ἐπι-στρέφω G1994
To turn around, turn back, return; encompasses physical turning, spiritual repentance, and causing others to turn
Built from epi- (upon, back) and strepho (to turn), this verb carries the fundamental image of reversing direction. It moves fluidly between the physical and the spiritual: a woman turning around in a crowd to find who touched her (Mark 5:30), the Holy Family returning to Nazareth (Luke 2:39), and Peter calling Israel to repent and turn back to God (Acts 3:19). The causative use adds a prophetic dimension — Elijah will 'turn the hearts of fathers to children' (Luke 1:17, echoing Malachi 4:6). Spanish distinguishes neatly between 'volver' for physical return and 'convertir' for spiritual turning, illuminating the word's dual register.
Senses
1. return to a place — Returning to a previous location — the concrete, spatial sense of going back to where one came from. Jesus instructs the Twelve that if a house is unworthy, their peace will 'return' to them (Matt 10:13). The Holy Family returns to Galilee after the temple visit (Luke 2:39), and Mark 13:16 warns that the one in the field must not turn back for his cloak. Spanish 'volviendo/habiendo vuelto' and German 'umkehren' both emphasize the physical reversal of travel. 14×
AR["أَرجِعُ", "راجِعينَ", "رَجَعتُم", "رَجَعَ", "رَجَعَت", "رَجَعُوا", "رَجَعْتَ", "عائِدٌ", "لِيَرجِعْ", "لِيَرْجِعْ", "يَرجِعْ"]·ben["তোমরা-ফিরে-এসেছ", "ফিরব", "ফিরল", "ফিরুক", "ফিরে-আসুক", "ফিরে-এল", "ফিরে-এসে", "ফিরে-গিয়ে", "ফিরে-গেলেন", "ফেরুক", "ফেরে"]·DE["kehrt-um", "umkehren"]·EN["Having-returned", "I-will-return", "having-turned", "having-turned-back", "let-him-turn-back", "let-return", "let-turn-back", "returned", "they-returned", "turned", "turns", "you-returned"]·FR["retourner", "se-tourner"]·heb["אָשׁוּב", "חָזְרוּ", "חוֹזְרִים", "יָשׁוּב", "שַׁבְתֶּם", "שָׁב", "שָׁבְתָּ", "שָׁבָה", "שָׁבוּ"]·HI["फिरे", "लौट-आई", "लौट-आए", "लौट-आए-हो", "लौटकर", "लौटे", "लौतोओनगअ"]·ID["Mari-kembali", "Tuhan", "akan-kembali", "berbalik", "ia-kembali", "kamu-telah-berbalik", "kembali", "kembalilah", "setelah-berbalik"]·IT["ritornare"]·jav["Wangsul", "badhé-wangsul,", "kawangsula.", "mratobat", "panjenengan-wangsul", "sasampunipun-mratobat,", "wangsul"]·KO["돌아가라", "돌아가리라", "돌아가서", "돌아가지", "돌아갔다", "돌아섰다", "돌아오거든", "돌아오게-하라", "돌아오면", "돌아와", "돌아왔느니라", "돌아왔다", "돌이켰다"]·PT["Tendo-voltado", "converteram-se", "tendo-voltado", "voltar", "voltaram", "voltastes", "volte", "voltou"]·RU["Вернувшись", "возвратились", "возвратился", "возвращается", "возвращающаяся", "возвращусь", "да-вернётся", "да-возвратится", "обратившись", "обратились", "обратилось", "обратится", "пусть-возвращается"]·ES["Volviendo", "habiendo-vuelto", "os-habéis-vuelto", "se-volvieron", "se-volvió", "volveré", "volviere", "volvieron", "volvió", "vuelva"]·SW["Turudi", "akirudi", "amerudi", "arudi", "asirudi", "ilirudi", "kuchukua", "mmerudi", "na-irudi.", "nitarudi,", "ukigeuka", "wakarudi", "waligeuka"]·TR["Dönerek", "döndü", "döndüler", "döndürüldünüz", "döndüğünde", "döneceğim", "dönen", "dönsün", "dönüp"]·urd["رجوع-کر-کے", "لوٹ-آئے", "لوٹوں-گی", "لوٹی", "لوٹے", "لَوٹ-کر", "پلٹا-ہوا", "پلٹے", "پھر-گئے", "پھرے"]
