Greek word · G668

ἀποφεύγω

apopheugō

to escape

To flee away from, escape, get clear of. It is a stronger form of pheugō, 'flee'.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀπο-φεύγω

[in LXX: Sirach 22:22 * ;]

to flee from, escape: with accusative, 2 Peter 2:18 2:20; with genitive, 2 Peter 1:4.†

(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 2 Peter 1:4

Range of meaning

To flee away from, escape, get clear of. It is a stronger form of pheugō, 'flee'.

Against the English

BSB 'now that you have escaped' takes the escape as already done. NIV/ESV/KJV 'having escaped' leave the timing open. NLT 'and escape' makes it part of the goal still ahead.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the NT only in 2 Peter: 1:4, 2:18 ('those barely escaping'), 2:20 ('having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord'). Compare Plato, Theaetetus 176a–b, on 'flight' from earthly evils as the way to likeness to God.

Similar words

Where it appears

2 Peter · 3

  1. 2 Peter 1:4 ἀποφυγόντες having escaped

    Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

    Here: 'Fled away from, got clear of'. The word pictures a flight out of danger. In 2:18–20 the same verb describes people who escaped the world's defilements and then fell back into them.

  2. 2 Peter 2:18 ἀποφεύγοντας escaping

    With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.

    Here: A present participle: 'who are in the act of escaping'. The same verb appears in 1:4 ('having escaped the corruption in the world caused by desire') and 2:20. Here it describes new converts still on their way out.

  3. 2 Peter 2:20 ἀποφυγόντες having escaped

    If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.

    Here: "Having escaped" as a completed event. Used in the New Testament only by 2 Peter (1:4; 2:18; 2:20), always for getting clear of the world's corruption at conversion.

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