στρέφω
strephō
to turn
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word στρέφω (strephō) is a verb that means "to turn." It is used 22 times in the Bible, indicating its significance in various contexts. The word can convey a range of meanings, from physical rotation to figurative change of direction or perspective. In its most literal sense, στρέφω refers to a physical turning or rotation, as seen in its use in Matthew 17:13, where Jesus turns to His disciples. However, the word also takes on a more figurative meaning, describing a change in direction or perspective. For example, in Acts 9:35, the apostles turn to the Lord, indicating a shift in focus or allegiance. The significance of στρέφω lies in its ability to convey a sense of transformation or change. Whether physical or figurative, the word suggests a movement away from one state and towards another. This theme of transformation is a common thread throughout the Bible, where individuals and communities are called to turn away from sin and towards God.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
22 total occurrences across the text
“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Matthew 9:22But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
Matthew 16:23But he turned, and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”
Matthew 18:3and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 27:3Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Luke 7:9When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.”
Luke 7:44Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.
Luke 9:55But he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are.
Luke 10:22Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.”
Luke 10:23Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,
Luke 14:25Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them,
Luke 22:61The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.”
Luke 23:28But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
John 1:38Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”
John 12:40“He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”
John 20:14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.
John 20:16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”
Acts 7:39to whom our fathers wouldn’t be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt,
Acts 7:42But God turned, and gave them up to serve the army of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
Acts 13:46Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
Matthew 5:39But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Revelation 11:6These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.