Lexical Summary
aperchomai: To go away, depart, leave
Original Word:ἀπέρχομαι
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:aperchomai
Pronunciation:ä-pér-kho-mī
Phonetic Spelling:(ap-erkh'-om-ahee)
KJV: come, depart, go (aside, away, back, out, ways), pass away, be past
NASB:went away, go, went, left, go away, leave, gone away
Word Origin:[fromG575 (ἀπό - since) andG2064 (ἔρχομαι - came)]
1. to go off (depart)
2. to go aside (apart)
3. or to go behind (follow)
{literally or figuratively}
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
come, depart, go away, pass away.
Fromapo anderchomai; 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 GREEKapo
see GREEKerchomai
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
apo and
erchomaiDefinitionto go away, go after
NASB Translationcame (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
RGTrἀπῆλθον),
ἀπῆλθανLTTrWH 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. Participleἀπελθών 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 (),;Luke 5:14.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 5:30LTTrWH;;Mark 6:36;Mark 9:43;John 4:8;Romans 15:28, etc.;εἰςὁδόνἐθνῶν,Matthew 10:5;εἰςτόπέραν,Matthew 8:18;Mark 8:13; (δἰὑμῶν ...εἰςΜακεδονίαν,2 Corinthians 1:16, Lachmann text);ἐπί with the accusative of place, Luke (Luke 23:33RGT);;ἐπί with the accusative of the business which one goes to attend to:ἐπί (the true reading forRGεἰς)τήνἐμπορίαναὐτοῦ,Matthew 22:5;ἐκεῖ,Matthew 2:22;ἔξω with the genitive,Acts 4:15;πρόςτινα,Matthew 14:25 (Rec.);Revelation 10:9;ἀπότίνος,Luke 1:38;Luke 8:37. Hebraistically (cf.אַחֲרֵיהָלַך)ἀπέρχεσθαιὀπίσωτίνος,to go away in order to follow anyone, go after him figuratively, i. e.to follow his party, follow him as a leader:Mark 1:20;John 12:19; in the same sense,ἀπέρχεσθαιπρόςτινα,John 6:68;Xenophon, an. 1, 9, 16 (29); used also of those who seek anyone for vile purposes,Jude 1:7. Lexicographers (followingSuidas, 'ἀπέλθῃ.ἀντίτοῦἐπανελθη') incorrectly ascribe toἀπέρχεσθαι also the idea ofreturning, going back — misled by the fact that a going away is often at the same time a going back. But where this is the case, it is made evident either by the connection, as inLuke 7:24, or by some adjunct, asεἰςτόνοἶκοναὐτοῦ,Matthew 9:7;Mark 7:30 (οἴκαδε,Xenophon, Cyril 1, 3, 6);πρόςἑαυτόν (Treg.πρόςαὐτόν) home,Luke 24:12 (RG, butLTr bracketsTWH reject the verse);John 20:10 (hereTTrπρόςαὐτούς,WHπρόςαὐτόν (seeαὑτοῦ));εἰςτάὀπίσω,John 6:66 (to return home);John 18:6 (to draw back, retreat).2. tropically: of departing evils and sufferings,Mark 1:42;Luke 5:13 (ἡλέπραἀπῆλθενἀπ'αὐτοῦ);Revelation 9:12;Revelation 11:14; of good things taken away from one,Revelation 18:14 (RG); of an evanescent state of things,Revelation 21:1 (Rec.παρῆλθε), 4; of a report going forth or spreadεἰς,Matthew 4:24 (Treg. marginal readingἐξῆλθεν).
Topical Lexicon
Scope and General Senseἀπέρχομαι 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
• At daybreak He “went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He was praying” (Mark 1:35).
• He left Galilee for the other side of the Sea when crowds pressed in (John 6:1).
• He “departed and hid Himself from them” when opposition intensified (John 12:36).
Christ’s departures are never aimless; they serve divine timing, prayer, or the strategic advance of the gospel.
2. Immediate Obedience or Refusal
• The paralytic “got up and went home” after Jesus’ word of authority (Matthew 9:7).
• Two sons in the vineyard parable show contrasting responses: one “went” (Matthew 21:29), the other did not (Matthew 21:30).
