περιτρέπω (peritrepō)
peritrepō
to drive insane
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb peritrepō literally means to turn around or to turn in every direction. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Acts 26:24, where Festus exclaims that Paul is driving him "mad" with his learning.
This rare word suggests a state of being whirled about or disoriented by intense mental activity. The sources note its connection to turning or changing direction, implying that Paul’s arguments were so forceful they seemed to overturn Festus’s stable reasoning.
Translators render it as "mad" or "out of your mind," capturing the sense of being overwhelmed rather than clinically insane. It highlights how profound theological discourse could appear chaotic or destabilizing to an observer not yet convinced by its logic.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word peritrepō describes a feeling of being whirled about or disoriented by intense mental activity. In Acts 26:24, Festus used it to express how Paul’s arguments felt overwhelming to his stable reasoning. This rare term captures the sense of being mentally turned upside down by ideas that challenge our current understanding.
When we encounter deep theological truths, they can sometimes feel destabilizing at first. Like Festus, we might feel our familiar frameworks are being shaken. Yet this disorientation is not a sign of failure but an invitation to look closer. The word reminds us that profound truth often disrupts our comfort before it brings clarity.
It encourages patience with those who struggle to grasp new insights. We can offer grace when others feel confused by spiritual depth, knowing that true understanding often comes after the initial whirlwind of thought has settled.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- turns [you]!1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περιτρέπει.1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 26:24
As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!”
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where Festus uses the word to describe feeling mentally overwhelmed by Paul's detailed defense.