ἀποφεύγω (apopheugō)
apopheugō
to escape
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apopheugō means to flee from or escape danger. It appears only three times in the New Testament, all within the second letter of Peter. In these verses, it describes believers escaping the corruption that spreads through the world because of false desires (2 Peter 1:4) and avoiding the defilements associated with immoral living (2 Peter 2:18, 20).
The word combines apo ("away from") with pheugō ("to flee"). This structure emphasizes a decisive movement away from something harmful. While other Greek words can simply mean to run away, apopheugō carries the sense of escaping a specific threat or pollution. The text highlights this by linking escape directly to the knowledge of God and the promises He gives.
Translators often render it as "escape" or "get away from." The focus is not just on physical flight but on spiritual deliverance from moral decay. By using this term, Peter stresses that true freedom involves actively turning away from the corrupting influences of the world to share in God's divine nature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apopheugō describes a decisive movement away from danger. In Peter’s letters, it captures the believer’s escape from the corruption that spreads through the world by lust. This is not merely running away; it is a spiritual deliverance made possible through God’s precious promises. By sharing in the divine nature, we are given the strength to turn our backs on moral decay.
Yet Peter also warns that this escape requires vigilance. Those who return to the defilements they once left behind find themselves entangled again. True freedom involves actively turning away from harmful influences and holding fast to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. This active stance protects us from being overwhelmed by the world’s errors.
When you feel pulled toward old habits or false teachings, remember that God has provided a way out. His promises are not empty words but powerful gifts that enable you to stand firm. Trust in His provision and keep your focus on the divine nature He offers, finding peace in the safety of His grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having escaped2×
- escaping1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀποφυγόντες2×
- ἀποφεύγοντας1×
Key Verses
-
II Peter 1:4
by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
This verse links the act of escaping corruption directly to becoming partakers of the divine nature through God's promises.
-
II Peter 2:18
For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
Here the word highlights those who were previously free from error but are targeted by false teachers using empty words.
-
II Peter 2:20
For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
This occurrence warns that returning to worldliness after knowing Christ leads to a worse state than before, emphasizing the seriousness of the escape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does apopheugō mean in the New Testament?
How is apopheugō different from other words for fleeing?
Why does Peter use this word in 2 Peter 2:20?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
II Peter 3 verses
by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers…
II Peter 2:18For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who…
II Peter 2:20For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,…