Avoid
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
"to turn away from, to turn aside," lit., "to bend out of" (ek, "out," klino, "to bend"), is used in Romans 3:12 , of the sinful condition of mankind, AV, gone out of the way," RV, "turned aside;" in Romans 16:17 , of turning away from those who cause offenses and occasions of stumbling (AV, "avoid"); in 1—Peter 3:11 of turning away from evil (AV, "eschew"). See Eschew , Way.
lit., "to turn or twist out," is used in the Passive Voice in Hebrews 12:13 , "that which is lame be not turned out of the way" (or rather, "put out of joint"); in the sense of the Middle Voice (though Passive in form) of turning aside, or turning away from, 2—Timothy 4:4 (AV, "shall be turned unto fables," RV, "shall turn aside"); in 1—Timothy 1:6 , of those who having swerved from the faith, have turned aside unto vain talking; in 2—Timothy 5:15 , of those who have turned aside after Satan; in 2—Timothy 6:20 , RV, of "turning away from (AV, 'avoiding') profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called." See Turn. In the Sept., Amos 5:8 .
lit., "to ask aside" (para, "aside," aiteo, "to ask"), signifies (a) "to beg of (or from) another," Mark 15:6 , in the most authentic mss.; (b) "to deprecate," (1) "to entreat (that) not," Hebrews 12:19; (2) "to refuse, decline, avoid," 1—Timothy 4:7; 5:11; 2—Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:10 (see No. 4 for Titus 3:9 ); Hebrews 12:25; (c) "to beg off, ask to be excused," Luke 14:18,19 (some would put Hebrews 12:25 here). See Excuse , Intreat , Refuse , Reject.
in the Active Voice, means "to stand around" (peri, "around," histemi, "to stand"), John 11:42; Acts 25:7; in the Middle Voice, "to turn oneself about," for the purpose of avoiding something, "to avoid, shun," said of profane babblings, 2—Timothy 2:16; of foolish questions, genealogies, strife, etc., Titus 3:9 (AV, "avoid"). See Shun , Stand.
"to place," sometimes signifies, in the Middle Voice, "to take care against a thing, to avoid," 2—Corinthians 8:20; in 2—Thessalonians 3:6 , "of withdrawing from a person." See Withdraw.
King James Dictionary [2]
AVOID', Eng. side, void, widow L. vidua, vito, evito. See Void.
1. To shun to keep at a distance from that is, literally, to go or be wide from as, to avoid the company of gamesters. 2. To shift off, or clear off as, to avoid expense. 3. To quit to evacuate to shun by leaving as, to avoid the house. 4. To escape as, to avoid danger. 5. To emit or throw out as, to avoid excretions. For this, void is now generally used. 6. To make void to annul or vacate.
The grant cannot be avoided without injustice to the grantee.
7. In pleading, to set up some new matter or distinction, which shall avoid, that is, defeat or evade the allegation of the other party. Thus, in a replication, the plaintiff may deny the defendant's plea, or confess it, and avoid it by starting new matter.
AVOID', To retire to withdraw.
David avoided out of his presence. 1 Samuel 18 . Improper.
2. To become void, vacant or empty.
A benefice avoids by common law.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): (a.) To make void; to annul or vacate; to refute.
(2): (a.) To empty.
(3): (a.) To emit or throw out; to void; as, to avoid excretions.
(4): (a.) To quit or evacuate; to withdraw from.
(5): (v. i.) To become void or vacant.
(6): (a.) To keep away from; to keep clear of; to endeavor no to meet; to shun; to abstain from; as, to avoid the company of gamesters.
(7): (a.) To get rid of.
(8): (a.) To defeat or evade; to invalidate. Thus, in a replication, the plaintiff may deny the defendant's plea, or confess it, and avoid it by stating new matter.
(9): (v. i.) To retire; to withdraw.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [4]
Avoid . This verb is used intransitively in 1 Samuel 18:11 ‘David avoided out of his presence twice.’ So Coverdale translates Matthew 16:23 ‘Auoyde fro me, Sathan.’
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
a - void : Archaic use in 1 Samuel 18:11 for "escaped." In the Revised Version (British and American) of New Testament only in 2 Corinthians 8:20 στελλόμενοι , stellómenoi with negative), literally, "arranging that not," etc., i.e. by anticipation providing that something should not occur. In the King James Version for "turn away from," ἐκκλίνετε , ekklı́nete ̌ : Romans 16:17; 1 Timothy 6:20; "refuse," παραιτοῦ , paraitoú , 2 Timothy 2:23; περιίστασο , periı́staso , Titus 3:9 .
