ἀποδημέω
apodēméō
G589 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To go away from one's home, to travel or journey to a distant place, particularly with the sense of departing from one's regular place of residence. Frequently used to describe someone leaving for an extended trip, often to another region or country; in some contexts, implies being absent for a long period or for a specific purpose such as business or duty.
Semantic Range
to travel abroad, to depart from home, to be away from one's country, to journey for an extended period, to be absent
Root / Etymology
Derived from ἀπόδημος (one who is away from home, a sojourner), which itself is formed from ἀπό (away from) and δῆμος (home, country, people).
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term is rare in classical Greek but attested in some Hellenistic sources. In the New Testament (notably in the parables of Jesus, e.g., Mark 13:34), ἀποδημέω refers to someone departing for an extended absence, often as a landowner or principal figure leaving servants in charge. The emphasis is not merely on travel, but on absence from one's usual dwelling. Septuagint usage is minimal, while in broader Koine literature it may describe not only literal journeys but also, occasionally, metaphoric departures or absences. Standard English translations like 'go into a far country' or 'travel abroad' capture the surface sense but may obscure the strong nuance of leaving one's proper sphere or long-term absence.
Translation Consistency
Covers the SILEX range — leaving one’s home to journey abroad or be away for an extended time — while sounding natural and modern. It easily yields the required inflected forms (traveled, traveling, travels) and captures the typical sense of ἀποδημέω better than more formal alternatives like “depart” or less specific choices like “leave.”
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπόδημος; to go abroad, i.e. visit a foreign land:--go (travel) into a far country, journey.
Root Family
ἀποδημέω (apodēmeō) — go away from home, depart, journey to a distant place, travel abroad
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G589-01 |
ἀπεδήμησεν | apedemesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
went away | he journeyed away from home | he traveled away from home | 5 |
G589-02 |
ἀποδημῶν | apodemon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
going on a journey | journeying away from home | journeying away from home | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G589-01 |
Matthew 21:33 | ἀπεδήμησεν | apedemesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
went away | he journeyed away from home | he traveled away from home |
G589-02 |
Matthew 25:14 | ἀποδημῶν | apodemon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
going on a journey | journeying away from home | journeying away from home |
G589-01 |
Matthew 25:15 | ἀπεδήμησεν | apedemesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he went away | he journeyed away from home | he traveled away from home |
G589-01 |
Mark 12:1 | ἀπεδήμησεν | apedemesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
went away | he journeyed away from home | he traveled away from home |
G589-01 |
Luke 15:13 | ἀπεδήμησεν | apedemesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
journeyed | he journeyed away from home | he traveled away from home |
G589-01 |
Luke 20:9 | ἀπεδήμησεν | apedemesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
went away | he journeyed away from home | he traveled away from home |