Word Study for G1628 (ἐκφεύγω)

ekpheúgō /ek-fyoo'-go/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐκ and φεύγω

Meaningto flee out

KJV usageescape, flee.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ekpheúgō — 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 ekpheúgō, represented by G1628, means to flee out or escape. Derived from the words ἐκ (out) and φεύγω (to flee), it appears 8 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible. Its usage captures both literal, physical flight and the more profound concept of spiritual deliverance from peril or judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical contexts, G1628 is used to describe a range of urgent departures. It depicts physical flight, as when the seven sons of Sceva fled naked and wounded from a man possessed by an evil spirit Acts 19:16, or when Paul escaped from Damascus by being let down from the city wall in a basket 2 Corinthians 11:33. The word also carries significant theological weight, posing the rhetorical question of how one shall escape God's judgment Romans 2:3 or the consequences of neglecting salvation Hebrews 2:3. In an eschatological sense, believers are instructed to watch and pray that they may be worthy to escape the tribulations to come Luke 21:36.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the act of escaping:

G272 ameléō (to be careless of): This word highlights a direct cause for the failure to escape. It is used in the warning that we cannot escape if we neglect the great salvation offered through Christ Hebrews 2:3.
G803 aspháleia (security): This term is used to describe a false sense of security. When people say, "Peace and safety," sudden destruction will come upon them from which they will not escape 1 Thessalonians 5:3.
G5465 chaláō (to lower): This word describes a physical mechanism enabling an escape. Paul was able to escape his persecutors' hands because he was let down from the wall in a basket 2 Corinthians 11:33.
G2634 katakyrieúō (to lord against, i.e. control, subjugate): This word denotes the force that prompts flight. The sons of Sceva fled after the demon-possessed man overcame them Acts 19:16.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G1628 centers on themes of judgment and deliverance.

Inescapable Judgment: The word is used to emphasize that no one can evade the judgment of God through their own power or cleverness. This is a central point in Paul's argument against self-righteousness Romans 2:3.
Averting Destruction: While some situations are inescapable, such as the destruction awaiting those who cry "Peace and safety," G1628 is also used to describe a deliverance that is possible through vigilance and prayer, specifically in escaping the trials at the end of the age Luke 21:36.
The Gravity of Salvation: The use of G1628 in Hebrews frames salvation as the only route of escape from a deserved consequence. To neglect it is to forfeit any chance of deliverance Hebrews 2:3.

Summary

In summary, G1628 is a dynamic word that transitions from the literal act of fleeing danger to the spiritual concept of escaping divine wrath. It serves as a powerful reminder of both the certainty of judgment for the unprepared and the possibility of deliverance for the faithful. Whether describing Paul's physical escape from a city or the spiritual escape from tribulation, ekpheúgō underscores the urgent need for a way out of peril, a way that is ultimately found only through divine provision.

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 8 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

2nd Aorist Active Infinitive 2×
2nd Aorist Active Indicative 1st Singular 1×
2nd Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
2nd Aorist Active Subjunctive 3rd Plural 1×
2nd Perfect Active Infinitive 1×
Future Middle Deponent Indicative 1st Plural 1×
Future Middle Deponent Indicative 2nd Singular 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Middle Deponent: Middle in form but active in meaning.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".

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

Appears in 7 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (2 verses); never once in the other 21.

Luke

Acts

Romans

2 Corinthians

1 Thessalonians

Hebrews

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.