Quick Definition
ἐπιστροφή, ῆς, ἡ n.f. a turning to God
Strong's Definition
reversion, i.e. morally, revolution
Derivation: from G1994 (ἐπιστρέφω);
KJV Usage: conversion
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ῆς | στρέφω
31.60 · Hold a View, Believe, Trust · Change an Opinion Concerning Truth
turning to, coming to believe, acceptance, conversion changing one’s belief, with focus upon that to which one turns In analyzing the meaning of στρέφω[g], ἐπιστρέφω[b], and ἐπιστροφή[a] in such passages as ACT 15:3, it is difficult to determine the extent to which belief or behavior is primarily in focus. In the case of 1PE 2:25, one could certainly argue that the emphasis is upon the interpersonal relationship. It is therefore essential in rendering these terms not to narrow the meaning too much, for in this way one would certainly do violence to certain crucial semantic features.
For another interpretation of ἐπιστροφή in ACT 15:3, see 41.51.
41.51 · Behavior and Related States · Change Behavior
changing of one’s ways, turning to God, repentance change in one’s manner of life in a particular direction, with the implication of turning back to God In a number of languages it is not sufficient to simply translate ‘to change one’s manner of life,’ for this could either be neutral or even suggest a change for the worse. Therefore, it may be necessary in a number of instances to translate ‘to change one’s way of living as God would want’ or ‘to change and live like God would want one to live.’
For a different interpretation of ἐπιστροφή in ACT 15:3, see 31.60.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-στροφή, -ῆς, ἡ, (ἐπιστρέφω), conversion (of Gentiles fr. idolatry to the true God [ef. W. 26]): Acts xv. 3. (Cf. Sir. xlix. 2; xviii. 21 (20); in Grk. writ. in many other senses.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐπιστροφή epistrophē 1x
a turning towards, a turning about; in NT met. conversion, Acts 15:3*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-στροφή, -ῆς, ἡ
(ἐπιστρέφω) [in LXX: Ez 47:7 (שׁוּב), Si 18:21 49:2, etc. ;]
a turning about; metaph., conversion (Field, Notes, 246): Ac 15:3.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐπιστροφή Ῥ- 217 ff.) is inclined to lay upon the “‘ popular” character of the Pauline ἐπιστολαί : see Milligan Documents, p. 94f. We may further cite BGU III. 827?° (undated) ἰδοὺ δ[ὴ] τρίτην ἐπιστολήν σοι γράφω, which recalls 2 Pet 3 with an opening like 2 Cor 1214, and P Oxy XII. 1409? (a.p. 278) τῆς γραφείσης ἐπιστολῆς εἰς κοινὸν ἡμῖν στρατηγοῖς καὶ δε]καπρώτοις, with reference to a “" circular letter” addressed to the strategi and δεκάπρωτοι of the Heptanomia and Arsinoite nome by the dicecetes. For the diminutive it is enough to refer to the soldier’s letter to his mother, 26. 14815 (early ii/A.D.), in which he explains the reason why he has been so long in sending her an ἐπιστόλιον ---διότι ἐν παρεμβολῇ Ape καὶ οὐ δι᾽ ἀσθένε[ι]αν, ὥστε μὴ λοιποῦ, ‘‘ that 1 amin camp, and not that Iam ill; so do not grieve about me’’ (Edd.), and P Par 454 (B.C. 153) ἀπόντος μου πεφρόντικα ὑπέρ σου χρήσιμα τῶν σῶν πραγμάτων ἅ σοι] δεδύνημαι διασαφῆσαι διὰ τοῦ ἐπιστολίον, cf. 2 Cor το}}.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐπιστροφή (epistrophē) — conversion. ἐπιστροφ-ή,ἡ, turning about, τῆς τοῦ ἀτράκτου δίνης [Refs 5th c.BC+]; twisting, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of strands, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
2. bending of a bow, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
3. curve, winding of a bay, [Refs]; of a river, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
II. intransitive, turning or wheeling about, δαΐων ἀνδρῶν ἐπιστροφαί, i.e. hostile men turning to bay, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; tossing, of a restless patient, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μυρίων ἐπιστροφαὶ κακῶν renewed assaults of ills unnumbered, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; wheeling through a right angle, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; of ships, putting about, tacking, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐξ ἐπιστροφῆς by a sudden wheel, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; but ἐξ ἐπιστροφῆς παθεῖν to have a relapse, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. turn of affairs, reaction, counter-revolution, μή τις ἐ. γένηται [Refs 5th c.BC+]; result, end, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
II.3. attention paid to a person or thing (ἐπιστρέφω [Refs]. respect for guests, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; πρὸ τοῦ θανόντος τήνδ᾽ ἔθεσθ᾽ ἐ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὧν ἐ. τις ἦν to whom any regard was due, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so ἐπιστροφῆς ἄξιον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐ. ποιεῖσθαι Philipp. cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐ. ἔχειν τινός [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐπιστροφῆς τυγχάνειν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
II.3. b. Philos., turning towards, πρὸς τὰ τῇδε [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; ψυχὴ καταδεῖται πρὸς τὸ σῶμα τῇ ἐ. τῇ πρὸς τὰ πάθη τὰ ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
II.4. moving up and down in a place, mostly in plural, πατρῴων δωμάτων ἐπιστροφαί the range of them, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; οἷσιν οὐκ ἐπιστροφαί men who have no business here, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; βούνομοι ἐ. haunts of the grazing herds, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.5. intentness, vehemence, ἐπιστροφὴν εἶχεν ὁ λόγος καὶ ἔρρωτο [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.5. b gravity of deportment, ἡ ἐ. τοῦ εἴδους [Refs]
II.6. correction, reproof, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
II.7. conversion, [NT+5th c.AD+]
II.8. in Philos., return to the source of Being, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; [ἡ ἐ.] τοῦ προελθόντος ἐπάνοδος εἰς τὸ γεννῆσαν [Refs 5th c.AD+]
II.9. in Logic, conversion of a proposition, ἡ σὺν ἀντιθέσει ἐ. the contraposition, Suppl.ad [Refs 5th c.AD+]