Word Study for G1553 (ἐκδημέω)

ekdēméō /ek-day-meh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom a compound of ἐκ and δῆμος

Meaningto emigrate, i.e. (figuratively) vacate or quit

KJV usagebe absent.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ekdēméō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word ekdēméō, represented by G1553, is used to mean be absent. Derived from a compound meaning to emigrate or quit, it appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Figuratively, it describes the state of vacating one's physical body.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G1553 is found exclusively in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, where it establishes a key contrast between the believer's earthly and heavenly states. Being "at home in the body" is equated with being absent from the Lord 2 Corinthians 5:6. Therefore, believers are described as confident and willing to be absent from the body in order to be "present with the Lord" 2 Corinthians 5:8. The ultimate goal is that whether present or absent, one's life is "accepted of him" 2 Corinthians 5:9.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for this concept of absence and presence:

G1736 endēméō (be at home (present)): This word is the direct counterpart to G1553 and is used in the same verses to create a stark contrast. While believers are "at home" in the body, they are absent from the Lord 2 Corinthians 5:6.
G4983 sōma (body): This is the physical vessel from which one is "absent." The term defines the temporary, earthly dwelling place of the believer 2 Corinthians 5:8. Paul also speaks of presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God Romans 12:1.
G2292 tharrhéō (have confidence, be confident): This describes the believer's attitude toward the prospect of being absent from the body. Instead of fear, there is confidence, knowing that this absence leads to presence with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6, 2 Corinthians 5:8).

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1553 is centered on the Christian perspective of life and death.

Earthly vs. Heavenly Reality: The word helps distinguish between the physical life in the "body" and the spiritual life "with the Lord." It frames earthly existence as a temporary state of being away from one's true home.
A Confident Hope in Death: Rather than an event to be feared, being "absent from the body" is presented as a desirable and "willing" transition for the believer, born from a deep confidence in being united with the Lord 2 Corinthians 5:8.
The Aim of Pleasing God: The believer's primary motivation, whether in this life or the next ("present or absent"), is to be "accepted of him." This ambition to please God transcends the physical state 2 Corinthians 5:9.

Summary

In summary, G1553 provides more than a simple definition of absence; it encapsulates a core theological hope. The word is used to contrast the believer's temporary physical existence with the ultimate goal of being present with God. It transforms the concept of death from a finality into a confident "emigration" from the body to the Lord, driven by the singular purpose of being wellpleasing to Him.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Infinitive 1×
Present Active Indicative 1st Plural 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

3 verses, all in 2 Corinthians — and none of the other 26 New Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.