ἐκνεύω G1593
To slip away, withdraw quietly; to move away unobtrusively or evade notice
This verb means to slip away, turn aside, or withdraw quietly. In John 5:13, after healing the lame man, Jesus 'slipped away' from the crowd at the pool. The word originally meant to turn the head aside (of horses tossing their heads) or to fall headlong, but developed meanings of slipping away, avoiding, or withdrawing. Classical usage confirms senses of turning aside with the head, shunning, or falling headlong. The multilingual evidence (Spanish 'se apartó' = withdrew, French 'se dérober' = slip away, German 'entweichen' = escape) conveys quiet withdrawal or evasion.
Senses
1. sense 1 — John 5:13 notes that Jesus 'slipped away (ἐξένευσεν)' after healing the paralytic, since a crowd was in the place—avoiding the commotion and attention. Spanish 'se apartó' (withdrew) and French 'se dérober' (slip away/evade) both suggest quiet, unobtrusive departure. Classical usage included turning the head aside (horse tossing head, wild boar's side-movement) and metaphorically withdrawing or avoiding. Jesus's habitual pattern of avoiding crowds after miracles shows strategic withdrawal, preventing premature messianic fervor while continuing his mission. 1×
AR["اِنْصَرَفَ"]·ben["সরে-গেলেন"]·DE["entweichen"]·EN["slipped-away"]·FR["se-dérober"]·heb["הִסְתַּלֵּק"]·HI["हट-गया-था,"]·ID["menyingkir,"]·IT["exeneusen"]·jav["sampun-kesah,"]·KO["피하셨다"]·RU["удалился,"]·ES["se-apartó"]·SW["alijiondoa"]·TR["kaymıştı"]·urd["گزر-گیا"]
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
ἐκνεύω, aorist ἐξένευσα, turn the head out of its natural position, of a horse, ἐ. ἄνω to toss the head, Refs 5th c.BC+; τῇ κεφαλῇ ἐκνεύσας by a side-movement with the head, of the wild boar, LXX __2 with accusative, shun, avoid, Refs 1st c.BC+ __II fall headlong, εἰς θάνατον Refs 5th c.BC+to turn aside, Refs 1st c.AD+ __III motion away, ἐξένευσ᾽ ἀποστῆναι πρόσω Refs 5th c.BC+