Quick Definition
στρέφω v. I turn, am converted, change
Strong's Definition
strengthened from the base of 5157; to twist, i.e. turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: convert, turn (again, back again, self, self about)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | aor.pass. ἐστράφην · ptc. στραφείς | ἀναστρέφω · ἀναστροφή · ἀποστρέφω · διαστρέφω · ἐκστρέφοραι · ἐπιστρέφω · ἐπιστροφή · καταστρέφω · καταστροφή · μεταστρέφω · στρεβλόω · συστρέφω · συστροφή · ὑποστρέφω
16.14 · Non-Linear Movement
to turn to cause something to turn
13.63 · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · Change of State
to change, to turn into, to remove from to cause something to turn into or to become something else
15.195 · Linear Movement · Carry, Bear
to bring back, to carry back to, to take back to to carry something back to a point where it had been formerly It is also possible to interpret στρέφω in MAT 27:3 as ‘pay back’ or ‘giving back money’ (see 57.157).
57.157 · Possess, Transfer, Exchange · Pay, Price, Cost
to pay back, to return a payment to return a payment It is possible to interpret στρέφω in MAT 27:3 as simply meaning ‘to bring back’ or ‘to take back’ (see 15.195).
34.28 · Association · Join, Begin To Associate
to reject, to turn away from to reject an existing relation of association
16.13 · (στρέφομαι[a]) · Non-Linear Movement
to turn around, to turn toward to turn around to or toward
MAT 9:22 · LUK 7:9 · LUK 7:44 · LUK 9:55 · LUK 10:23 · LUK 14:25 · LUK 22:61 · LUK 23:28 · JHN 20:14 · JHN 20:16
31.60 · (στρέφομαι[b]) · Hold a View, Believe, Trust · Change an Opinion Concerning Truth
to turn to, to come to believe, to come to accept to change 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 MAT 18:3, JHN 12:40, and ACT 7:39, 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 στρέφομαι in MAT 18:3, see 41.50.
41.50 · (στρέφομαι[c]) · Behavior and Related States · Change Behavior
to change one’s ways, to turn to God, to repent to change one’s manner of life, with the implication of turning toward God For another interpretation of στρέφομαι in MAT 18:3, see 31.60.
34.25 · (στρέφομαι[d]) · Association · Join, Begin To Associate
to turn to, to leave and go to, to shift to, to establish a relation with to shift one’s association to someone else
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
στρέφω: 1 aor. ἔστρεψα; Pass., pres. στρέφομαι 2 aor. ἐστράφην; fr. Hom. down; Sept. for 337, also for 31D, ete. ; to turn, turn round : τί τινι, to turn a thing to one, Mt. v. 39,and T Tr WH in xxvii. 3 [for ἀποστρέφω, to bring back ; see ἀποστρέφω, 2]; reflexively (W. § 38, 1; Β. § 130, 4), to turn one’s self (i.e. to turn the back to one: used of one who no longer cares for another), Acts vii. 42 [cf. W. 469 (437)]; τὲ εἴς τι; iq. μεταστρέφω, to turn one thing into another, Rev. xi. 6. ively, to turn one’s self: στραφείς foll. by a finite verb, having turned etc., Mt. vii.6; [ix. 221, TTrWH]; xvi. 23> Lk. vil. 5; ix. 55; xiv. 25; xxii. 61; Jn. 1.383 xx. 16 ; στραφεὶς πρός twa, foll. by a fin. verb, [turning unto etc., or urned unto and ete. ], Lk. vii. 44; x. 21 (22) [R
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
στρέφω strephō 21x
to twist; to turn, Mt. 5:39; to make a change of substance, to change, Rev. 11:6; absol. to change or turn one’s course of dealing, Acts 7:42; mid. to turn one’s self about, Mt. 16:23; Lk. 7:9; to turn back, Acts 7:39; to change one’s direction, to turn elsewhere, Acts 13:46; to change one’s course of principle and conduct, to be converted, Mt. 18:3
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
στρέφω
[in LXX chiefly for הפך, also for סבב, etc. ;]
to turn: c. acc. rei dat. pers., Mt 5:39; = ἀποσ-, to bring back, Mt 27:3 (cf. Is 38:8); reflexively (WM, § 38, 1), to turn oneself, Ac 7:42; c. acc. seq. εἰς, = μετασ-, to change, Re 11:6. Pass., reflexive, to turn oneself: seq. εἰς, Jo 20:14, Ac 7:39 13:46; ptcp., στραφείς, c. indic., Mt 7:6 9:22 16:23, Lk 7:9 9:55 14:25 22:61, Jo 1:38 20:16; id. seq. πρός, Lk 7:44 10:22 (WH, R, om.), ib. 23 23:28; metaph., to change: absol., Mt 18:3, Jo 12:40 (cf. ἀνα-, ἀπο-, δια-, ἐκ, ἐπι-, κατα-, μετα-, συ(ν)-, ὑπο-στρέφω).†
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
στρέφω (strephō) — to turn. στρέφω, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Doric dialect στράφω [ᾰ] [Refs]; Aeolic dialect στροφῶ (to be read στρόφω) [Refs]: Epic dialect imperfect __A στρέψασκον [Refs 8th c.BC+]: future στρέψω [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist 1 ἔστρεψα [Refs], Epic dialect στρέψα [Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect ἔστροφα (ἀν-) [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; also ἔστρᾰφα (κατ-) [Refs 2nd c.BC+] codices:—middle, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: future στρέψομαι [Refs]: aorist ἐστρεψάμην [Refs 5th c.BC+]perfect passive (in middle sense) ἔστραμμαι (κατ-) [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, future στρᾰφήσομαι [LXX+5th c.BC+]; future