Understanding ἐκδημέω (ekdēmeō) Strong’s G1553: To Depart from Home and Journey into the Spiritual Realm

ἐκδημέω

Pronunciation Guide: ek-day-MEH-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1553: ἐκδημέω (ekdēmeō) fundamentally means “to go abroad, to leave one’s home, to be away from home or people.” In the New Testament, it takes on profound spiritual significance as a metaphor for the believer’s journey from physical existence to spiritual presence with the Lord. It conveys the sense of departing from one’s dwelling place (the body) to travel to another destination (being with Messiah).

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Etymology and Morphology

  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Root Components: ἐκ (ek, “out from”) + δῆμος (dēmos, “people, community, homeland”)
  • Language Origin: Classical Greek
  • Primary Usage: In passages concerning the believer’s relationship to physical life and spiritual existence; especially prevalent in Paul’s teachings about the afterlife

ἐκδημέω Morphology:

  • ἐκδημέω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I am away from home
  • ἐκδημοῦμεν (present active indicative, 1st person plural) – we are away from home
  • ἐκδημῆσαι (aorist active infinitive) – to go away from home, to depart
  • ἐκδημοῦντες (present active participle, nominative plural masculine) – those who are away from home

Origin & History

The word ἐκδημέω has its roots in classical Greek political and social life. The term δῆμος (dēmos) referred to the people of a district or country, and was the root of words like “democracy” (rule by the people). When combined with the preposition ἐκ (ek, “out from”), it formed a verb describing the act of leaving one’s people or homeland.

In classical Greek literature, ἐκδημέω was used to describe travelers, merchants, or soldiers who left their homeland for extended periods. Plato uses the related noun ἔκδημος in his “Laws” to discuss citizens who travel abroad. The Septuagint rarely uses this term, suggesting its specialization in the New Testament for spiritual journeying concepts. Paul’s adaptation of this common travel terminology to express spiritual realities demonstrates his skill in using everyday language to convey profound theological truths.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

  • To depart from one’s people or homeland, to go abroad
  • To be absent from one’s home or usual dwelling place
  • To emigrate or relocate from one’s native country
  • To sojourn away from one’s usual place of residence
  • In the New Testament, metaphorically to depart from the body and be present with the Lord
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ἐκδημέω Translation Options:

  • To be away from home – Captures the basic meaning of physical separation from one’s dwelling place, especially appropriate in contexts emphasizing the temporary nature of earthly life
  • To be abroad – Emphasizes the state of being in a foreign place, useful for highlighting the believer’s status as a pilgrim in this world
  • To depart – Focuses on the act of leaving, particularly fitting when discussing the transition from physical to spiritual existence
  • To emigrate – Highlights the permanence of the move from one realm to another, appropriate when discussing death as a transition
  • To sojourn elsewhere – Conveys the sense of temporary residence in another place, useful in contexts discussing the believer’s ultimate citizenship in heaven

Biblical Usage

The verb ἐκδημέω appears only three times in the New Testament, all within Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (5:6, 5:8, 5:9). In this profound passage, Paul uses the term to explore the relationship between our earthly existence and our spiritual destiny. He establishes a contrast between being “at home in the body” (ἐνδημέω, endēmeō) and being “away from the body” (ἐκδημέω, ekdēmeō).

For Paul, these terms express the believer’s unique spiritual position—physically present in the world but spiritually belonging to the Lord. The apostle uses this travel imagery to convey deep theological truths about the temporary nature of our physical existence and the permanent reality of our spiritual home with the Messiah. This word choice reflects Paul’s understanding of the Christian life as a journey and pilgrimage toward our true homeland.

  • “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from [ἐκδημοῦμεν] the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6
  • “We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from [ἐκδημῆσαι] the body and to be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8
  • “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent [ἐκδημοῦντες], to be pleasing to Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:9

Cultural Insights

The concept of ἐκδημέω would have resonated deeply with Paul’s original audience in Corinth. As a major trading center in the ancient world, Corinth was home to many merchants who regularly traveled abroad for business. These merchants would be “away from home” (ἐκδημέω) for extended periods before returning to their families and community.

