ἐκνεύω (ekneuō)
ekneuō
to withdraw
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ekneuō describes a physical turning aside or withdrawing from a situation. Its literal sense involves bending the head or body away, often to avoid something undesirable. In the New Testament, this motion becomes a metaphor for slipping away quietly to escape notice or danger.
This word appears only once in Scripture, in John 5:13. There, it describes how Jesus’ healers fled into the crowd after He vanished. They did not just leave; they actively avoided being identified with Him as the miracle worker. The term captures a sudden, self-protective retreat.
Its etymology combines a prefix meaning "out" or "away" with a root for turning. This structure emphasizes complete removal from the original position. Translators typically render it as "hid himself" or "fled," highlighting the urgency of the escape rather than just simple departure.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ekneuō captures a moment of sudden retreat, where someone turns away to avoid notice or danger. In John 5:13, the man healed by Jesus hid himself in the crowd because he did not know who had performed the miracle. This physical withdrawal highlights how fear or uncertainty can drive us to stay silent about God’s work in our lives.
Yet this brief hesitation does not define the entire story. Later, when asked directly, the man went to Jesus and told Him who He was (John 5:15). Your own moments of hiding or doubt are not final. Even when fear makes you step back, grace meets you where you are. You do not need perfect courage to begin; you only need to take the next small step toward the One who heals.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- moved away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξένευσεν1×
Key Verses
-
John 5:13
But he who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.
This verse shows the healed man actively withdrawing into the crowd to avoid identification, revealing how fear can silence testimony even after a miracle.