Quick Definition
I change, transform, alter
Strong's Definition
to exchange
Derivation: from G3326 (μετά) and G236 (ἀλλάσσω);
KJV Usage: change
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μεταλλάσσω: 1 aorist μετηλλαξα; from Herodotus down; (not In the Sept., yet nine times in 2 Macc.; also 1Es_1:31); to exchange, change (cf. μετά, III. 2): τί ἐν τίνιt, one thing with (for) another (on this construction see ἀλλάσσω), Rom_1:25; τί εἰς τί, one thing into another, Rom_1:26.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μεταλλάσσω metallassō 2x
to exchange, change for or into, transmute, Rom_1:25-26
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
μετ -αλλάσσω ,
[in LXX : Ezr_2:7 ( H4191 ), Ezr_2:20 , 1Es_1:31 ; 1Es_1:2 Mac.9 * ;]
1. to exchange: τ . ἀλήθειαν . . . ἐν τ . ψεύδει , the truth for a lie ( v. Bl., § 36, 8), Rom_1:25 .
2. to change: c . acc seq . εἰς , Rom_1:26 (ἀλλάσσω ).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μεταλλάσσω [page 403]
From the meaning exchange which this verb has in its only occurrences in the NT ( Rom_1:25 f. ), the transition is easy to exchange by leaving, quit, and hence the common μεταλλάσσω βίον = I die, e.g. P Par 22 .14 (B.C. 165) μετήλλαχεν τὸν βίον , OGIS 326 .15 (ii/B.C.) μεταλλάσσων τὸν βίον ἐν Περγάμωι προενοήθη τῆς συνόδου . The use of μεταλλάσσω alone in this sense is perhaps still more common in our sources, e.g. BGU IV. 1148 .8 (B.C.13) τῶι μετηλλαχότι αὐτῆ (ς ) ἀνδρὶ Ἰσιδώρωι , P Oxy X. 1282 .18 (A.D. 83) ὑπὸ τοῦ γενομένου καὶ μετηλλαχότος τῆς Θνᾶτος ἀνδρός , by the former husband, now deceased, of Thnas (Edd.), P Ryl II. 108 .9 (A.D. 110 11) ἀπὸ κληρον [ο ]μίας τῆς μετηλλαχυίης ἡμῶν μη (τρὸς ) Εὐδαιμονίδ (ος ), from the inheritance of our deceased mother Eudaemonis, P Oxy III. 477 .14 (A.D. 132 3) ἣ μ [ε ]τήλλαχεν , who is dead, and Syll 731 ( = .3 1103) .10 ( c , B.C. 200) δέδωκεν δὲ καὶ τοῖς μετα [λλ ]άξασιν τὸ ταφικὸν παραχρῆμα .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
μεταλλάσσω attic -ττς fut. ξω "to change, alter", Hdt. "to exchange", "to take in exchange, adopt, assume", ὀρνίθων φύσιν Ar. ; so, μ. τόπον, χώραν "to go into a new" country, Plat. "to exchange by leaving, to quit", μ. τὸν βίον Isocr. ; so, μεταλλάσσειν alone, Plat. intr. "to undergo a change", Hdt.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
μετ-αλλάσσω
[in LXX: Est.2:7 (מוּת), Est.2:20, 1Es.1:31 Est.1:2 Mac.9 * ;]
__1. to exchange: τ. ἀλήθειαν . . . ἐν τ. ψεύδει, the truth for a lie (see Bl., § 36, 8), Rom_1:25.
__2. to change: with accusative before εἰς, Rom_1:26 (ἀλλάσσω).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Exchanged (3337) metallasso
Exchanged (3337) (metallasso from metá = change of place or condition + allásso = change) is used only in this verse and the preceding in the NT and means to cease one activity and to start something else in exchange. It denotes the giving up of one thing (the natural function of the woman, heterosexuality and child bearing) in order to receive another (the lie of lesbianism). Women became lesbians, practicing unnatural sex and knowing no shame.
The verb exchanged is aorist tense (action at a moment in time) and active voice (subject makes a choice of their will to carry out this action) indicating that these women made a deliberate choice to exchange the natural for the unnatural, which was a reflection of the influence of the degrading passions God had given them into the power of.
Expositor's Bible Commentary observes that...
Paul's use of "exchanged" is suggestive. The first exchange, that of the truth for the lie, is followed by another--the upsetting of the normal course of nature in sexual relations. Instead of using the ordinary terms for men and women, Paul substitutes "males" and "females." The irony is that this sort of bestiality finds no counterpart in the animal kingdom. Perversion is the unique contrivance of the human species. (Gaebelein, F, et al: Expositor's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testament 12 Volumes)