διαφεύγω (diapheugō)
diapheugō
to escape
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb diapheugō describes a dramatic escape, specifically fleeing through or out of danger. It combines the prefix dia-, meaning "through," with pheugō, meaning "to flee." This creates a vivid image of breaking free from a surrounding threat rather than simply moving away from it.
In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Acts 27:42. The soldiers on the ship intended to kill the prisoners to prevent anyone from swimming away and escaping. However, the centurion, wanting to save Paul, stopped them. Instead of letting the prisoners swim off into the open sea, he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first. The rest were told to cling to planks or debris from the broken ship. This chaotic scene illustrates the "through" aspect of the word: escaping by navigating through the wreckage and water to reach land.
Translators typically render this as "escape" or "swim off." The specific context highlights a desperate, physical breakout where survival depended on leaving the immediate control of the guards. It is not a quiet departure but a forceful exit from captivity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word διαφεύγω (diapheugō) paints a vivid picture of breaking through a barrier to find safety. It is not merely running away from something, but fleeing through danger to reach freedom. In Acts 27:42, we see this in a storm-tossed sea where soldiers tried to kill prisoners to prevent them from swimming off. The centurion’s intervention allowed the prisoners to escape by clinging to planks and debris, navigating through the wreckage to reach land.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God often provides unexpected ways out of tight spots. When circumstances seem hopeless, like being trapped on a sinking ship, divine protection can turn a situation of despair into one of deliverance. It encourages us to trust that even when we feel surrounded by threats, there is always a path forward if we hold fast to what keeps us afloat.
This dramatic escape shows that freedom sometimes requires active participation—swimming, clinging, and moving despite the chaos. We can take comfort knowing that our ultimate safety is found in Christ, who guides us through every storm with purpose and care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- may escape.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διαφύγῃ.1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 27:42
The soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape.
This verse captures the word's core meaning of breaking through a threat (soldiers' intent) to achieve physical freedom via swimming, highlighting the 'through' aspect of the prefix dia-.