ἐκχωρέω (ekchōreō)
ekchōreō
to go out
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ekchōreō means to move out, withdraw, or depart from a place. It combines the prefix ek ("out") with chōreō ("to make room" or "go"), creating a sense of leaving space behind as one steps away. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Luke 21:21.
Jesus uses this word to describe a specific moment of crisis: when Jerusalem is surrounded by armies, his followers must "depart from" the city. The term captures the physical act of fleeing or evacuating rather than just leaving casually. It emphasizes the urgency of moving out of danger and into safety, marking a decisive break from the location under threat.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jesus spoke these words, He was describing a moment of intense upheaval. The word ekchōreō carries a sense of decisive movement, urging those in the city to step away from the danger zone. It is not a casual departure but a necessary withdrawal to preserve life when circumstances become unsafe.
This instruction reminds us that faith does not always mean staying put. Sometimes, obedience looks like recognizing a threat and moving to safety. God cares for our physical well-being as much as our spiritual state, and He provides wisdom to navigate times of crisis with clarity and purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they should depart out,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐκχωρείτωσαν,1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 21:21
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein.
The word appears here in the imperative command for those inside Jerusalem to withdraw from the city as armies surround it.