ἀποστρέφω
apostréphō
G654 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To turn away, to cause to return, to avert. Primarily refers to a physical turning away or causing to turn back, but commonly used in a figurative sense to indicate diverting or deflecting something (such as attention, anger, or a person) from a course or object. Semantic range includes literal movement away, returning something to its former place or condition, as well as turning aside in a moral or ethical sense (e.g., turning away from a path, diverting attention, or perverting an action or judgment).
Semantic Range
to turn away, to cause to turn back, to avert, to divert, to return, to pervert, to turn aside, to withdraw, to bring again
Root / Etymology
From ἀπό ('from, away') and στρέφω ('to turn'). The compound indicates direction or reversal away from a position or state.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀποστρέφω most often describes literal and physical acts of turning away or returning something to its origin. In the Septuagint (LXX), it commonly renders Hebrew verbs conveying turning aside (such as שׁוּב shuv, 'to return' or סוּר sur, 'to turn aside'), especially in both narrative and moral exhortation contexts. It can denote the act of averting divine anger, withdrawing favor, or turning from correct behavior (including apostasy). In the New Testament, it usually appears in a figurative sense—turning people away from truth, God, or ethical conduct; or referring to perversion of ways or judgment. While English translations may use 'pervert,' 'turn away,' or 'bring again,' such renderings can miss the specific nuance of reversal, aversion, or returning inherent in the Greek term. Usage closely parallels other compounds of στρέφω but stresses the act of moving something away from its former or proper state. The semantic range expands in post-classical Greek to include legal and rhetorical contexts of averting, dismissing, or rejecting arguments or claims.
Translation Consistency
"Turn" is the most natural and versatile single verb to cover the primary senses of ἀποστρέφω: physical turning, turning away, turning back, and figurative diverting or perverting. It is the most common rendering in the P2 data, readily takes particles/prepositions where needed (turn away, turn back, turn aside), and sounds natural in both literal and moral/figurative contexts compared with heavier alternatives like "avert" or "pervert."
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and στρέφω; to turn away or back (literally or figuratively):--bring again, pervert, turn away (from).
Root Family
ἀποστρέφω (apostrephō) — to turn, to turn away, to reverse, to turn back
Word Forms
9 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G654-05 |
ἀποστρεφομένων | apostrephomenon | V PRS MID PTCP GEN M PL |
who turn away | of those turning themselves away | of those turning themselves away | 1 |
G654-06 |
ἀποστρέφοντα | apostrephonta | V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG |
perverting | turning away | perverting | 1 |
G654-03 |
ἀποστρέφειν | apostrephein | V PRS ACT INF |
turning | to turn away | to turn away | 1 |
G654-01 |
ἀπεστράφησάν | apestraphesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
turned away | they were turned away | they turned away | 1 |
G654-08 |
ἀπόστρεψον | apostrepson | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
Put back | Turn away | turn away | 1 |
G654-07 |
ἀποστρέψει | apostrepsei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
will turn away | he/she/it will turn away | he will turn away | 1 |
G654-02 |
ἀποστραφῇς | apostraphes | V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P SG |
turn away | you might be turned away | turn away | 1 |
G654-09 |
ἀποστρέψουσιν | apostrepsousin | V FUT ACT IND 3P PL |
they will turn away | they will turn away | they will turn away | 1 |
G654-04 |
ἀποστρεφόμενοι | apostrephomenoi | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL |
turning away | turning themselves away | turning ourselves away | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G654-02 |
Matthew 5:42 | ἀποστραφῇς | apostraphes | V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P SG |
turn away | you might be turned away | turn away |
G654-08 |
Matthew 26:52 | ἀπόστρεψον | apostrepson | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
Put back | Turn away | turn away |
G654-06 |
Luke 23:14 | ἀποστρέφοντα | apostrephonta | V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG |
perverting | turning away | perverting |
G654-03 |
Acts 3:26 | ἀποστρέφειν | apostrephein | V PRS ACT INF |
turning | to turn away | to turn away |
G654-07 |
Romans 11:26 | ἀποστρέψει | apostrepsei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
will turn away | he/she/it will turn away | he will turn away |
G654-01 |
2 Timothy 1:15 | ἀπεστράφησάν | apestraphesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
turned away | they were turned away | they turned away |
G654-09 |
2 Timothy 4:4 | ἀποστρέψουσιν | apostrepsousin | V FUT ACT IND 3P PL |
they will turn away | they will turn away | they will turn away |
G654-05 |
Titus 1:14 | ἀποστρεφομένων | apostrephomenon | V PRS MID PTCP GEN M PL |
who turn away | of those turning themselves away | of those turning themselves away |
G654-04 |
Hebrews 12:25 | ἀποστρεφόμενοι | apostrephomenoi | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL |
turning away | turning themselves away | turning ourselves away |