Lexical Summary apostrephó: To turn away, to turn back, to reject, to remove. Original Word: ἀποστρέφω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pervert, turn away from. From apo and strepho; to turn away or back (literally or figuratively) -- bring again, pervert, turn away (from). see GREEK apo see GREEK strepho HELPS Word-studies 654 apostréphō (from 575 /apó, "away from," which intensifies 4762 /stréphō, "to turn") – properly, turn away from, i.e. depart (separate) from the previous point. 654 (apostréphō) emphasizes the personal element involved with turning away or rejecting (L & N, 1, 68.44). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and strephó Definition to turn away, turn back NASB Translation incites...to rebellion (1), put...back (1), remove (1), turn away (4), turned away (1), turning (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 654: ἀποστρέφωἀποστρέφω; future ἀποστρέψω; 1 aorist ἀπέστρεψα; 2 aorist passive ἀπεστράφην; (present middle ἀποστρέφομαι; from Homer down); 1. to turn away: τινα or τί ἀπό τίνος, 2 Timothy 4:4 (τήν ἀκοήν ἀπό τῆς ἀληθείας); to remove anything from anyone, Romans 11:26 (Isaiah 59:20); ἀποστρέφειν τινα simply, to turn him away from allegiance to anyone, tempt to defection (A. V. pervert), Luke 23:14. 2. to turn back, return, bring back: Matthew 26:52 (put back thy sword into its sheath); Matthew 27:3, of Judas bringing back the shekels, where T Tr WH ἔστρεψε (cf. Test. xii. Patr. test. Jos. § 17). (In the same sense for הֵשִׁיב, Genesis 14:16; Genesis 28:15; Genesis 43:11 ( 3. intransitive, to turn oneself away, turn back, return: ἀπό τῶν πονηριῶν, Acts 3:26, cf. Acts 3:19 (ἀπό ἁμαρτίας, Sir. 8:5 Sir. 17:21 (26 Tdf.); to return from a place, Genesis 18:33; 1 Macc. 11:54, etc.; (see Kneucker on Baruch 1:13); Xenophon, Hell. 3, 4, 12); cf. Meyer on Acts, the passage cited; (others, (with A. V.) take it actively here: in turning away every one of you, etc.). 4. Middle, with 2 aorist passive, to turn oneself away from, with an accusative of the object (cf. (Jelf, § 548 obs. 1; Krüger, § 47, 23, 1); Buttmann, 192 (166)); to reject, refuse: τινα, Matthew 5:42; Hebrews 12:25; τήν ἀλήθειαν, Titus 1:14; in the sense of deserting, τινα, 2 Timothy 1:15. ἀποστρέφω appears nine times in the Greek New Testament and consistently carries the idea of a decisive change of direction—either away from something evil toward God, or tragically away from God and His truth toward error. The contexts cluster around three primary spheres: (1) God’s gracious intervention, (2) the disciple’s ethical duty, and (3) sober warnings against apostasy and judicial hardening. God’s Gracious Initiative Acts 3:26 anchors the verb in redemptive history. Peter proclaims, “God raised up His Servant and sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” The risen Christ is portrayed as the active Agent who redirects sinners. This echoes prophetic promises such as Isaiah 59:20, quoted in Romans 11:26, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove godlessness from Jacob.” In both passages salvation is pictured as God Himself reversing the sinner’s course. The emphasis rests on divine sovereignty: the turning is accomplished “by” God, not achieved merely “for” Him. Ethical Demands of Discipleship Matthew 5:42 brings the concept down to daily life: “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Here the verb rebukes a self-protective posture. Disciples are to mirror the Father’s generosity, refusing to deflect legitimate need. Likewise, Matthew 26:52 records Jesus’ command to Peter, “Return your sword to its place,” an immediate call to redirect misdirected zeal. Obedience requires a swift turning from fleshly reaction to kingdom priorities. Civil and Judicial Use Luke 23:14 has Pilate state, “I have examined Him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against Him,” literally, no evidence that Jesus was “turning the people away.” The accusation assumes that misleading or deflecting public allegiance is a serious civil offense. Ironically, the One unjustly accused of subversion is actually the Deliverer who truly redirects hearts to righteousness. Warnings Against Apostasy Four passages employ ἀποστρέφω to describe dangerous spiritual recoil: • 2 Timothy 1:15 – “Everyone in the Province of Asia has turned away from me.” Desertion of Paul’s gospel partnership illustrates broader desertion of sound doctrine. These texts reveal a progression: inattentiveness to truth (ears) becomes resistance (hearts) and finally results in full-blown repudiation. Apostasy is never portrayed as a benign lapse but as deliberate reversal of direction away from the living God. National Israel and Eschatological Hope Romans 11:26 affirms that God will yet “remove godlessness from Jacob.” The same verb used of apostates turning away from truth is used of Messiah turning away ungodliness. Scripture therefore balances the severity of judicial hardening (Romans 11:8-10) with the promise of future mercy. The Deliverer’s decisive act ensures that Israel’s account ends not in perpetual defection but in covenant faithfulness achieved by divine intervention. Pastoral Observations 1. Conversion is more than mental assent; it is a God-wrought redirection of the whole person. Historical and Theological Significance In the Septuagint, ἀποστρέφω often renders Hebrew shuv (“return/turn back”), threading the New Testament usage into a rich Old Testament tapestry of covenantal repentance (e.g., Psalm 51:13; Isaiah 45:22). New Testament writers therefore speak a familiar prophetic language, presenting Christ as the ultimate “Turner” of hearts. Early church fathers picked up this motif, emphasizing both the necessity of moral turnaround and the impossibility of accomplishing it apart from grace. Practical Ministry Application • Preaching: Highlight the twin realities of divine initiative and human responsibility—God turns, yet people must not resist (Hebrews 12:25). The nine New Testament occurrences of ἀποστρέφω thus weave together doctrine, ethics, warning, and promise, calling every believer to continual alignment with the gracious redirection accomplished by Christ and demanded by His gospel. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:42 V-ASP-2SGRK: δανίσασθαι μὴ ἀποστραφῇς NAS: to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants KJV: turn not thou away. INT: to borrow not you shall turn away from Matthew 26:52 V-AMA-2S Luke 23:14 V-PPA-AMP Acts 3:26 V-PNA Romans 11:26 V-FIA-3S 2 Timothy 1:15 V-AIP-3P 2 Timothy 4:4 V-FIA-3P Titus 1:14 V-PPM-GMP Hebrews 12:25 V-PPM-NMP Strong's Greek 654 |
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