Furthermore, the imagery of travel and sojourning had deep roots in Jewish tradition. The patriarchs were described as “sojourners” (παροίκοι in the Septuagint) in lands not their own. Abraham “went out” from his homeland, not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). This background of pilgrimage and temporary residence in foreign lands provided rich soil for Paul’s theological application of ἐκδημέω to the believer’s relationship with physical existence and spiritual destiny.

The concept also connects to the ancient Mediterranean understanding of death as a journey. Many cultures, including Greek, Roman, and Egyptian, conceptualized death as a passage or transition to another realm. By using ἐκδημέω, Paul taps into this widespread cultural understanding while transforming it through the lens of Messianic hope and resurrection faith.

Theological Significance

Paul’s use of ἐκδημέω reveals a profound theological understanding of the believer’s existence. By contrasting being “at home in the body” with being “away from the body and at home with the Lord,” he establishes a tension that characterizes the Christian life. This tension is not meant to devalue physical existence but rather to place it in proper perspective relative to our ultimate spiritual destiny.

The term ἐκδημέω helps us understand that our current physical life is temporary and transitional. Just as a traveler may appreciate the sights and experiences of a foreign land while still longing for home, believers can fully engage with this world while maintaining an awareness that our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). This perspective fosters both responsible stewardship of our physical life and hopeful anticipation of our spiritual home.

Furthermore, Paul’s use of ἐκδημέω offers comfort concerning death. Rather than depicting death as an end or a void, he presents it as a journey—a departure from one dwelling place to another. For the believer, to be “away from the body” means to be “at home with the Lord.” This understanding transforms our conception of death from a fearful unknown to a hopeful transition into the very presence of יהוה (Yahweh).

Personal Application

Understanding ἐκδημέω invites us to consider our own spiritual journey and ultimate citizenship. Like travelers in a foreign land, we are called to live with awareness of our temporary status in this world while remaining focused on our eternal destination. This perspective can profoundly shape our priorities, ambitions, and relationship with material possessions.

When we embrace the truth that we are spiritual sojourners, we gain freedom from the tyranny of materialism and the anxiety of earthly security. We can hold our plans, possessions, and even our physical health with open hands, knowing that our true treasure and security lie in our relationship with the Messiah. This doesn’t mean withdrawing from engagement with the world but rather engaging with it from a position of spiritual clarity and purpose—seeking to please the Lord in all things, whether physically present with Him or still on our earthly journey.

  • ἐνδημέω (endēmeō) [en-day-MEH-oh] – To be at home, to be present; the opposite of ἐκδημέω, used by Paul to contrast being “at home in the body” with being “away from the body.” See G1736
  • ἀποδημέω (apodēmeō) [ah-po-day-MEH-oh] – To go away on a journey, to travel to a foreign country; used in several of Yeshua’s parables about stewardship and judgment. See G589
  • παρεπίδημος (parepidēmos) [par-ep-EE-day-mos] – A resident foreigner, sojourner, pilgrim; describes believers as “strangers and pilgrims” on earth. See G3927
  • παροικέω (paroikeō) [par-oy-KEH-oh] – To dwell beside or among as a stranger, to sojourn; used to describe the patriarchs’ temporary residence in lands not their own. See G3939
  • ξένος (xenos) [KSEH-nos] – A foreigner, stranger, guest; used to describe believers as “strangers” in this world. See G3581

Did you Know?

  • Did you know? The concept expressed by ἐκδημέω has parallels in ancient Jewish thought about the afterlife. The Talmud sometimes refers to death as “going to one’s world” (הלך לעולמו, halakh l’olamo), reflecting a similar understanding of death as a transition rather than an end.
  • Did you know? The imagery of ἐκδημέω (being away from home) connects to the Jewish concept of galut (exile). Just as the Jewish people historically understood themselves as exiles awaiting return to their homeland, Paul portrays believers as spiritual sojourners awaiting their true home with the Lord.
  • Did you know? In modern Greek, the derivative word εκδημία (ekdimía) is still used to refer to a journey abroad or a sojourn in a foreign country, while the related term αποδημία (apodimía) can refer to emigration or living abroad. These terms maintain the core meaning of departure from one’s homeland that Paul applied so powerfully to the believer’s spiritual journey.

Remember This

ἐκδημέω reminds us that our life on earth is a temporary sojourn—we are spiritual travelers whose true citizenship is in heaven, journeying toward our eternal home in the presence of the Messiah.

Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.

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Jean Paul Joseph

Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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