φυγή
phygḗ
G5437 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The act or process of fleeing, flight; the action of escaping from danger or threat. Also used for the state of being in exile, or removal to avoid harm. In some contexts, refers not merely to the motion but to the condition or situation resulting from the act of fleeing.
Semantic Range
flight (the act of fleeing), escape from danger, avoidance, state of exile or refugee status
Root / Etymology
From the verb φεύγω (pheúgō, 'to flee, escape, avoid'). The noun is a straightforward derivation from the verbal root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
φυγή is primarily a post-classical and Hellenistic Greek noun, rarely attested in early classical literature but found more commonly in the Septuagint, New Testament, and later texts. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the term often describes literal flight from danger, pursuing authorities, or hostile forces (e.g., flight from war, persecution, or judgment), as well as figurative uses for avoidance of undesirable situations. In the Septuagint, φυγή may render Hebrew terms for escape or fleeing into exile (e.g., מְנוּסָה, menūsāh). In the New Testament, it is used for the urgent escape from looming threats (e.g., flight in times of persecution: Matt 24:20). Traditional English Bible renderings like "flight" or "escape" reflect the core sense but may not always capture the nuance between the act of fleeing and the resultant state (exile, displacement, or continued avoidance).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from φεύγω; a fleeing, i.e. escape:--flight.
Root Family
φυγή (phygē) — fleeing, escape, avoidance, exile
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5437-01 |
φυγὴ | phuge | N NOM F SG |
flight | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5437-01 |
Matthew 24:20 | φυγὴ | phuge | N NOM F SG |
flight |