ἀνατρέπω (anatrepō)
anatrepō
to overturn
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb anatrepō means to turn something over completely, resulting in its destruction or total subversion. It carries a heavy sense of upheaval, describing not just a minor shift but a catastrophic reversal of order. In the New Testament, this word appears only three times, each instance highlighting a severe disruption caused by human action.
In John 2:15, Jesus uses it to describe driving out the animals and overturning the tables in the temple, an act that physically scattered the commercial setup. The term reappears in the pastoral epistles to describe false teachers who are "subverting" entire households (Titus 1:11) or undermining the faith of believers by claiming the resurrection has already occurred (2 Timothy 2:18). Here, the meaning is metaphorical; these individuals are overturning the foundational truths of the Christian community.
The word combines a prefix indicating upward or reversal with a root meaning to push or throw. This etymology reinforces the image of something being forcefully tossed from its established position. Translators typically render it as "overthrow," "subvert," or "destroy," capturing the finality of the damage. The sources emphasize that this is not a gentle correction but a violent dismantling of what was previously standing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jesus entered the temple courts, He did not merely tidy up; He overturned the tables with a decisive force that scattered the coins and drove out the animals. This act of overturning was not random anger but a clear declaration that God’s house is meant for prayer, not profit. It shows us that true reverence sometimes requires removing what has become an obstacle to our worship.
In the letters to Timothy and Titus, the same word describes how false teachers disrupt communities by twisting truth for personal gain. Their words do not just disagree with doctrine; they uproot the faith of others. We are reminded that sound teaching protects the flock, while deception causes spiritual collapse. This word warns us to guard what we believe and how we share it.
God calls us to stand firm in truth rather than being swept away by shifting ideas. May your heart remain anchored in Christ, the only foundation that cannot be shaken or overturned.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they are overthrowing1×
- overthrow1×
- He overthrew,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνατρέπουσιν2×
- ἀνέτρεψεν,1×
Key Verses
-
John 2:15
He made a whip of cords and drove all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables.
Jesus uses this action to physically dismantle the commercial system corrupting the temple, showing His zeal for pure worship.
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II Timothy 2:18
men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some.
Paul identifies false teaching that claims the resurrection is past as a force that actively uproots the faith of believers.
-
Titus 1:11
whose mouths must be stopped: men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake.
This verse highlights how individuals can destabilize entire households by promoting harmful teachings for dishonest gain.