Topical Bible: Withdrew

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The term "withdrew" in the Bible often refers to the act of retreating or stepping back, either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. This action can be seen in various contexts throughout Scripture, illustrating moments of reflection, strategic retreat, or divine instruction.

1. Jesus Withdrawing for Prayer and Solitude: One of the most notable instances of withdrawal in the New Testament is Jesus' frequent retreats to solitary places for prayer and communion with the Father. In Luke 5:16 , it is recorded, "Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray." This withdrawal underscores the importance of solitude and prayer in maintaining spiritual strength and focus on God's mission.

2. Strategic Withdrawal: At times, withdrawal is depicted as a strategic move to avoid conflict or danger. In John 6:15 , after the feeding of the five thousand, "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself." Here, Jesus withdraws to prevent a premature and misguided attempt to establish Him as a political leader, emphasizing His mission as a spiritual Savior rather than a temporal king.

3. Withdrawal from Sin and Temptation: The Bible also encourages believers to withdraw from sin and temptation. In 2 Timothy 2:22 , Paul advises, "Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." This withdrawal is not merely a physical act but a spiritual discipline to maintain purity and holiness.

4. Withdrawal as a Form of Judgment: In some instances, God’s withdrawal is depicted as a form of judgment or consequence of disobedience. In Hosea 5:6 , it is stated, "They will go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them." This withdrawal signifies a serious consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness, highlighting the importance of obedience and repentance.

5. Withdrawal for Reflection and Decision Making: In the Old Testament, withdrawal is sometimes used for reflection and decision-making. In 1 Samuel 20:41 , after Jonathan and David's emotional farewell, "David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then they kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more." This moment of withdrawal from the public eye allowed for personal reflection and the strengthening of their covenant friendship.

6. Withdrawal from Unbelievers: The New Testament also speaks of withdrawing from those who persist in unbelief or false teaching. In 2 Thessalonians 3:6 , Paul instructs, "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother who leads an undisciplined life and not according to the tradition you received from us." This withdrawal serves to protect the integrity of the faith community and encourage repentance.

In summary, the concept of withdrawal in the Bible serves various purposes, from seeking divine guidance and strength to avoiding sin and maintaining spiritual integrity. It is a multifaceted action that reflects both human and divine responses to different circumstances.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(imp.) of Withdraw.

Greek

565. aperchomai -- to go away, go after
... 5), left (8), passed away (2), past (2), spread (1), went (16), went their way
(1), went along (1), went away (37), went back (1), went off (3), withdrew* (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/565.htm - 8k

402. anachoreo -- to go back, withdraw
... from ana and choreo Definition to go back, withdraw NASB Word Usage departed (1),
gone (1), gone aside (1), leave (1), left (3), stepping aside (1), withdrew (6 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/402.htm - 7k

3694. opiso -- back, behind, after
... same as opisthen Definition back, behind, after NASB Word Usage after (18), around
(1), back (2), back* (3), behind (5), follow (2), follow* (2), withdrew* (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3694.htm - 6k

868. aphistemi -- to lead away, to depart from
... abstain (1), depart (1), departed (1), deserted (1), drew away (1), fall away (2),
falls away (1), leave (1), left (2), let go (1), stay away (1), withdrew (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/868.htm - 7k

5298. hupochoreo -- to go back, retire
... Word Origin from hupo and choreo Definition to go back, retire NASB Word
Usage slip away (1), withdrew (1). to withdraw, go away. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5298.htm - 6k

645. apospao -- to draw off, draw away
... Word Origin from apo and spao Definition to draw off, draw away NASB Word Usage
draw away (1), drew (1), parted (1), withdrew (1). withdraw, retire. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/645.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

5637. sarar -- stubborn or rebellious
... away, backsliding, rebellious, revolting, slide back, stubborn, withdrew.
A primitive root; to turn away, ie (morally) be refractory ...
/hebrew/5637.htm - 6k

7725. shub -- to turn back, return
... turned...back (1), turning (2), turning away (1), turns (7), turns again (1), turns
away (5), unleash (1), went back (5), went* (1), withdraw (4), withdrew (1 ...
/hebrew/7725.htm - 9k

622. asaph -- to gather, remove
... 1), take (3), take my away (1), take away (2), taken away (5), took (1), victims
(1), wane (1), withdraw (3), withdrawn (1), withdraws (1), withdrew (1). ...
/hebrew/622.htm - 6k

