"absol. to flee, take to flight, Mt. 2:13; 8:33; to shrink, stand fearfully aloof, 1 Cor. 10:14; to make escape, Mt. 23:33; trans. to shun, 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22; to escape, Heb. 11:34"
Definition and meaning
absol. to flee, take to flight, Mt. 2:13; 8:33; to shrink, stand fearfully aloof, 1 Cor. 10:14; to make escape, Mt. 23:33; trans. to shun, 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22; to escape, Heb. 11:34
In the original Greek the word is written: φεύγω
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 pheugo (G5343) across the King James Bible.
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.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not,(let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
And they all forsook him, and fled.
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Common questions
Strong's G5343 (pheugo) is a Greek word that means: absol. to flee, take to flight, Mt. 2:13; 8:33; to shrink, stand fearfully aloof, 1 Cor. 10:14; to make escape, Mt. 23:33; trans. to shun, 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22; to escape, Heb. 11:34 It appears 31 times in the King James Bible.
The word pheugo (G5343) appears 31 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5343 is pheugo, a Greek word defined as: absol. to flee, take to flight, Mt. 2:13; 8:33; to shrink, stand fearfully aloof, 1 Cor. 10:14; to make escape, Mt. 23:33; trans. to shun, 1 Cor. 6:18. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
pheugo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.