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φεύγω

pheúgō

G5343 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To flee, to run away from a place, person, or danger, often out of fear, threat, or compulsion. Primary sense is physical flight—leaving or departing quickly to avoid capture, harm, or unwelcome circumstances. Extended senses include metaphorical fleeing (to shun, to avoid, to forsake a behavior, association, or condition) and occasionally, to disappear or vanish.

Semantic Range

to flee (from physical danger or threat), to run away, to escape, to avoid or shun (danger, sin, association), to disappear, to vanish

Root / Etymology

Primary Greek verb, no clear derivation from another Greek root; possibly related to Indo-European root *bheug- ('to flee, avoid'), but Greek lineage is direct and may lack composite forms.

Historical & Contextual Notes

φέυγω is attested in classical Greek and maintains consistent meaning throughout Greek literature: to flee or escape physical danger (e.g., Homer, Herodotus), to seek safety by running away, or to evade hostile pursuit. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek (including the LXX and New Testament), it retains this meaning but is increasingly used in moral and metaphorical contexts (e.g., 'flee from idolatry' in Paul). The verb does not carry the sense of deliberate, strategic withdrawal that some military terms denote (cf. ὑποχωρέω). English Bibles often render φεύγω with 'flee' or 'escape'; 'shun' or 'avoid' appears in more abstract moral contexts. The connotation is typically one of urgency, not mere intentional withdrawal. Unlike verbs such as ἀπαλλάσσω (to remove) or ἐκφεύγω (to escape out of), φεύγω emphasizes the act of rapid departure itself. Its opposite is μένω (to remain, stay).

Translation Consistency

primary "flee" 29 occurrences

The primary and most frequent sense of φεύγω is physical flight—running away or escaping danger—so 'flee' best captures the typical usage. Most P2 renderings use 'fled' or 'flee', and 'flee' naturally extends to the metaphorical senses (flee from sin, shun, avoid). It is simple, natural English and will allow consistent inflection across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a primary verb; to run away (literally or figuratively); by implication, to shun; by analogy, to vanish:--escape, flee (away).

Root Family

φεύγω (pheugō) — to flee, to escape, to avoid

Root φεύγ- to flee, to escape, to avoid

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5343-02 ἔφυγον ephugon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL fled they fled they fled 7
G5343-01 ἔφυγεν ephugen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG fled he fled he fled 5
G5343-06 φευγέτωσαν pheugetosan V PRS ACT IMP 3P PL let flee let them flee let them flee 3
G5343-03 φεῦγε pheuge V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG flee Keep fleeing flee 3
G5343-05 φεύγετε pheugete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL flee Keep fleeing Keep fleeing 3
G5343-09 φυγεῖν phugein V AOR ACT INF to flee to flee to flee 3
G5343-04 φεύγει pheugei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG flees flees flees 2
G5343-07 φεύξεται pheuxetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG he will flee he will flee he will flee 1
G5343-08 φεύξονται pheuxontai V FUT MID IND 3P PL will flee they will flee they will flee 1
G5343-10 φύγητε phugete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL will you escape you may flee you may flee 1

Occurrences in Scripture

29 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5343-03 Matthew 2:13 φεῦγε pheuge V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG flee Keep fleeing flee
G5343-09 Matthew 3:7 φυγεῖν phugein V AOR ACT INF to-flee to flee to flee
G5343-02 Matthew 8:33 ἔφυγον ephugon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL fled they fled they fled
G5343-05 Matthew 10:23 φεύγετε pheugete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL flee Keep fleeing Keep fleeing
G5343-10 Matthew 23:33 φύγητε phugete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL will you escape you may flee you may flee
G5343-06 Matthew 24:16 φευγέτωσαν pheugetosan V PRS ACT IMP 3P PL let flee let them flee let them flee
G5343-02 Matthew 26:56 ἔφυγον ephugon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL fled they fled they fled
G5343-02 Mark 5:14 ἔφυγον ephugon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL fled they fled they fled
G5343-06 Mark 13:14 φευγέτωσαν pheugetosan V PRS ACT IMP 3P PL let them flee let them flee let them flee
G5343-02 Mark 14:50 ἔφυγον ephugon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they fled they fled they fled
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