Matt 10:13, Matt 12:44, Matt 24:18, Mark 13:16, Luke 2:39, Luke 8:55, Luke 17:4, Luke 17:31, Luke 22:32, Acts 9:35, Acts 11:21, Acts 15:36 (+2 more)
2. turn back spiritually, repent — Spiritual turning or repentance — a metaphorical extension where the direction reversed is moral rather than spatial. Peter at Pentecost urges Israel to 'turn back' (Acts 3:19), and Paul describes the Thessalonians turning from idols to serve the living God (1 Thess 1:9). The parables of the sower invoke it as the turning that brings healing (Matt 13:15, quoting Isa 6:10). Spanish 'convertios' (convert yourselves) captures the reflexive, volitional quality of this repentance sense. 9×
AR["أَن-تَرجِعوا", "اِرْجِعُوا", "تَرجِعونَ", "رَجَعْتُمْ", "يَرجِعوا", "يَرجِعونَ", "يَرجِعُ", "يَرجِعُوا", "يَرْجِعوا"]·ben["ফিরছে", "ফিরতে", "ফিরতে-পারে,", "ফিরলে", "ফিরিবে", "ফিরে-এস", "ফিরে-যাচ্ছ", "ফেরে"]·DE["kehrt-um", "umkehren"]·EN["do-you-turn-back", "it-turns", "they-should-turn", "they-turn", "to-turn", "turn-back", "turning", "you-turned"]·FR["retourner", "se-tourner"]·heb["הַ-", "יָשׁוּב", "יָשׁוּבוּ", "לָשׁוּב", "שַׁבְתֶּם", "שָׁבִים-אַתֶּם", "שׁוּבוּ"]·HI["उन्हें", "तुम-फिरते-हो", "फिरते-हैं", "फिरने-को", "फिरे", "फिरें,", "फिरेइन", "लौटो"]·ID["berbalik", "berbalik,", "berbaliklah,", "kamu-berbalik", "mereka-berbalik", "mereka-berbalik,"]·IT["ritornare"]·jav["kang-mratobat", "mbalik,", "mratobat", "mratobat,", "panjenengan-mratobat", "panjenengan-sami-wangsul", "sumangga-wangsul,"]·KO["너희가-돌아섰는지", "돌아가느냐", "돌아오게-되어", "돌이켜라", "돌이키고", "돌이키는-자들을", "돌이키도록", "돌이키면"]·PT["a-converterdes", "convertei-vos", "que-se-convertem", "se-convertam", "se-convertam,", "se-converter", "tornais", "vos-convertestes"]·RU["обратились", "обратились,", "обратитесь,", "обратится", "обратятся", "обращаетесь", "обращаться", "обращающихся"]·ES["convertíos", "os-volvisteis", "os-volvéis", "se-conviertan", "se-vuelva", "volveros", "volviéndose"]·SW["atakapomgeukia", "kugeuka", "mgeuke", "mligeuka", "mnageuka", "wakageuka", "wakageuka,", "wakarejea", "wanaogeuka"]·TR["döndünüz", "dönecekler", "dönenleri", "dönmek", "dönse", "dönsünler,", "dönün", "dönüyorsunuz", "onları"]·urd["تم-رجوع-ہوئے", "رجوع-کرنے-والوں", "رجوع-کرو", "رجوع-کریں", "رجوع-کرے", "پھرتے-ہو", "پھرنا", "پھریں"]
3. turn around physically — Physical turning of the body — not traveling back but rotating in place to face a different direction. When Jesus perceives power has gone from him, he 'turns around' in the crowd (Mark 5:30). Peter turns to look at the beloved disciple following behind (John 21:20). At Joppa, Peter turns toward Tabitha's body and speaks (Acts 9:40). The translations across languages consistently use reflexive turning verbs here, distinguishing this from the journey-return sense. 7×