middle (in passive sense) στρέψομαι (ἀπο-) [Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist 1 ἐστρέφθην frequently in [Refs 8th c.BC+], rare in Attic dialect, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Doric dialect ἐστράφθην [Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist 2 ἐστράφην [ᾰ] [Refs 6th c.BC+], frequently in Attic dialect, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἔστραμμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—turn about or aside, ἂψ δὲ θεοὶ οὖρον στρέψαν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἵππους σ. turn horses, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of persons, ἡλίου πρὸς ἀντολὰς στρέψασα σαυτήν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; wheel soldiers round, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; see below [Refs 4th c.BC+] __A.2 cause to rotate as on an axis, κεραμικὴν γαῖαν σ., i.e. on the potter's wheel, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.II πάντ᾽ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω σ. turn upside down, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; κάτω σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄνω κάτω τοὺς νόμους σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; στρέφειν alone, overturn, upset, [Refs]; γῆν σ. turn it over by digging or ploughing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; γράμματα πανταχῇ σ. [Refs]: with infinitive, change a thing so as to.. , εὔκλειαν ἔχειν βιοτὰν στρέψουσι φᾶμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.III σ. σφυρόν sprain or dislocate it, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.III.2 metaphorically of pain, twist, torture, κακὸν στρέφει με περὶ τὴν γαστέρα [Refs 5th c.BC+] torment, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.III.3 of corruptions in Music, κάμπτων καὶ στρέφων [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.IV twist, plait, σπάρτα ἐστραμμένα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; spin, ὑπὸ μακρῷ λίνῳ στρεφομένη [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; κρόκην σ. [Refs 1st c.AD+] __A.V technical term of wrestlers, twist the adversary back, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.VI metaphorically, turn a thing over in one's mind, τί στρέφω τάδ; [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.VII return, give back, ἀργύριά τισι [NT] __A.VIII convert, τὴν πέτραν εἰς λίμνας ὑδάτων [LXX]; στραφήσῃ εἰς ἄνδρα ἄλλον[LXX]; transmute metals,[Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.IX falsa lectio for{τρέπω} in [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B passive and middle, twist or turn oneself, στρεφθείς having turned face upward, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; turn round or about, turn to and fro, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐστρέφετ᾽ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα, of one tossing in bed, [Refs]; τί δυσκολαίνεις καὶ στρέφει τὴν νύχθ᾽ ὅλη; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of patients, [Refs 2nd c.AD+] __B.2 turn to or from an object, ἔμελλε στρέψεσθ᾽ ἐκ χώρης [Refs 8th c.BC+]; στρεφθεὶς μετόπισθεν turning back, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; return, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ποῖ στρέφε; whither away? [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.3 of the heavenly bodies, revolve, circle, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of the distaff, [Refs]; of a joint, ἐν ἄρθροις σ. κοτυληδών [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.II turn or twist about, like a wrestler trying to elude his adversary: hence, in argument, twist and turn, shuffle, τί ταῦτα στρέφε; [Refs]; τί δῆτα ἔχων στρέφε; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πάσας στροφὰς στρέφεσθαι twist every way, [Refs] __B.II.2 turn and change, κἂν σοῦ στραφείη θυμός [Refs 5th c.BC+]; στρεφόμενα λέγων things that tell both ways, [Refs 1st c.BC+] I would not turn for any noise of thine, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.III to be always engaged in or about, ἐν τούτοις στρέφεται καὶ ἑλίττεται ἡ δόξα [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.III.2 generally, to be at large, go about, ἀνειμένη στρέφει [Refs 6th c.BC+]; of things, to be rife, ταῦτα μὲν ἐν δήμῳ στρέφεται κακά [Refs 6th c.BC+] __B.III.3 of places, τόποι ἐπὶ.. τὰς ἄρκτους ἐστραμμένοι turned, lying towards.., [Refs 2nd c.BC+] __C in strict middle sense, turn about with oneself, take back, στράτευμ᾽ ἐς Ἄργος [Refs 5th c.BC+] __D intransitive in active, like passive, turn about, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of soldiers, wheel about, [Refs]; ποῖ στροφαὶ.. μανιῶν στρέφουσ; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸν στρέφοντα κύκλον ἡλίου revolving, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; στρέψαι δεῦρ᾽, of the Comic Chorus, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; στρέψον τι, δούλη withdraw a little, [NT+3rd c.BC+]