ἀναχωρ-έω G0402
withdraw, depart, retire — to leave a place deliberately, often to avoid danger or seek solitude
Anachoreo is the verb of purposeful withdrawal — not flight in panic, but a measured decision to remove oneself from a threatening or crowded situation. It is virtually a signature word of Matthew's Gospel, where it describes the Magi departing by another route to avoid Herod (Matt 2:12), Joseph taking the child to Egypt (Matt 2:14), and Jesus repeatedly withdrawing from opposition or crowds (Matt 4:12, 12:15, 14:13). The prefix ana- ('back') plus choreo ('give ground') yields the idea of pulling back to a place of safety. Our English word 'anchorite' — a religious recluse — descends from this very verb. The translations capture this well: Spanish 'retirarse,' French 'se retirer,' German 'sich zurueckziehen.'
Senses
1. withdraw / depart — To withdraw deliberately from a location, typically to avoid danger, hostility, or unwanted attention, or to seek privacy and solitude. Concentrated in Matthew's Gospel (10 of 14 NT occurrences), the verb narrates strategic departures: the Magi evading Herod (Matt 2:12), the holy family's flight to Egypt (Matt 2:13-14), and Jesus' repeated withdrawals from opposition (Matt 4:12, 12:15, 14:13). The Spanish 'retirarse' and German 'sich zurueckziehen' underscore the reflexive, self-directed nature of the movement — not exile imposed from without, but retreat chosen from within. 14×
AR["انصَرَفَ", "انْصَرَفَ", "انْصَرَفُوا", "انْفَرَدَ", "اِبتَعِدوا", "اِنْصَرَفَ", "لَمَّا-انْفَرَدُوا", "وَ-بَعْدَ-انْصِرَافِهِمْ"]·ben["একপাশে-গিয়া", "চলে-গেল", "চলে-গেলেন", "চলে-যাওয়ার-পর", "সরে-গেলেন", "সরে-যাও"]·DE["sich-zurueckziehen", "zieht-sich-zurück"]·EN["Depart", "Having-departed", "departed", "having-withdrawn", "they-departed", "withdrew"]·FR["se-retirer"]·heb["הִסְתַלֵּק", "הָלְכוּ", "הָלַךְ", "כְּשֶׁהָלְכוּ", "נִסְתַּלֵּק", "נִסּוֹג", "נָסַע", "סוּרוּ", "פָּנָה", "פָּנוּ"]·HI["अलगहटकर", "चला-गया", "चले-गए", "चले-गये", "चले-जाओ", "चले-जाने-पर", "हट-गया", "हत-गय"]·ID["Pergilah", "Setelah-menyingkir", "menyingkir", "menyingkirlah", "pergi"]·IT["ritirarsi"]·jav["Sasampunipun-kondur", "Sumingkira.", "kesah", "kondur", "késah,", "mundur", "oncat", "sasampunipun-mundur"]·KO["떠나고", "떠났다", "물러-가셨다", "물러가라", "물러가셨다", "물러나서", "물러나셨다", "물러나셨으니", "물러났다"]·PT["Retirai-vos", "Tendo-partido", "retiraram-se", "retirou-se", "tendo-se-retirado"]·RU["Удалившихся", "Уходите", "отойдя", "удалившись", "удалились", "удалился"]·ES["Habiéndose-retirado", "Retiraos", "habiéndose-retirado", "se-retiraron", "se-retiró"]·SW["Ondokeni.", "Walipoondoka", "akimchukua-kando", "aliondoka", "waliondoka", "walipoondoka"]·TR["Ayrıldıktan-sonra", "ayrıldı", "ayrıldılar", "çekildi", "çekildiklerinde", "çekilin", "çekilip"]·urd["الگ-ہو-کر", "جانے-پر", "علیحدہ-ہو-کر", "پھر", "چلا-گیا", "چلے-گئے", "ہٹو"]
Matt 2:12, Matt 2:13, Matt 2:14, Matt 2:22, Matt 4:12, Matt 9:24, Matt 12:15, Matt 14:13, Matt 15:21, Matt 27:5, Mark 3:7, John 6:15 (+2 more)
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀναχωρ-έω, Locrian dialect, Cretan dialect ἀνχ-, go back, πόλινδε ἂψ ἀναχωρήσουσινRefs 8th c.BC+ __b walk backwards, of oxen feeding, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 in Refs 8th c.BC+, mostly, retire, withdraw from battle, ἀλλά σ᾽ ἔγωγ᾽ ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύω ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναιRefs 8th c.BC+; generally, retire, withdraw, μεγάροιο μυχόνδεRefs 8th c.BC+; ἀνεκεχωρήκεσαν they had retired or returned, Refs 5th c.BC+:…