Greek · G1994 · unreviewed

ἐπιστρέφω

To revert (literally, figuratively or morally)

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ἐπιστρέφω G1994

Pronunciation epistréphō

What does ἐπιστρέφω (epistréphō) mean in the Bible?

ἐπιστρέφω (epistréphō) is a Greek word meaning "to revert (literally, figuratively or morally)". ἐπι-στρέφω [very frequently in LXX, chiefly for שׁוּב, in its various senses, also for פָּנָה, etc. Describes repentance and faith directed toward the Lord. This term runs through the canonical themes of Faith.

Full entry for ἐπιστρέφω (G1994) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to revert (literally, figuratively or morally)

Extended definition

Turning to God or away from sin; moral conversion or repentance, not merely physical turning around.

[very frequently in LXX, chiefly for שׁוּב, in its various senses, also for פָּנָה, etc. ;]

1trans., to turn about, round or towards, hence metaphorically, to turn, cause to return (to God, virtue, etc.): Luk.1:16-17 (cf. Mal.3:24), Jas.5:19-20.

2Intrans.,

ato turn, turn oneself around: Act.16:18; with inf., Rev.1:12; before πρός, Act.9:40; so also pass. (cl.), Mrk.5:30 8:33, Jhn.21:20; metaphorically, of turning to God (see Field, Notes, 246 ff.), ἐπὶ τ. κύριον (θεόν), Act.9:35 11:21 14:15 15:19 26:20; πρὸς τ. θεόν, 1Th.1:9, 2Co.3:16; ἀπὸ σκότους εἰς φῶς, Act.26:18; pass., 1Pe.2:25;

bto return (as in MGr.): Luk.8:55, Act.15:36; before ὀπίσω, with inf., Mat.24:18; before εἰς, Mat.12:44, Mrk.13:16, Luk.2:39 17:31; ἐπί, 2Pe.2:22; metaphorically, before ἐπί, Gal.4:9; πρός, Luk.17:4; of moral reform, Mat.13:15, Mrk.4:12, Luk.22:32, Act.3:19 28:27; pass., Mat.10:13 (Cremer, 531, 881).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Describes repentance and faith directed toward the Lord. Acts 11:19-26

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Aorist Present Future

Voices

Active Passive

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 11×

Aorist Active Luke 22:32 · Acts 9:40 · Acts 16:18 · Jas 5:20 · 2 Pet 2:22 · Rev 1:12 · Acts 15:36 7×

Aorist Passive Mark 5:30 · Mark 8:33 · John 21:20 3×

Present Active Acts 15:19 1×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 6×

Aorist Active Matt 13:15 · Mark 4:12 · Acts 28:27 · Luke 17:4 · 2 Cor 3:16 · Jas 5:19 6×

Imperative command or strong request 5×

Aorist Active Matt 24:18 · Mark 13:16 · Luke 17:31 · Acts 3:19 4×

Aorist Passive Matt 10:13 1×

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 4×

Aorist Active Luke 1:17 · Acts 26:18 2×

Present Active Acts 14:15 · Acts 26:20 2×

Indicative states a fact or reality 10×

Aorist Active Luke 2:39 · Acts 9:35 · Luke 8:55 · Acts 11:21 · 1 Thess 1:9 · Rev 1:12 6×

Future Active Matt 12:44 · Luke 1:16 2×

Present Active Gal 4:9 1×

Aorist Passive 1 Pet 2:25 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 35 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 7 ongoing 1 prospective 2 imperative 4 subjunctive 6 infinitive 4 participle 11

Tense

aorist 31 present 2 future 2

Voice

active 30 passive 5

Mood

participle 11 indicative 10 subjunctive 6 infinitive 4 imperative 4

NT Occurrences

Matthew 10:13 ἐπιστραφήτω aorist passive imperative imperative Matthew 12:44 ἐπιστρέψω future active indicative prospective Matthew 13:15 ἐπιστρέψωσιν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 24:18 ἐπιστρεψάτω aorist active imperative imperative Mark 4:12 ἐπιστρέψωσιν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Mark 5:30 ἐπιστραφεὶς aorist passive participle participle Mark 8:33 ἐπιστραφεὶς aorist passive participle participle Mark 13:16 ἐπιστρεψάτω aorist active imperative imperative Luke 1:16 ἐπιστρέψει future active indicative prospective Luke 1:17 ἐπιστρέψαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 2:39 ἐπέστρεψαν aorist active indicative completed Luke 8:55 ἐπέστρεψεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 17:31 ἐπιστρεψάτω aorist active imperative imperative Luke 17:4 ἐπιστρέψῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Luke 22:32 ἐπιστρέψας aorist active participle participle John 21:20 Ἐπιστραφεὶς aorist passive participle participle Acts 9:35 ἐπέστρεψαν aorist active indicative completed Acts 9:40 ἐπιστρέψας aorist active participle participle Acts 11:21 ἐπέστρεψεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 14:15 ἐπιστρέφειν aorist active infinitive infinitive Acts 15:19 ἐπιστρέφουσιν present active participle participle Acts 15:36 Ἐπιστρέψαντες aorist active participle participle Acts 16:18 ἐπιστρέψας aorist active participle participle Acts 26:18 ἐπιστρέψαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Acts 26:20 ἐπιστρέφειν aorist active infinitive infinitive Acts 28:27 ἐπιστρέψωσιν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive 2 Corinthians 3:16 ἐπιστρέψῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Galatians 4:9 ἐπιστρέφετε present active indicative ongoing 1 Thessalonians 1:9 ἐπεστρέψατε aorist active indicative completed James 5:19 ἐπιστρέψῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive James 5:20 ἐπιστρέψας aorist active participle participle 1 Peter 2:25 ἐπεστράφητε aorist passive indicative completed 2 Peter 2:22 ἐπιστρέψας aorist active participle participle Revelation 1:12 ἐπέστρεψα aorist active indicative completed Revelation 1:12 ἐπιστρέψας aorist active participle participle

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Canonical Themes

Faith

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

Acts 11:19-26 Turned epistréphō Indicative · Aorist Active

To turn back or return.

Additional Occurrences

Luke 1:5–25 ἐπιστρέψει epistréphō

To turn back, convert

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 11 — Jerusalem Recognizes God’s Grace to the Gentiles Acts 14 — Through Many Hardships into the Kingdom Acts 15 — The Gospel of Grace Clarified and the Gentiles Received Acts 26 — Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles Acts 28 — Paul in Rome: The Kingdom Proclaimed Without Hindrance Acts 3 — The Risen Christ Heals and Calls Israel to Repentance Acts 9 — The Risen Christ Converts His Fiercest Persecutor Luke 22 — The Passover Betrayal, the New Covenant Meal, and the Suffering Servant King

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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