μετα-στρέφω G3344
turn around, transform, pervert, change direction or nature
This verb describes turning something around or transforming it, sometimes with negative connotations of perversion. Joel's prophecy says the sun will be 'turned' to darkness (Acts 2:20, quoting Joel 2:31). Paul warns that some want to 'pervert' the gospel (Gal 1:7). James calls mourners to let laughter be 'turned' to mourning (Jas 4:9). The range spans cosmic transformation, doctrinal corruption, and emotional reversal. The varied translations—'shall be turned,' 'pervertir,' 'retourner,' 'verwandeln'—show the verb applies to physical, spiritual, and emotional turning.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To turn around, transform, or change fundamentally, with nuances ranging from neutral transformation to deliberate perversion. Acts 2:20 uses it for cosmic reversal (sun to darkness), Galatians 1:7 for doctrinal corruption, James 4:9 for emotional shift (joy to grief). Spanish 'pervertir' and French 'retourner' reflect both the neutral and negative senses. The Greek μεταστρέφω literally means 'turn around,' but context determines whether it's divine transformation or human distortion. 3×
AR["أن-يُحَرِّفوا", "سَتَتَحَوَّلُ", "لِيَتَحَوَّل"]·ben["পরিণত-হোক", "বিকৃত-করতে", "রূপান্তরিত-হইবে"]·DE["verwandeln", "μεταστραφήσεται"]·EN["let-be-turned", "shall-be-turned", "to-pervert"]·FR["retourner", "μεταστρέψαι", "μετατραπήτω"]·heb["יֵהָפֵךְ", "לְהַפוֹךְ"]·HI["-अंधेरे-में", "बदल-जाए", "बदलने"]·ID["akan-diubah", "diubah,", "memutarbalikkan"]·IT["metastrepsai", "metatrapētō", "pervertire"]·jav["badhé-kaowahaken", "dadosa,", "ngéwahi"]·KO["기적들-을", "뒤집으려", "바뀌라,"]·PT["perverter", "seja-convertido", "será-transformado"]·RU["извратить", "превратится", "пусть-обратится,"]·ES["pervertir", "sea-cambiada", "será-convertido"]·SW["kigeuke", "kuigeuza", "litageuzwa"]·TR["değişsin", "dönüştürülecek", "çarpıtmak"]·urd["بدل-جائے٬", "بدلنا", "بدلے-گا"]
Related Senses
G4102 1. faith, trust, belief (239×)G4100 1. believe / have faith in (233×)H0982 1. trust in, rely on (105×)H3988a 1. reject, refuse (56×)G4103 1. faithful, trustworthy, reliable (54×)H0530 1. faithfulness, fidelity, reliability (47×)H0539 1. believe, accept as true (42×)H3985 1. refuse, be unwilling (41×)H0539 2. faithful, trustworthy, sure (39×)H8582 1. lead astray, cause to err (22×)H2623 1. faithful ones / saints (community) (21×)G0571 1. unbelieving, unbeliever (20×)G3982 1. be persuaded or convinced (19×)H8582 2. go astray, err morally (19×)G4105 1. to deceive, lead astray (18×)G3982 2. trust or have confidence in (17×)H2186a 1. reject, spurn (Qal) (16×)H3988a 2. despise, scorn (14×)G3982 3. persuade or convince someone (13×)G4103 2. believing, a believer (13×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μετα-στρέφω, aorist passive -εστρέφθην Refs 8th c.BC+:— turn about, turn round, τῶ κε Ποσειδάων.. αἶψα μεταστρέψειε νόον Refs 8th c.BC+: —middle, μεταστρέφεσθαι πρὸς τὸ μαλθακώτερον Refs 5th c.BC+:— passive, turn oneself about, turn about, whether to face the enemy, στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθείς Refs 8th c.BC+; or to flee, τῷ δὲ μεταστρεφθέντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πῆξεν Refs 8th c.BC+; simply, turn round,…