"to go backward; to depart, go away, Mt. 2:12; to withdraw, retire, Mt. 9:24; Acts 23:19; 26:31"
Definition and meaning
to go backward; to depart, go away, Mt. 2:12; to withdraw, retire, Mt. 9:24; Acts 23:19; 26:31
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀναχωρέω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of anachoreo (G402) across the King James Bible.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
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Common questions
Strong's G402 (anachoreo) is a Greek word that means: to go backward; to depart, go away, Mt. 2:12; to withdraw, retire, Mt. 9:24; Acts 23:19; 26:31 It appears 14 times in the King James Bible.
The word anachoreo (G402) appears 14 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G402 is anachoreo, a Greek word defined as: to go backward; to depart, go away, Mt. 2:12; to withdraw, retire, Mt. 9:24; Acts 23:19; 26:31. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
anachoreo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.