ἀποστρέφω (apostrephō)
apostrephō
to turn away
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apostrephō means to turn away or remove something from someone. In the New Testament it carries a strong sense of rejection or desertion. It appears in passages describing those who abandon the truth for myths, such as in 2 Timothy 4:4, and in accounts where individuals withdraw their support from Jesus, like in Titus 1:14.
Its meaning extends beyond physical movement to spiritual allegiance. The word can describe turning back a sword to its sheath, as Jesus commands in Matthew 26:52, or metaphorically perverting the truth by turning away from faithful teaching. The prefix apo- emphasizes the distance created by this turning, marking a decisive break from what was previously held.
Translators often render it as "turn away" or "desert," capturing the active nature of the rejection. Unlike simple departure, apostrephō implies a conscious reversal of direction that leaves behind a prior commitment. This usage highlights the seriousness of abandoning core beliefs or relationships in favor of opposing paths.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apostrephō describes a decisive turning away, whether it is physically pushing back a sword or spiritually rejecting the truth. In Matthew 26:52, Jesus uses this concept to call for peace instead of violence, showing that true strength often lies in restraint. This active choice to withdraw from conflict or falsehood invites us to examine where we might be resisting God’s gentle guidance.
When we face pressure to abandon our faith or ignore moral clarity, the temptation to turn away from what is right can feel natural. Yet Scripture reminds us that turning toward God brings blessing, while turning toward myths leads to confusion. We are invited to stay anchored in truth, trusting that God’s voice remains steady even when others shift their stance.
May you find peace in knowing that your allegiance to Christ is secure. When doubts arise or pressures mount, look back to the cross where Jesus turned away violence and turned toward love for us. His commitment to you never wavers, offering a stable foundation for your daily walk.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- turning away from,1×
- turning away from1×
- turning away1×
- turned away from1×
- they will turn away,1×
- misleading1×
- may you turn away from.1×
- do return1×
- He will remove1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπόστρεψον1×
- ἀποστρέψουσιν,1×
- ἀποστρέψει1×
- ἀποστρέφοντα1×
- ἀποστρέφειν1×
- ἀποστρεφόμενοι,1×
- ἀποστρεφομένων1×
- ἀποστραφῇς.¶1×
- ἀπεστράφησάν1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 26:52
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.
Jesus commands the disciple to put away his sword, using the concept of turning back violence to illustrate non-retaliation and spiritual authority.
-
II Timothy 4:4
and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables.
Paul warns that people will actively turn their ears from truth toward myths, highlighting the danger of deliberate spiritual rejection.
-
Acts 3:26
God, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness.”
God sends Jesus to bless people by turning them away from wickedness, showing the word’s positive use in calling for moral reorientation.