The Greek verb ἀναστρέφω (anastrephō) means “to turn around” or “to conduct oneself.” It is derived from the prefix ἀνά (ana), meaning “up” or “again,” and the root στρέφω (strephō), meaning “to turn.” The term generally refers to the action of turning or changing direction, and it can also denote the manner in which one conducts oneself or lives.

Detailed Overview

According to Strong’s Concordance, ἀναστρέφω (G390) is used in the New Testament to describe the action of turning or conducting oneself. For instance, in Acts 13:10, Paul uses the term to describe how a person is “perverting the right ways of the Lord,” implying a turning away from proper conduct or truth. Additionally, in Ephesians 4:22, it is used to refer to the act of “putting off” the old self and its ways, indicating a change in behavior or conduct.

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The Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon further elaborates on ἀναστρέφω by noting that it conveys both the literal sense of turning around and the more figurative sense of one’s manner of life or conduct. BDAG highlights that the term is used in contexts involving moral or behavioral conduct, reflecting changes or transformations in how one lives.

The Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon supports this understanding by describing ἀναστρέφω as relating to the act of turning around or conducting oneself in a certain manner. The lexicon emphasizes its application in both literal and metaphorical senses, including changes in direction and modifications in behavior.

In summary, ἀναστρέφω primarily means “to turn around” or “to conduct oneself,” indicating changes in direction or behavior. This interpretation is consistent across Strong’s Concordance, BDAG, and LSJ, each providing context for its use in both literal and figurative senses in biblical and classical Greek literature.