Greek word · G5298

ὑποχωρέω

hypochōreō

to withdraw

To go back, retreat, withdraw, retire (BDAG). In classical and Hellenistic Greek it can describe troops falling back, people stepping aside, or someone retiring to a quieter place. The prefix ὑπο- here gives the sense of moving back or away.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ὑπο-χωρέω

[in LXX: Judges 20:37 B (-), Sirach 13:9, 2Ma.12:12 * ;]

to go back, retire: before ἐν, Luke 5:16; before εἰς, Luke 9:10.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 5:16

Range of meaning

To go back, retreat, withdraw, retire (BDAG). In classical and Hellenistic Greek it can describe troops falling back, people stepping aside, or someone retiring to a quieter place. The prefix ὑπο- here gives the sense of moving back or away.

Against the English

"Withdrew" is accurate. NASB's "slip away" adds a hint of quietness or discretion. The context of escaping the crowds makes that defensible, but the word itself does not require it.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament the verb appears only in Luke: here and at 9:10, where Jesus takes the apostles aside privately to Bethsaida. Matthew and Mark use a related verb, ἀναχωρέω, for Jesus' withdrawals (Matt 14:13; Mark 3:7).

From the study of Luke 9:10

Range of meaning

To draw back, withdraw, retire or go away, sometimes in the sense of retreating from danger or pressure.

Against the English

'Withdrew' (BSB, WEB, YLT) and 'went aside' (KJV) both fit. 'Went aside' is gentler and loses the sense of pulling back from something.

Used elsewhere in the period

Classical and Koine writers use it of troops falling back or people retiring from a place. Luke 5:16 uses it of Jesus regularly withdrawing to deserted places to pray. Josephus uses the word for retreats.

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 5:16 ὑποχωρῶν withdrawing

    Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.

    Here: To pull back or retire from a place or situation. Here he moves away from the pressing crowds. The participle form, joined to "was", makes it a habit: "he would withdraw".

  2. Luke 9:10 ὑπεχώρησεν He withdrew

    Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.

    Here: 'He withdrew' or 'pulled back' from public activity. In the New Testament the verb appears only here and in Luke 5:16, where Jesus withdraws to lonely places to pray.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.