AR["إِذِ-الْتَفَتُّ", "التَفَتَ", "الْتَفَتَ", "الْتَفَتُّ", "مُلْتَفِتًا"]·ben["ঘুরে", "ফিরলাম", "ফিরে", "ফিরে,"]·DE["kehrt-um", "umkehren"]·EN["I-turned", "having-turned", "turning"]·FR["retourner", "se-tourner"]·heb["כְּשֶׁפָּנִיתִי", "פָּנִיתִי", "פָּנָה"]·HI["फिरकर", "भीड़-में", "मुड़कर", "मुड़कर,", "मुड़ा"]·ID["Berpaling", "aku-berbalik", "berbalik", "setelah-berbalik,"]·IT["ritornare"]·jav["kawula-minger", "malik", "minger", "noleh", "sasampunipun-minger"]·KO["돌아보고", "돌아서", "돌아서서", "돌아섰다", "돌이켜서"]·PT["tendo-se-voltado", "tendo-virado", "virando-se", "virei-me", "voltando-se"]·RU["обернувшись", "обернувшись,", "обернулся", "обратившись"]·ES["Habiéndose-vuelto", "habiéndome-vuelto", "habiéndose-vuelto", "me-volví", "volviéndose"]·SW["Akigeuka", "akigeuka", "nikageuka", "nilipogeuka,"]·TR["Dönünce", "döndüm", "dönerek", "dönüp", "gördüm"]·urd["مُڑ-کر", "مُڑا", "مڑ-کر", "پھر-کر"]
4. cause someone to turn — Causative turning — making someone else turn, whether physically redirecting them or bringing about their spiritual conversion. The angel tells Zechariah that John will 'turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord' (Luke 1:16) and 'turn the hearts of fathers to children' (Luke 1:17). Paul's mission to the Gentiles is to 'turn them from darkness to light' (Acts 26:18). Spanish 'le hace volver' and 'para convertir' highlight the external agency in this sense. 6×
AR["الرّادَّ", "رَدَّهُ", "سَيَرُدُّ", "لِيَرُدَّ", "لِيَرْجِعُوا", "يَرْجِعُوا"]·ben["ফিরাইতে", "ফিরিতে", "ফিরিয়ে-আনে", "ফিরিয়ে-আনে-যে", "ফেরাতে", "ফেরাবে"]·DE["kehrt-um", "umkehren"]·EN["having-turned-back", "he-will-turn", "to-turn", "turns-back"]·FR["retourner", "se-tourner"]·heb["יַחֲזִיר", "יָשִׁיב", "לְהָשִׁיב", "לָשׁוּב", "מֵשִׁיב"]·HI["फिरने", "फेरने-को", "फेरनेवाला", "फेरे", "फेरेगा"]·ID["akan-dibawa-kembali", "berbalik", "membalikkan", "untuk-membawa-kembali"]·IT["ritornare"]·jav["badhé-dipun-wangsulaken", "kang-mbalèkaken", "mbalik", "mbalèkaken", "supados-mbalèkaken"]·KO["돌이키게-하여", "돌이키게-할-것이다", "돌이키기-위해", "돌이키는-자가", "돌이키라고", "돌이키면"]·PT["converter", "converterá", "para-converter", "se-convertessem"]·RU["обративший", "обратит", "обратить", "обратиться", "обращаться"]·ES["le-hace-volver", "para-convertir", "que-hace-volver", "volver", "volverse", "volverá"]·SW["aliyemrudisha", "atawarudisha", "kugeuka", "kumgeukia", "kurudisha", "mtu"]·TR["döndürecek", "döndüren", "döndürmek", "döndürürse", "dönmek-için", "dönmelerini"]·urd["پھرنے", "پھرنے-کو", "پھیرنے-والا", "پھیرنے-کو", "پھیرے", "پھیرے-گا"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)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×)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×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπι-στρέφω, perfect ἐπέστροφα Refs 4th c.BC+:—turn about, turn round, νῶτον Oracle texts cited in Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐ. τὰς ναῦς tack Refs 5th c.BC+; also, put an enemy to flight, Refs 5th c.BC+; wheel about, τοὺς ἱππεῖς Refs 1st c.AD+; wheel through a right angle, Refs 1st c.BC+ __b. intransitive, turn about, turn round, ἕλκε δ᾽ ἐπιστρέψας Refs 8th c.BC+; here only in Refs 8th c.BC+, and perhaps…