ἀναστρέφω G0390
To conduct oneself or live in a particular manner; also, to return or go back to a place.
In the New Testament, this word overwhelmingly describes how a person lives or behaves — their manner of life and conduct. Paul speaks of having conducted himself with holiness and sincerity (2 Cor 1:12), and Ephesians recalls a former way of life governed by fleshly desires (Eph 2:3). The Spanish conducirse and German wandeln both capture this ethical dimension of habitual behavior. Less commonly, the word retains its older classical sense of physically turning back or returning, as when the officers return to the council (Acts 5:22) or when God promises to return and rebuild David's tent (Acts 15:16).
1. conduct oneself, live — To conduct oneself, behave, or live in a characteristic manner — a distinctly Koine middle-voice usage describing one's habitual way of life rather than a single action. Paul declares he conducted himself (ἀνεστράφημεν) in the world with godly sincerity (2 Cor 1:12), and believers are urged to conduct themselves (ἀναστράφητε) properly in God's household (1 Tim 3:15). Spanish conducirse, French se conduire, and German wandeln all reflect this ethical-behavioral meaning. Hebrews 13:18 and 1 Peter 1:17 further confirm the moral overtone. 7×
AR["أَنْ-تَتَصَرَّفَ","اسلُكوا","تَصَرَّفْنا","سَالِكِينَ","سَلَكنا","عائِشينَ","نَتَصَرَّفَ"]·ben["আচরণ-করতে,","আমরা-আচরণ-করেছি","চলছে","চলতে","জীবনযাপন-কর","জীবনযাপন-করেছি","বাস-করছে"]·DE["wandeln"]·EN["conduct-yourselves","conducted-ourselves","living","to-conduct-oneself","to-conduct-ourselves","we-conducted-ourselves"]·FR["marcher","se-conduire"]·heb["הִתְנַהֲגוּ","הִתְנַהַגְנוּ","הַמִּתְהַלְּכִים","חַיִּינוּ","לְ-הִתְנַהֵג","לְהִתְנַהֵג","מִתְנַהֲגִים"]·HI["चलन","चलना","चलने-वालों-को","जीने-वालों","व्यवहार-करो","हमने-व्यवहार-किया","हुम-चले"]·ID["bertingkah-laku","hidup","hidup.","hidup;","hiduplah","kami-hidup"]·IT["comportarsi"]·jav["gesang","gesang;","ingkang-dipunlampahi","kita-gesang","lampahana,","lumampah,","rumiyin-gesang"]·KO["사는-것을,","사는-자들의","살아가는-자들을;","살았다","지내라","행하기-를","행하였다"]·PT["comportar-se","conduzi-vos,","nos-conduzimos","que-viviam","vivem","vivemos","viver"]·RU["вести-себя","живущих","жили","поступать","проведите,"]·ES["conducirnos","conducirse","conducíos","nos-condujimos","viviendo","vivimos"]·SW["ishini","kuenenda","kuishi.","tuliishi","wanaoishi","wanaopitia"]·TR["davrandık","davranmak","geçirin","yaşayanlardan","yaşayanların","yuruyorduk"]·urd["رہتے-تھے","رہنے-والوں؛","چلنا","چلے","گزارنے-والوں","گزارو،"]
▼ 1 more sense below
Senses
2. return, go back — To return or go back to a previous location — the earlier, more literal meaning of turning around physically. The officers returned (ἀνέστρεψαν) to the council after finding the prison empty (Acts 5:22), and James quotes Amos where the Lord promises 'I will return' (ἀναστρέψω) to rebuild David's fallen tent (Acts 15:16). Spanish regresar and French retourner match this spatial movement sense, contrasting sharply with the metaphorical 'conduct' usage. 2×
AR["أَرجِعُ","رَاجِعِينَ"]·ben["ফিরব","ফিরে"]·DE["lebt"]·EN["I-will-return","having-returned"]·FR["se-conduire"]·heb["וְ-","שָׁבוּ"]·HI["लौटूँगा"]·ID["Aku-akan-kembali","kembali"]·IT["comportarsi"]·jav["kula-wangsul","wangsul"]·KO["돌아오겠다","돌아와"]·PT["voltarei"]·RU["вернувшись","возвращусь"]·ES["habiendo-regresado","volveré"]·SW["nitarudi","wakirudi"]·TR["döneceğim","dönüp"]·urd["لوٹ-کر","لَوٹوںگا"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H3212 1. go, depart, travel (884×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H1980 1. to go, travel (Qal) (283×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀναστρέφω, poetry ἀνστρέφω, perfect ἀνέστροφα variant in Refs, 3rd.pers.plural ἀνέστροφανRefs 3rd c.BC+:—turn upside down, μήπως.. δίφρους ἀνστρέψειαν might upset them, Refs 8th c.BC+; τὴν ζοήν Cerc.[same place]; ἀ. καρδίαν upset the stomach, i.e. cause sickness, Refs 5th c.BC+; reverse, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, future ἀναστραφήσεσθαι τὰ τῆς Ἑλλάδος πράγματαRefs 5th c.BC+: perfect ἀνεστράφθαι τῆς…