5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... 1), taken (4), thrown (1), took (4), trims (1), using (4), vanish (1), wear (1),
went (161), went away (1), withdraw (3), withdrawn (1), withdrew (1), worked (1 ...
/hebrew/5927.htm - 8k

Library

I Withdrew the Bolt of My Door for My Beloved; but He had Turned ...
... CHAPTER V. 6. I withdrew the bolt of my door for my Beloved; but he had
turned aside and was gone. My soul melted when he spake; I ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/6 i withdrew the bolt.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xv. 21,"Jesus Went Out Thence ...
... On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xv. 21,"Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into
the parts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanitish woman," etc. [LXXVII. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxvii on the words.htm

Why Christ, after his Resurrection, Withdrew his Presence from the ...
... Book II. Chapter 52 [XXXII.]"Why Christ, After His Resurrection, Withdrew
His Presence from the World. Although, therefore, the ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 52 xxxii why christ after.htm

Concerning the Canaanitish Woman. Meaning of the "Borders of Tyre ...
... 16. Concerning the Canaanitish Woman. Meaning of the "Borders of Tyre and Sidon.".
"And Jesus went out thence and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon. ...
/.../16 concerning the canaanitish woman.htm

The Tragic Break in the Plan.
... the dispute about the two men, John 3:25-30 (note American Revision)"John's
arrest"effect upon Jesus, Matthew 4:12-25.""withdrew.". ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/3 the tragic break in.htm

Ambassadors for Christ
... 'And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodlans against
Him, how they might destroy Him.7. But Jesus withdrew Himself with His ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/ambassadors for christ.htm

Letter H
... Received 1825 * Hagany, John B. "Received 1831 * Haggard, David "Received 1787,
Located 1793 * Haggard, Rice "Received 1789, Withdrew 1793 * Haggerty ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter h.htm

Letter F
... 1815, Located 1823 * Fechtige, Louis "Received 1812, Died 1823 * Felch, Isaac N.
"Received 1831 * Felch Nathan, "Received 1801, Withdrew 1807 * Fellows ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter f.htm

Letter L
... 1835 * Lackey, John "Received 1795, Located 1800 * Lacy, John K. "Received 1827,
Located 1836 * Lacy, William B. "Received 1805, Withdrew 1813 * Ladd ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter l.htm

Letter J
... Janes, Edwin L. "Received 1832 * Janes, John "Received 1822 * Janes, Lester "Received
1833 * Janeson, Lewis "Received 1831, Withdrew 1836 * Janney ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter j.htm

Thesaurus

Withdrew (55 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Withdrew (55 Occurrences). ... Matthew 2:14 And he, having
risen, took the child and his mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, (YLT). ...
/w/withdrew.htm - 22k

Korah (51 Occurrences)
... Esau's Hivite wife. The account says that the 3 were born in Canaan before
Esau withdrew to the Seir mountain country. They are ...
/k/korah.htm - 44k

Region (96 Occurrences)
... Matthew 2:12 and having been divinely warned in a dream not to turn back unto Herod,
through another way they withdrew to their own region. (YLT). ...
/r/region.htm - 34k

Followed (201 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:15 Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed
him; and he healed them all, (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/followed.htm - 35k

Judea (50 Occurrences)
... was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region
of Galilee, (WEB WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 3:1 In ...
/j/judea.htm - 22k

Lonely (14 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lonely (14 Occurrences). Matthew 14:13 Now when Jesus
heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. ...
/l/lonely.htm - 10k

Tyrannus (1 Occurrence)
... ti-ran'-us (Turannos): When the Jews of Ephesus opposed Paul's teaching in the
synagogue, he withdrew, and, separating his followers, reasoned daily in the ...
/t/tyrannus.htm - 8k

Deserted (54 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Deserted (54 Occurrences). Matthew 14:13 Now when Jesus
heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. ...
/d/deserted.htm - 22k

District (59 Occurrences)
... he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the
region of Galilee, (See RSV NIV). Matthew 3:5 Then people ...
/d/district.htm - 24k

Multitudes (72 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT). Matthew 12:15 Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there.
Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all, (WEB KJV WBS YLT). ...
/m/multitudes.htm - 26k

Resources

Who are the Branch Davidians? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the prayers that Jesus prayed? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Martin Luther? | GotQuestions.org

Withdrew: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Withdrew (55 Occurrences)

Matthew 2:12
and having been divinely warned in a dream not to turn back unto Herod, through another way they withdrew to their own region.
(YLT)

