Lexical Summary aperchomai: To go away, depart, leave Original Word: ἀπέρχομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance come, depart, go away, pass away. From apo and erchomai; 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. see GREEK apo see GREEK erchomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and erchomai Definition to go away, go after NASB Translation came (1), depart (1), departed (3), drew (1), go (20), go away (6), go over (1), going away (1), going back (1), gone (2), gone away (4), leave (5), left (8), passed away (2), past (2), spread (1), went (16), went their way (1), went along (1), went away (37), went back (1), went off (3), withdrew* (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 565: ἀπέρχομαιἀπέρχομαι; future ἀπελεύσομαι (Matthew 25:46; Romans 15:28; Winer's Grammar, 86 (82)); 2 aorist ἀπῆλθον (ἀπῆλθα in Revelation 10:9 (where R G Tr ἀπῆλθον), ἀπῆλθαν L T Tr WH in Matthew 22:22; Revelation 21:1, 4 ((but here WH text only), etc., and WH in Luke 24:24); cf. Winers Grammar, § 13, 1; Mullach, p. 17f. (226); Buttmann, 39 (34); (Sophocles Lexicon, p. 38; Tdf. Proleg., p. 123; WHs Appendix, p. 164f; Kuenen and Cobet, N. T., p. lxiv.; Scrivener, Introduction, p. 562; Collation, etc., p. liv. following )); perfect ἀπεληλυθα (James 1:24); pluperfect ἀπεληλύθειν (John 4:8); (from Homer down); to go away (from a place), to depart; 1. properly, a. absolutely: Matthew 13:25; Matthew 19:22; Mark 5:20; Luke 8:39; Luke 17:23; John 16:7, etc. Participle ἀπελθών with indicative or subjunctive of other verbs in past time to go (away) and etc.: Matthew 13:28, 46; Matthew 18:30; Matthew 25:18, 25; Matthew 26:36; Matthew 27:5; Mark 6:27 ( b. with specification of the place into which, or of the person to whom or from whom one departs: εἰς with the accusative of place, Matthew 5:30 L T Tr WH; 2. tropically: of departing evils and sufferings, Mark 1:42; Luke 5:13 (ἡ λέπρα ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ); Revelation 9:12; Revelation 11:14; of good things taken away from one, Revelation 18:14 (R G); of an evanescent state of things, Revelation 21:1 (Rec. παρῆλθε), 4; of a report going forth or spread εἰς, Matthew 4:24 (Treg. marginal reading ἐξῆλθεν). ἀπέρχομαι portrays physical or metaphorical departure. Whether the subject is Christ, an apostle, a crowd, a malady, or an entire created order, the verb marks a decisive exit from one sphere to another. It occurs in the indicative, imperative, participial, and future forms, allowing writers to depict past movements, immediate commands, habitual conduct, and eschatological certainties. Narrative Movements in the Gospels 1. Voluntary Withdrawals of Jesus Christ’s departures are never aimless; they serve divine timing, prayer, or the strategic advance of the gospel. 2. Immediate Obedience or Refusal 3. Demonic and Physical Deliverance Luke’s and Mark’s use of ἀπῆλθεν underscores the total removal of uncleanness once Jesus speaks. 4. Reporting and Evangelizing The verb frames the centrifugal spread of testimony after an encounter with Christ. Apostolic and Early-Church Usage • After regaining sight, Paul was told by Ananias, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus…has sent me so you may see again,” and Ananias then “went away” (Acts 9:17). The pattern shows obedience to civil orders while safeguarding gospel priorities. Theological and Spiritual Dimensions 1. Departure as Judgment The verb conveys irreversible transitions that vindicate God’s holiness and mercy. 2. Passing of Woes and Plagues The exit of one calamity often signals the approach of another, heightening apocalyptic expectancy. 3. Withdrawal for Prayer and Reflection Jesus’ repeated pattern of departure to pray (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16 implied) instructs believers on the necessity of solitude with the Father amid ministry pressures. Pastoral and Practical Implications • ἀπέρχομαι challenges hearers to decisive action—either leaving sin to follow Christ or tragically walking away from Him. Eschatological Certainty Future forms (ἀπελεύσονται, Matthew 25:46) promise that destinies will be settled. The new order will arrive because the old “has passed away.” Every appearance of ἀπέρχομαι in Revelation anchors hope that present sufferings and corruptions are temporary. Summary of Key Texts Matthew 19:22 – personal loss through unwilling departure Mark 1:35 – strategic withdrawal for communion Luke 8:39 – evangelistic commission upon departure John 16:7 – Jesus must “go away” so the Paraclete may come Acts 16:39–40 – respectful yet resolute missionary travel Galatians 1:17 – Paul’s retreat to Arabia for revelation Revelation 21:1–4 – cosmic renewal after the old departs Collectively the 118 occurrences paint a dynamic picture of movement under God’s sovereignty: some departures bring healing, others judgment; some express obedience, others unbelief; yet all unfold within the unbreakable plan of redemption. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 2:22 V-ANAGRK: ἐφοβήθη ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν χρηματισθεὶς δὲ NAS: Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then KJV: he was afraid to go thither: INT: he was afraid there to go having been divinely warned moreover Matthew 4:24 V-AIA-3S Matthew 5:30 V-ASA-3S Matthew 8:18 V-ANA Matthew 8:19 V-PSM/P-2S Matthew 8:21 V-ANA Matthew 8:32 V-AIA-3P Matthew 8:33 V-APA-NMP Matthew 9:7 V-AIA-3S Matthew 10:5 V-ASA-2P Matthew 13:25 V-AIA-3S Matthew 13:28 V-APA-NMP Matthew 13:46 V-APA-NMS Matthew 14:15 V-APA-NMP Matthew 14:16 V-ANA Matthew 16:4 V-AIA-3S Matthew 16:21 V-ANA Matthew 18:30 V-APA-NMS Matthew 19:22 V-AIA-3S Matthew 20:5 V-AIA-3P Matthew 21:29 V-AIA-3S Matthew 21:30 V-AIA-3S Matthew 22:5 V-AIA-3P Matthew 22:22 V-AIA-3P Matthew 25:10 V-PPM/P-GFP Strong's Greek 565 |
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