Word Study for G5343 (φεύγω) | Strong's Concordance

pheúgō /fyoo'-go/ Ask about this word

Rootapparently a primary verb

Meaningto run away (literally or figuratively); by implication, to shun; by analogy, to vanish

KJV usageescape, flee (away).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pheúgō — 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 pheúgō, represented by G5343, is a primary verb meaning to run away, either literally or figuratively. It appears 33 times across 31 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning extends from physical running to concepts like shunning an idea or vanishing from existence.

The core meaning of G5343 as "to run away" often carries an inherent sense of urgency, immediacy, and even desperation. Unlike more measured forms of departure, pheúgō frequently implies a sudden, compelled movement away from a perceived threat or an undesirable situation. This urgency is evident whether it's the physical flight of a person or a symbolic vanishing. The act of fleeing, by its very nature, suggests a relinquishing of control over one's present circumstances in favor of escape, highlighting a reactive rather than proactive posture. It can also imply abandoning something or someone, not merely leaving, but actively putting distance between oneself and the source of danger or obligation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G5343 is used to describe both urgent physical escape and profound spiritual avoidance. In a literal sense, an angel commands Joseph to take his family and flee into Egypt to escape Herod Matthew 2:13. In a moment of fear and failure, the disciples "forsook him, and fled" after Jesus's arrest Matthew 26:56. Figuratively, the word is used to describe escaping divine judgment, as when John the Baptist asks the Pharisees who warned them "to flee from the wrath to come" Matthew 3:7. It also carries the sense of vanishing, as seen when the earth and heaven fled away before the great white throne Revelation 20:11.

Beyond general escape, G5343 frequently appears in contexts of prophetic warning and eschatological expectation, where flight becomes a divinely sanctioned act of preservation. Jesus explicitly instructs his followers to "flee into the mountains" when the "abomination of desolation" stands in Judea, signaling a time of unparalleled distress Matthew 24:16, Mark 13:14, Luke 21:21. This is not merely an option but a critical, life-saving directive. Similarly, the dramatic flight of the herdsmen after the demon-possessed men are healed and the swine perish Matthew 8:33, Mark 5:14, Luke 8:34 underscores a common human reaction of fear and astonishment when confronted with overwhelming supernatural power or inexplicable events, prompting an immediate and unreflective departure from the scene.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context and nuances of fleeing:

G1377 diṓkō (to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute): This word often appears as the direct counterpart to fleeing. Believers are instructed to flee youthful lusts but follow righteousness 2 Timothy 2:22 and to flee certain things while they follow after godliness and faith 1 Timothy 6:11.
G436 anthístēmi (to stand against, i.e. oppose): This term presents a strategic alternative to fleeing. Instead of running from the devil, believers are told to resist him, which will cause the devil to flee from them James 4:7.
G863 aphíēmi (to send forth, in various applications (as follow):--cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up): This action is often paired with fleeing, as when the disciples first forsook Jesus and then fled Matthew 26:56, indicating an act of abandonment preceding the escape.
G5298 hypochōréō (to withdraw, retire): While both verbs describe moving away, hypochōréō typically implies a more deliberate, strategic, or less panicked withdrawal, often for a specific purpose like privacy or avoiding conflict. In contrast, G5343 pheúgō often denotes a rapid, urgent, and sometimes desperate escape from immediate danger or an undesirable situation, often without a clear destination beyond getting away.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G5343 is significant, highlighting a believer's required response to both sin and spiritual opposition.

A Command to Avoid Sin: The word is used as a direct command in moral exhortations. Paul instructs believers to flee from fornication 1 Corinthians 6:18, idolatry 1 Corinthians 10:14, and youthful lusts 2 Timothy 2:22. This frames active avoidance as a non-negotiable part of the Christian life.
A Response to Danger: Fleeing can signify a wise act of self-preservation, as with Joseph protecting his family Matthew 2:13, but it can also represent a failure of faith or duty. The hireling fleeth because he does not care for the sheep John 10:13, and the disciples fled out of fear Mark 14:50.
An Instrument of Spiritual Warfare: While believers are told to flee from sin, the dynamic is reversed with spiritual adversaries. By submitting to God and resisting the devil, the believer causes the enemy to flee James 4:7, demonstrating that steadfastness in faith is a powerful offensive posture.
Cosmic and Existential Dissolution: G5343 is employed to describe the ultimate dissolution of physical reality in the presence of divine judgment. The earth and heaven themselves are depicted as "fled away" before the face of God on the great white throne Revelation 20:11, signifying their complete and utter disappearance, leaving no trace. This extends the concept of fleeing beyond human or even angelic action to the very fabric of creation, highlighting the overwhelming power and majesty of God before which nothing can stand or remain. Paradoxically, even death itself will "flee from them" who seek it in the eschatological woes, emphasizing a reversal of natural order Revelation 9:6.

Summary

The Greek verb G5343 pheúgō is a potent and multifaceted term in the New Testament, encompassing a spectrum of meanings from literal physical escape to profound spiritual and cosmic implications. At its core, it signifies running away, often with an inherent sense of urgency and necessity. This is seen in divine commands for protective flight, such as Joseph's escape to Egypt Matthew 2:13, and in human reactions of fear, like the disciples forsaking Jesus Matthew 26:56 or herdsmen fleeing after miraculous events Matthew 8:33. The word's usage extends to a moral imperative, urging believers to actively shun sin, whether it be fornication 1 Corinthians 6:18, idolatry 1 Corinthians 10:14, or youthful lusts 2 Timothy 2:22, framing avoidance as a critical aspect of Christian living.

Beyond personal conduct, G5343 carries significant eschatological weight. It describes the urgent flight commanded by Jesus in response to future tribulation Matthew 24:16, and John the Baptist's challenge to "flee from the wrath to come" Matthew 3:7. This highlights a pattern of divinely instructed or providentially enabled escape from impending judgment or overwhelming danger. Furthermore, in a dramatic reversal of power dynamics, steadfast faith and resistance to the devil cause the adversary to "flee" James 4:7, transforming flight from a sign of weakness into a consequence of spiritual victory.

Ultimately, G5343 reveals the dynamic nature of human and cosmic interaction with divine will and spiritual forces. It encompasses acts of wise self-preservation, moments of human failure, and the ultimate dissolution of creation before God's majesty Revelation 20:11. The nuanced application of "fleeing" underscores whether the action is a prudent response, an act of cowardice, or a testament to the irresistible power of God and His people's faith.

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 31 occurrences, inflected in 10 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

ἔφυγον
ἔφυγεν
φυγεῖν
φεύγετε
φεῦγε
φευγέτωσαν
φεύγει
φύγητε
φεύξονται
φεύξεται

Related Words

2 entries in Strong’s name this word as their origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

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 31 verses across 11 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (7 verses); never once in the other 16.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

1 Corinthians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Hebrews

James

Revelation

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, by grammatical form, 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.