from ἀπό and ἔρχομαι; to go off (i.e. depart), aside (i.e. apart) or behind (i.e. follow), literally or figuratively:--come, depart, go (aside, away, back, out, … ways), pass away, be past.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἀπέρχομαι (apérchomai, `{{G565}}`) is a compound word derived from the preposition ἀπό (apo, `{{G575}}`), meaning "from" or "away from," and the verb ἔρχομαι (erchomai, `{{G2064}}`), meaning "to come" or "to go." Etymologically, it signifies a movement *away from* a point of origin or a current location. Its core meaning is "to go off" or "to depart."
The semantic range of ἀπέρχομαι is broad, encompassing various nuances of departure, both literal and figurative:
* **Literal Departure:** The most common usage, denoting physical movement away from a place or person (e.g., [[Matthew 2:22]], [[Mark 1:20]]).
* **Withdrawal:** To separate oneself, often with a sense of deliberate removal (e.g., [[Matthew 26:39]] of Jesus withdrawing to pray).
* **Cessation/Passing Away:** Figuratively, to cease to exist, to vanish, or to come to an end (e.g., of a woe passing, [[Revelation 9:12]]).
* **Following/Going After:** In some contexts, it can imply going *after* someone who has already departed, hence "to follow" (e.g., [[Mark 1:29]] where they "went out" after Jesus).
* **Consequence/Destination:** To go to a particular state or destination as a result of an action or choice (e.g., to go into eternal punishment, [[Matthew 25:41]]).
The versatility of ἀπέρχομαι allows it to describe a wide array of actions, from simple locomotion to profound spiritual transitions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
ἀπέρχομαι appears frequently in the New Testament, often highlighting significant moments of departure, decision, or divine action.
In the Gospels, it commonly describes:
* **The Departure of Individuals:** Disciples leaving their former lives to follow Jesus (e.g., [[Mark 1:20]], where James and John "immediately left" their father and followed Jesus; [[Luke 5:11]], where the fishermen "left everything" and followed Him). This underscores the radical call to discipleship.
* **Jesus's Movements:** Jesus himself frequently "goes away" (ἀπέρχομαι) for various purposes: to pray in solitude ([[Matthew 26:39]]), to avoid conflict ([[John 12:19]]), or to fulfill prophecy. These departures are often purposeful, demonstrating His intentionality and divine mission.
* **Responses to Jesus's Teaching:** The rich young ruler "went away sorrowful" (ἀπῆλθεν λυπούμενος, [[Matthew 19:22]]) after Jesus told him to sell his possessions. This poignant use illustrates the difficulty of radical obedience and the sorrow of choosing worldly attachments over the Kingdom. Similarly, many disciples "turned back and no longer walked with Him" (ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ οὐκέτι μετ’ αὐτοῦ περιεπάτουν, [[John 6:66]]) after His challenging discourse on His flesh and blood.
* **The Departure of Evil Spirits:** Demons are said to "go out" (ἀπέρχομαι) from those possessed, signifying liberation and the triumph of Christ's authority (e.g., [[Mark 1:29]]).
In the Epistles and Revelation, ἀπέρχομαι takes on more figurative and eschatological dimensions:
* **Cessation of Woes/Old Order:** In Revelation, it describes the "passing away" or "going away" of previous woes or the former things (e.g., [[Revelation 9:12]], "The first woe is past"; [[Revelation 18:14]], "The fruits that your soul longed for have gone from you"). This points to the transient nature of earthly suffering and the ultimate triumph of God's plan.
* **Finality of Judgment:** In the parables of judgment, those condemned "will go away into eternal punishment" (ἀπελεύσονται οὗτοι εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον, [[Matthew 25:41]], [[Matthew 25:46]]), emphasizing the definitive and irreversible nature of the final separation from God.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding ἀπέρχομαι is enriched by comparing it with other verbs of motion:
* **ἔρχομαι (erchomai, `{{G2064}}`):** The base verb, meaning "to come" or "to go." ἀπέρχομαι specifies the direction of ἔρχομαι as "away from."
* **ὑπάγω (hypago, `{{G5217}}`):** Also meaning "to go away" or "to depart." While often interchangeable with ἀπέρχομαι, ὑπάγω can carry a nuance of going under, submitting, or going quietly/secretly. ἀπέρχομαι is a more general term for departure.
* **ἐξέρχομαι (exerchomai, `{{G1831}}`):** "To go out from." This verb emphasizes the *source* or *point of origin* from which one departs. For example, "going out of a house."
* **διέρχομαι (dierchomai, `{{G1353}}`):** "To go through" or "to pass through." Focuses on traversing a space.
* **προσέρχομαι (proserchomai, `{{G4334}}`):** "To come to" or "to approach." This is the conceptual opposite of ἀπέρχομαι, denoting movement *towards* something.
The concept of "departure" or "passing away" connects ἀπέρχομαι to broader theological themes of separation, transition, cessation, and ultimate destiny.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἀπέρχομαι is profound, touching upon key doctrines:
* **The Call to Discipleship and Radical Obedience:** The repeated use of ἀπέρχομαι to describe individuals leaving their former lives or possessions to follow Jesus highlights the radical nature of the divine call. True discipleship often necessitates a decisive "going away" from worldly attachments and self-reliance, embracing a new path defined by Christ ([[Matthew 4:20]], [[Luke 5:11]]).
* **Christ's Purposeful Ministry:** Jesus's own departures, whether for prayer or to avoid premature confrontation, underscore His divine wisdom and adherence to the Father's timing and plan. His "going away" to the cross and His subsequent ascension are climactic departures that fulfill God's redemptive purpose.
* **The Reality of Human Choice and Consequence:** The sorrowful departure of the rich young ruler ([[Matthew 19:22]]) and the turning away of many disciples ([[John 6:66]]) tragically illustrate the human capacity to reject God's invitation. Conversely, the "going away" into eternal punishment ([[Matthew 25:41]]) serves as a stark warning about the ultimate and irreversible consequences of rejecting Christ, underscoring God's justice and the finality of judgment.
* **Eschatological Hope and Transformation:** In prophetic texts, particularly Revelation, ἀπέρχομαι signifies the passing away of the old order, of suffering, and of evil. This usage points to the ultimate triumph of God's Kingdom, where former things will "pass away" (e.g., sorrow, crying, pain, [[Revelation 21:4]]), making way for new heavens and a new earth. It speaks to the transience of the present age and the certainty of a glorious, renewed creation.
### Summary
ἀπέρχομαι (apérchomai, `{{G565}}`) is a fundamental Greek verb denoting "to go away" or "to depart," formed from ἀπό (away from) and ἔρχομαι (to go). Its semantic range encompasses literal physical movement, deliberate withdrawal, figurative cessation, and even following.
Biblically, ἀπέρχομαι serves as a vital descriptor for:
1. The decisive act of discipleship, where individuals "go away" from their former lives to follow Christ.
2. Jesus's purposeful movements and withdrawals, demonstrating His divine intentionality.
3. The poignant choices of individuals, whether to embrace or reject Christ's call, with profound consequences.
4. The eschatological reality of old things "passing away" and the finality of eternal judgment.
Thus, ἀπέρχομαι is far more than a simple verb of motion; it is a word imbued with theological weight, conveying themes of divine call, human response, the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, and the ultimate destiny of all creation. It serves as a constant reminder of the dynamic nature of faith, the necessity of choice, and the certainty of God's ultimate triumph.
TRV