• The rich young ruler “went away grieving” (Mark 10:22) because of divided loyalty.
3. Demonic and Physical Deliverance
• “The leprosy left him” (Mark 1:42).
• Legion-driven demons “came out and went into the pigs” (Mark 5:13).
Luke’s and Mark’s use of ἀπῆλθεν underscores the total removal of uncleanness once Jesus speaks.
4. Reporting and Evangelizing
• The healed demoniac “went away and began to proclaim” (Mark 5:20).
• Shepherds “went” to Bethlehem, then “returned” proclaiming (Luke 2:15, 20).
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).
• Military authorities in Philippi “asked them to leave the city” and the apostles “departed” yet stayed long enough to encourage believers (Acts 16:39–40).
The pattern shows obedience to civil orders while safeguarding gospel priorities.
Theological and Spiritual Dimensions
1. Departure as Judgment
• “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).
• In Revelation the first heaven and earth “passed away” (21:1), tears, death, mourning, and pain likewise “passed away” (21:4).
The verb conveys irreversible transitions that vindicate God’s holiness and mercy.
2. Passing of Woes and Plagues
• “The first woe has passed” (Revelation 9:12); two more follow.
• At the outpouring of the first bowl, a harmful sore “went out” upon those bearing the mark (Revelation 16:2).
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.
• The term models wise retreat: seasons of withdrawal are not defeat but preparation.
• It warns of the finality of certain departures (Matthew 25:46;Revelation 21:4). Repentance is urgent while return is still possible.
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.
Forms and Transliterations
απελεύσεσθε απελεύσεται απελεύση απελευσομαι απελεύσομαι ἀπελεύσομαι απελευσομεθα απελευσόμεθα ἀπελευσόμεθα απελευσονται απελεύσονται ἀπελεύσονται απελήλυθε απεληλυθεισαν απεληλύθεισαν ἀπεληλύθεισαν απεληλυθεν απελήλυθεν ἀπελήλυθεν απέλθατε άπελθε απελθειν απελθείν ἀπελθεῖν απέλθετε απελθέτω απελθέτωσαν απελθη απέλθη ἀπέλθῃ απέλθης απελθητε απέλθητε ἀπέλθητε απελθοντες απελθόντες ἀπελθόντες απελθοντι απελθόντι ἀπελθόντι Απελθοντων απελθόντων Ἀπελθόντων απελθουσα απελθούσα ἀπελθοῦσα απελθουσαι απελθούσαι ἀπελθοῦσαι απελθω απέλθω ἀπέλθω απέλθωμεν απελθων απελθών ἀπελθὼν απέλθωσι απελθωσιν απέλθωσιν ἀπέλθωσιν απερχεσθαι ἀπέρχεσθαι απερχη απέρχη ἀπέρχῃ απερχομενων απερχομένων ἀπερχομένων απηλθα ἀπῆλθα απηλθαν ἀπῆλθαν ἀπῆλθάν απήλθε απηλθεν απήλθεν ἀπῆλθεν απήλθετε απήλθον απήλθόν ἀπῆλθον ἀπῆλθόν απήλθοσαν apelelutheisan apelēlutheisan apeleluthen apelēluthen apelelytheisan apelelýtheisan apelēlytheisan apelēlýtheisan apelelythen apelēlythen apelḗlythen apeleusomai apeleúsomai apeleusometha apeleusómetha apeleusontai apeleúsontai apeltha apêltha apēltha apē̂ltha apelthan apêlthan apēlthan apē̂lthan apelthe apelthē apélthei apélthēi apelthein apeltheîn apelthen apêlthen apēlthen apē̂lthen apelthete apelthēte apélthete apélthēte apeltho apelthō apéltho apélthō apelthon apelthōn apelthṑn apêlthon apêlthón apēlthon apē̂lthon apē̂lthón apelthontes apelthóntes apelthonti apelthónti Apelthonton Apelthontōn Apelthónton Apelthóntōn apelthosin apelthōsin apélthosin apélthōsin apelthousa apelthoûsa apelthousai apelthoûsai aperche aperchē apérchei apérchēi aperchesthai apérchesthai aperchomenon aperchomenōn aperchoménon aperchoménōnLinks
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