Original Word: ἐκδημέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ekdémeó
Pronunciation: ek-day-MEH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-day-meh'-o)
Definition: To be away from home, to be absent
Meaning: I go abroad, am absent.

be absent.

From a compound of ek and demos; to emigrate, i.e. (figuratively) vacate or quit -- be absent.

see GREEK ek

see GREEK demos

1553 ekdēméō (from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 1218 /dḗmos, "a population, people") – properly, out from home, i.e. with the outcome of being absent ("away from home"). It only occurs in 2 Cor 5:6-9.

1553 /ekdēméō ("being absent") portrays believers who are still alive as being "away from home" (heaven), i.e. because still living in a mortal, physical body (2 Cor 5:6). At Christ's return, all believers will be resurrected/raptured from the earth, leaving the "old home" of the unglorified body on the present earth to experience glorification. See Rev 19:7-9.

1553 (ekdēmeō) is always used positively, of the desire to be absent (away) from the restrictions of this world and going on to enjoy God's manifest glory.

Word Origin
from ek and démos
Definition
to be away from home, absent
NASB Translation
absent (3).

STRONGS NT 1553: ἐκδημέω

ἐκδημέω, ἐκδήμω; 1 aorist infinitive ἐκδημῆσαι; (ἔκδημος away from home);

1. to go abroad (Herodotus, Sophocles, Plato, Josephus, others); hence, universally, to emigrate, depart: ἐκ τοῦ σώματος, from the body as the earthly abode of the spirit, 2 Corinthians 5:8.

2. to be or live abroad: 2 Corinthians 5:9; ἀπό τοῦ κυρίου, abode with whom is promised us, 2 Corinthians 5:6; in these examples opposed to ἐνδήμω, which see

Word Origin: From the preposition ἐκ (ek, meaning "out of") and the verb δῆμος (dēmos, meaning "people" or "land"), combined to convey the idea of being away from one's people or homeland.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἐκδημέω, as the concept of being "absent from the body" and "present with the Lord" is more distinctly articulated in the New Testament Greek context. However, related themes of dwelling and presence can be found in Hebrew words such as שָׁכַן (shakan, Strong's 7931, meaning "to dwell") and גּוּר (gur, Strong's 1481, meaning "to sojourn" or "to dwell temporarily"). These terms reflect the broader biblical theme of God's presence and the believer's journey towards eternal communion with Him.

Usage: The term ἐκδημέω is used in the New Testament to describe a state of being away from one's physical home or body, often in a metaphorical sense to express being away from the earthly body and present with the Lord.

Context: The Greek verb ἐκδημέω appears in the New Testament primarily in the writings of the Apostle Paul. It is used to convey the concept of being absent from one's physical body and present with the Lord, reflecting a dualistic understanding of the human experience as both physical and spiritual. This term is notably found in 2 Corinthians 5:6 and 5:8, where Paul discusses the Christian hope of eternal life and the assurance of being with Christ after physical death.

In 2 Corinthians 5:6, Paul writes, "Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord." Here, ἐκδημέω is used to describe the current state of believers who are physically alive and thus "away" from the Lord in a spiritual sense.

In 2 Corinthians 5:8, Paul further elaborates, "We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." This verse uses ἐκδημέω to express the desire of believers to leave their earthly bodies and be present with Christ, highlighting the Christian hope of resurrection and eternal life.

The use of ἐκδημέω underscores the transient nature of earthly life and the anticipation of a future, eternal dwelling with God. It reflects a theological perspective that values spiritual presence with the Lord over physical existence in the world.

εκδημησαι εκδημήσαι ἐκδημῆσαι εκδημουμεν εκδημούμεν ἐκδημοῦμεν εκδημουντες εκδημούντες ἐκδημοῦντες εκδιδύσκειν εκδιδυσκόμενος εκδιδύσκουσιν εκδιδύσκων ekdemesai ekdemêsai ekdēmēsai ekdēmē̂sai ekdemoumen ekdemoûmen ekdēmoumen ekdēmoûmen ekdemountes ekdemoûntes ekdēmountes ekdēmoûntesInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts