διαστρέφω (diastrephō)
diastrephō
to pervert
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb diastrephō means to twist something out of its proper shape or meaning. It describes a deliberate distortion that leads away from what is right. In the New Testament, it often refers to people who corrupt the truth or pervert the message of God.
This word appears in several key passages. In Luke 23:2, religious leaders accuse Jesus’ followers of “perverting” the nation. In Acts 13:8 and 13:10, Paul confronts Elymas the sorcerer for twisting the ways of the Lord. The adjective form, describing someone as “perverse,” is used by Jesus in Matthew 17:17 and Luke 9:41 to describe a faithless generation, and again in Acts 20:30 and Philippians 2:15 to warn against those who distort the truth.
The root combines dia- (“through” or “thoroughly”) with strephō (“to turn”). This suggests not just a slight deviation but a thorough twisting. Translators often render it as “pervert,” which captures the sense of corrupting something pure. The word carries strong moral weight, pointing to active opposition against God’s purposes rather than mere misunderstanding.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word diastrephō describes a deliberate twisting of truth, pulling it away from its original shape. In our daily lives, we often face messages that seem right but lead us astray. This verb reminds us that distortion is not always accidental; sometimes it is a chosen path. Recognizing this helps us hold fast to what is genuine and resist the subtle shifts in understanding that can weaken our faith.
When we encounter confusion or conflicting teachings, this word invites us to look closer at the source. It warns against allowing external pressures or internal biases to warp the clear message of God. By anchoring ourselves in Scripture, we protect our hearts from these distortions. This clarity brings peace, allowing us to walk with integrity even when others twist the truth.
Ultimately, this term calls us to be people of light in a crooked generation. It encourages us to speak and live with honesty, reflecting God’s character without compromise. May we find strength in His word to discern what is true and remain steadfast in our commitment to righteousness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- perverted,2×
- to turn away1×
- perverting1×
- perverted [things]1×
- perverted1×
- misleading1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διεστραμμένη,2×
- διεστραμμένης1×
- διεστραμμένα1×
- διαστρέψαι1×
- διαστρέφων1×
- διαστρέφοντα1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 13:10
and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Paul uses this strong term to confront Elymas for actively twisting the Lord's ways, showing that spiritual opposition often involves deliberate deception.
-
Philippians 2:15
that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,
Paul describes believers as shining lights in a 'perverse generation,' highlighting the call to moral clarity amid widespread distortion.
-
Luke 23:2
They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
The religious leaders accuse Jesus of perverting the nation, illustrating how those in power may twist facts to discredit God's messengers.