Strong's Lexicon ekdémeó: To be away from home, to be absent Original Word: ἐκδημέω Word Origin: From the Greek preposition ἐκ (ek, meaning "out of") and the noun δῆμος (dēmos, meaning "people" or "population"). Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἐκδημέω, the concept of being a sojourner or alien in a foreign land is captured in words like גֵּר (ger, Strong's H1616), which refers to a stranger or foreigner. Usage: The verb ἐκδημέω is used in the New Testament to describe the state of being away from one's home or native place. In a spiritual context, it often refers to being absent from the physical body and present with the Lord, highlighting the transient nature of earthly life compared to eternal life with God. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of being away from one's home was a common experience due to travel, trade, and military service. The idea of "home" was deeply tied to one's identity and community. In the New Testament, this term is used metaphorically to express the Christian's dual citizenship: living in the world but belonging to the heavenly kingdom. HELPS Word-studies 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. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ek and démos Definition to be away from home, absent NASB Translation absent (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1553: ἐκδημέωἐκδημέω, 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 From a compound of ek and demos; to emigrate, i.e. (figuratively) vacate or quit -- be absent. see GREEK ek see GREEK demos Englishman's Concordance 2 Corinthians 5:6 V-PIA-1PGRK: τῷ σώματι ἐκδημοῦμεν ἀπὸ τοῦ NAS: in the body we are absent from the Lord-- KJV: the body, we are absent from INT: the body we are from home away from the 2 Corinthians 5:8 V-ANA 2 Corinthians 5:9 V-PPA-NMP Strong's Greek 1553 |