### 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.
TRV