let him turn aside 1
G1578-02 ἐκκλίνετε ekklinete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL turn away keep turning away 1
G1578-03 ἐξέκλιναν exeklinan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they turned aside 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1578-03 Romans 3:12 ἐξέκλιναν exeklinan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they turned aside
G1578-02 Romans 16:17 ἐκκλίνετε ekklinete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL turn away keep turning away
G1578-01 1 Peter 3:11 ἐκκλινάτω ekklinato V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG let him turn away let him turn aside
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