ἐκστρέφω (ekstrephō)
ekstrephō
be warped
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ekstrephō describes a violent twisting or turning inside out, suggesting a complete inversion of nature. In its rare New Testament appearance in Titus 3:11, it characterizes a person who is "self-condemned" because they have twisted the truth into something harmful. The image is not merely of error, but of corruption—a deliberate warping of what was originally straight or good.
Its components, ek ("out") and strephō ("to turn"), emphasize an external force or a drastic reversal. While the root strephō can simply mean to turn, adding the prefix intensifies the action into something destructive. This word does not describe simple mistake; it points to a moral perversion where the individual’s own nature becomes their judgment.
Translators often render this as being "perverted" or "warped," capturing the idea of a character that has been twisted out of shape. The sources highlight its use in classical literature for similar ideas of inversion, but in Scripture, it carries heavy theological weight, describing those who distort divine truth until they condemn themselves.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ekstrephō paints a striking picture of moral distortion. It describes a violent twisting, like something straight being turned inside out until it is unrecognizable. In Titus 3:11, this term characterizes a person who has twisted the truth to the point of self-condemnation. This is not merely a simple mistake or honest error; it is a deliberate warping of what was originally good and right.
For your faith life, this word serves as a sobering reminder of how dangerous it can be to twist divine truth for personal gain or pride. When we allow our hearts to become twisted by sin, we end up judging ourselves. The image suggests that our own nature becomes the instrument of our downfall when we reject the straight path God offers.
Yet, this warning also points us toward the need for humility and a willingness to be corrected. Instead of twisting truth to fit our desires, we are invited to hold fast to what is right. By staying grounded in Scripture, we avoid the trap of self-deception and keep our hearts aligned with God’s clear and loving guidance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- has been corrupt1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξέστραπται1×
Key Verses
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Titus 3:11
knowing that such a one is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.
This verse uses ekstrephō to show how a person who twists the truth ends up condemning themselves through their own distorted perspective.