Matthew 2:14
And he, having risen, took the child and his mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,
(YLT)

Matthew 2:22
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,
(WEB WEY ASV YLT RSV NIV)

Matthew 4:12
Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.
(WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV)

Matthew 12:15
Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 13:53
And it came to pass when Jesus had finished these parables he withdrew thence.
(DBY)

Matthew 14:13
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.
(WEB ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 15:21
Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.
(WEB WEY ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 19:1
And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, he withdrew from Galilee, and came to the coasts of Judaea beyond the Jordan;
(DBY)

Mark 3:7
Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples, and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 5:16
But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Luke 9:10
The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida.
(WEB WEY ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 22:41
But He Himself withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed repeatedly, saying,
(WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 24:51
It happened, while he blessed them, that he withdrew from them, and was carried up into heaven.
(WEB)

John 6:15
Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
(WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV NIV)

John 6:66
From this 'time' many of his disciples went away backward, and were no more walking with him,
(See NAS)

John 10:39
This made them once more try to arrest Him, but He withdrew out of their power.
(WEY)

John 11:54
Jesus, therefore, was no more freely walking among the Jews, but went away thence to the region nigh the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there he tarried with his disciples.
(See NIV)

Acts 15:38
But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
(ASV YLT)

Acts 19:9
But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
(See NAS RSV)

Acts 22:29
Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
(See RSV NIV)

Acts 23:19
Then the Tribune, taking him by the arm, withdrew out of the hearing of others and asked him, "What have you to tell me?"
(WEY)

Galatians 2:12
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
(KJV WEY WBS)

Exodus 14:19
The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them.
(See NIV)

Exodus 35:20
All the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
(See NIV)

Numbers 11:30
And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
(See JPS DBY WBS)

Numbers 16:27
So they withdrew from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
(WBS)

1 Samuel 14:46
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 14:24
And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. And Absalom withdrew to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
(DBY)

2 Samuel 19:3
And the people withdrew by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
(WBS)

2 Samuel 20:2
So all the men of Israel, turning away from David, went after Sheba, the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah were true to their king, going with him from Jordan as far as Jerusalem.
(See NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 23:9
And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they jeoparded their lives against the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away;
(See RSV)

1 Kings 8:10
It came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Yahweh,
(See NIV)

1 Kings 15:21
It happened, when Baasha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 16:17
And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 3:27
Then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
(See RSV NIV)

2 Kings 12:18
Then Jehoash, king of Judah, took all the holy things which Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, had given to the Lord, together with the things he himself had given, and all the gold in the Temple store and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael, king of Aram; and he went away from Jerusalem.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 15:20
And Menahem got the money from Israel, from all the men of wealth, fifty silver shekels from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria went back without stopping in the land.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 19:8
So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 19:36
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and lived at Nineveh.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 5:11
It happened, when the priests were come out of the holy place, (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, and did not keep their divisions;
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 24:25
And in their going from him -- for they left him with many diseases -- his servants themselves have conspired against him, for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slay him on his bed, and he dieth; and they bury him in the city of David, and have not buried him in the graves of the kings.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 32:21
And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
(See NIV)

Ezra 10:6
Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.
(See RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 9:29
and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and didn't listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in them), and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Job 29:8
The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
(See RSV)

Job 34:14
If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
(See NIV)

Psalms 85:3
Thou hast withdrawn all Thy wrath; Thou hast turned from the fierceness of Thine anger.
(See NAS)

Song of Songs 5:6
I opened to my beloved, But my beloved withdrew -- he passed on, My soul went forth when he spake, I sought him, and found him not. I called him, and he answered me not.
(YLT)

Isaiah 37:8
So the Rab-shakeh went back, and when he got there the king of Assyria was making war against Libnah: for it had come to his ears that the king of Assyria had gone away from Lachish.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 37:37
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, went back to his place at Nineveh.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 37:5
Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they broke up from Jerusalem.
(See RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 38:27
And all the princes came to Jeremiah, and asked him; and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. And they withdrew quietly from him; for the matter was not reported.
(DBY)

Ezekiel 20:22
Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Zechariah 7:11
But they refused to hearken, and withdrew the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
(WBS)

Subtopics

Withdrew

Related Terms

Korah (51 Occurrences)

Region (96 Occurrences)

Followed (201 Occurrences)

Judea (50 Occurrences)

Lonely (14 Occurrences)

Tyrannus (1 Occurrence)

Deserted (54 Occurrences)

District (59 Occurrences)