Word Study for G2703 (καταφεύγω)

katapheúgō /kat-af-yoo'-go/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom κατά and φεύγω

Meaningto flee down (away)

KJV usageflee.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of katapheúgō — 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 katapheúgō, represented by G2703, means to flee down or away. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The term describes an act of escaping from a perceived danger or threat, moving toward a place of safety or refuge.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G2703 captures both physical and spiritual dimensions of flight. In Acts 14:6, it is used literally, where individuals, upon becoming aware of a threat, fled to the cities of Lystra and Derbe for safety. In contrast, Hebrews 6:18 applies the term figuratively, describing believers who have fled for refuge to find spiritual security in the hope set before them by God.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context of fleeing:

G4894 syneídō (to see completely; to become aware, and to be conscious or informed of): This word often precedes the act of fleeing, indicating the realization or awareness of danger that prompts the escape. For example, in Acts 14:6, it is because they "were ware of it" that they fled.
G1519 eis (to or into): This preposition frequently specifies the destination of the flight, marking the place of intended safety. It points to the goal of the one who flees, as seen in the phrase "fled unto Lystra" Acts 14:6.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2703 lies in its application to the believer's journey:

Flight for Spiritual Refuge: The most significant use is in Hebrews 6:18, where the act of fleeing is not from a physical enemy but toward a spiritual anchor. It frames salvation as an active move toward the "hope set before us," a secure refuge in God's immutable promises.
Prudent Response to Danger: The use in Acts 14:6 demonstrates a practical wisdom in escaping physical harm. This act of self-preservation is shown as a legitimate response to persecution, allowing for the continuation of ministry in a safer location.

Summary

In summary, G2703 is not merely about running away. It is a powerful term that conveys a deliberate movement from a place of peril to a place of security. Whether describing a physical escape from harm Acts 14:6 or a spiritual flight to the safety of God's promises Hebrews 6:18, it illustrates the concept of seeking and finding refuge.

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 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

2nd Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
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

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts and Hebrews (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

Acts

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.