Pronunciation Guide: an-akh-o-reh’-o (emphasis on ‘reh’)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G402: ἀναχωρέω (anachoreo) describes a deliberate withdrawal or departure, often with strategic or protective purposes. The word combines the preposition ἀνά (up, back) with χωρέω (to make room, give way), creating the picture of purposefully making space by moving away. This compound word carries nuances of both physical and spiritual retreat, frequently appearing in contexts where God’s guidance leads to protective withdrawal.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Words: ἀνά (up, back) + χωρέω (to make room, give way)
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative passages, particularly in Matthew’s Gospel
• Voice: Active and Passive forms present
• Tense: Primarily used in aorist and present tenses

ἀναχωρέω Morphology:

• ἀναχωρέω (present active indicative) – I withdraw/depart
• ἀναχωρῆσαι (aorist active infinitive) – to withdraw/depart
• ἀναχωρήσας (aorist active participle) – having withdrawn/departed
• ἀνεχώρησεν (aorist active indicative) – he/she/it withdrew/departed
• ἀναχωροῦντες (present active participle) – withdrawing/departing ones

Origin & History

The verb ἀναχωρέω has a rich history in classical Greek literature, where it initially described military tactical retreats. Thucydides uses it in his “History of the Peloponnesian War” to describe strategic military withdrawals. In Xenophon’s “Anabasis,” the word appears frequently to describe the famous retreat of the Ten Thousand Greek mercenaries.

In the Septuagint (LXX), ἀναχωρέω appears in contexts of both physical withdrawal and spiritual retreat. A notable example is in Exodus 2:15, where Moses withdraws to Midian, a departure that proved pivotal in God’s preparatory work in his life. The word carries the sense of divine providence in such withdrawals, where stepping back becomes stepping into God’s protective purpose.

Early church fathers, particularly Origen in his “Commentary on Matthew,” expanded the word’s spiritual significance, seeing in it a pattern of sacred withdrawal for spiritual preparation and divine protection. This understanding influenced the development of Christian monasticism, where ἀναχωρέω became associated with spiritual retreat for deeper communion with God.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Strategic withdrawal for protection or divine purpose
• Deliberate departure to create space or distance
• Retreat for spiritual preparation or divine timing
• Movement away from danger or opposition
• Making room by stepping back

ἀναχωρέω Translation Options:

• “Withdraw” – Emphasizes the deliberate nature of the movement and is most appropriate when divine guidance is evident
• “Depart” – Best used when the focus is on leaving one place for another
• “Retreat” – Suitable when strategic or protective purposes are emphasized
• “Move away” – Appropriate when gradual or careful distancing is implied
• “Return” – Used when the movement is back to a previous location

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀναχωρέω appears most frequently in Matthew’s Gospel, often in contexts of divine protection and guidance. The first occurrence in Matthew 2:12 shows the wise men being divinely warned to “withdraw” to their own country by another route, avoiding Herod. This sets a pattern for how the word is used throughout Scripture to indicate God-directed movement for protection or purpose.

Matthew’s Gospel particularly employs ἀναχωρέω in narratives surrounding the Messiah’s early life, showing how divine intervention through strategic withdrawal preserved the young Jesus and His family. These instances demonstrate God’s sovereign protection through directed movement, often in response to threats or in preparation for ministry.

• “And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew [ἀναχωρέω] to their own country by another way.” Matthew 2:12
• “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him.’ Then Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and withdrew [ἀναχωρέω] to Egypt” Matthew 2:13-14
• “But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew [ἀναχωρέω] to the district of Galilee.” Matthew 2:22
• “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew [ἀναχωρέω] from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.” Matthew 14:13
• “And Jesus withdrew [ἀναχωρέω] with his disciples to the sea.” Mark 3:7

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish culture, the concept of strategic withdrawal was deeply rooted in the wisdom tradition. The Hebrew word סוּר (sur), often translated as “turn aside” or “withdraw,” appears in contexts where wisdom dictates a tactical retreat. This cultural understanding would have resonated with Matthew’s Jewish audience, who would have recognized in Jesus’s strategic withdrawals the familiar pattern of divine wisdom seen in figures like Moses, David, and Elijah.

The concept of ἀναχωρέω also connects with the Jewish practice of hitbodedut (התבודדות), or spiritual solitude. This practice, while more formally developed in later Jewish mysticism, has roots in the biblical narrative of prophets withdrawing to lonely places for divine encounter. Jesus’s withdrawals, described using ἀναχωρέω, often mirror this pattern, showing Him retreating for prayer and communion with the Father.

Theological Significance

The theological implications of ἀναχωρέω reveal God’s sovereign protection and guidance in the lives of His people. The pattern of divine-directed withdrawal demonstrates that sometimes God’s path forward requires stepping back. This challenges our natural inclination to always press forward, showing that spiritual wisdom sometimes means strategic retreat.

In the life of Jesus, ἀναχωρέω appears at crucial junctures where divine timing and protection intersect. These instances reveal God’s perfect orchestration of events, where withdrawal becomes a means of preservation for greater purpose. This pattern continues throughout Scripture, showing that God often uses strategic withdrawal to position His people for His purposes.

The use of ἀναχωρέω also illuminates the balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. While God directs the withdrawal, human obedience in heeding divine warnings and guidance is essential. This interplay reveals how God works through human agency while maintaining His sovereign oversight.

Personal Application

Understanding ἀναχωρέω challenges us to discern when God might be calling us to strategic withdrawal. Just as Jesus withdrew at crucial moments, we too might need seasons of stepping back – not in defeat, but in divine wisdom. This might mean withdrawing from harmful situations, taking time for spiritual renewal, or creating space for God to work in ways we can’t see yet.

This word also encourages us to trust God’s timing and direction, even when it seems counterintuitive. Sometimes our greatest act of faith is not in pressing forward, but in stepping back in obedience to divine guidance, trusting that God’s protective purpose is at work even in our withdrawals.

Related Words

• ὑποχωρέω (hupochoreo) – to withdraw gradually or secretly, emphasizing the subtle nature of the departure. Differs from ἀναχωρέω in its emphasis on gradual movement. See G5298
• φεύγω (pheugo) – to flee or escape, suggesting more urgency than ἀναχωρέω’s strategic withdrawal. See G5343
• ἐκχωρέω (ekchoreo) – to depart completely, emphasizing total removal rather than strategic withdrawal. See G1633
• ἀφίστημι (aphistemi) – to withdraw oneself, stand away from, with emphasis on separation rather than movement. See G868

Did you Know?

• The word ἀναχωρέω gave rise to the term “anchorite” in English, referring to religious recluses who withdrew from secular society for spiritual purposes. This historical development shows how the concept of strategic withdrawal became institutionalized in Christian practice.
• In modern Greek, ἀναχωρέω has maintained its core meaning and is still commonly used for departures, particularly in transportation contexts. You might see it on Greek airport and train station signs indicating departures (ΑΝΑΧΩΡΗΣΕΙΣ).
• The pattern of strategic withdrawal seen in ἀναχωρέω appears in many of God’s greatest servants – Moses in Midian, David in the wilderness, Elijah at Cherith, Paul in Arabia – showing how God often uses seasons of withdrawal to prepare His servants for greater purpose.

Remember This

ἀναχωρέω reminds us that in God’s economy, strategic withdrawal is often the path to divine advancement, teaching us that sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is step back in obedience to His leading.