Quick Definition
ἀστοχέω v. I miss the mark, miss my aim, make a false aim
Strong's Definition
to miss the mark, i.e. (figuratively) deviate from truth
Derivation: from a compound of G1 (Α) (as a negative particle) and (an aim);
KJV Usage: err, swerve
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀστοχέω, -ὥ: 1 aor. ἠστόχησα; (to be ἄστοχος, fr. oroxos a mark), fo deviate from, miss, (the mark): with gen. [W. § 30, 6], to deviate from anything, 1 Tim. i. 6 (Sir. vii. 19; viii. 9); mepi τι, 1 Tim. vi. 21; 2 Tim. ii. 18. (Polyb., Plut., Leian., [al.].)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀστοχέω astocheō 3x
pr. to miss the mark; met. to err, deviate, swerve from, 1 Tim. 1:6; 6:21; 2 Tim. 2:18*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
**† ἀστοχέω, -ῶ
(στόχος, a mark), [in LXX: Si 7:19 8:9*;]
to miss the mark, fail: c. gen., I Ti 1:6 (so in π., MM, s.v.); seq. περί, I Ti 6:21, II Ti 2:18.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀστοχέω. In the NT confined to the Pastorals, but quotable from iii/B.c. Thus Sy// 239% (B.c. 214) εἴπερ οὖν ἐγεγόνει τοῦτο, ἠστοχήκεισαν ot συνβουλεύσαντες ὑμῖν kal Tod συμφέροντος τῆι πατρίδι καὶ τῆς ἐμῆς κρίσεως, and P Par 3555 (B.c. 163) ἀστοχήσαντες τοῦ καλῶς ἔχοντος- -α close parallel to 1 Tim 18. (For the gen. constr. cf. also Sir 713.) From a later date we may quote the ill-spelt BGU II. 531-19 (ii/A.D.) ἐὰν δὲ ἀστοχήσῃς [aiw]ylay μοι λοίπην (/. λύπην) [π]αρέχιν μέλλις, where the meaning seems to be “‘fail” or ““forget.” This the verb retains in MGr: so the Klepht ballad in Abbott’s Songs, p. 34. Μὴν ἀστοχῷς τὴν ὁρμηνεία, τῆς γυναικὸς τὰ λόγια, Forget not thy wife’s advice, forget not her words. From the literary side we may quote P Oxy II. 219 (a) (i/A.D.), where in extravagant terms a man bewails the loss of a pet fighting-cock, ψυχομαχῶν, ὁ yap ἀϊλ]έκτωρ ἠστόχηκε, “T am distraught, for my cock has failed me” (Edd.), and the adverb in the philosophical P Fay 337 (ii/A.D.) δεῖ τῶν [ἀν]θρώπων ἄρχειν [τῶν] πράξεων exel[vou]s δὲ εὐθὺς ἐφέπεσθαι, οὐκ ἀτάκτως μέντοι GAN’ εἱμα[ρ]μέϊνως]. τοῦ γὰρ ἀστόχως. ..
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἀστοχέω (astocheō) — to deviate. ἀστοχ-έω, miss the mark, miss, τοῦ συμφέροντος[Refs 2nd c.BC+]; fail, περί τινος[Refs 2nd c.BC+]; περὶ τὴν πίστιν, τὴν ἀλήθειαν, [NT+1st c.AD+]
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ἀστοχέω, -ῶ
(στόχος, a mark), [in LXX: Sir.7:19 8:9 * ;]
to miss the mark, fail: with genitive, 1Ti.1:6 (so in π., MM, see word); before περί, 1Ti.6:21, 2Ti.2:18.†
(AS)
📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin
Err (795) astocheo
Gone astray (795) (astocheo from ástochos = one who misses his aim <> in turn from stóchos = aim, target <> which is from a = negative particle + stoichos (an aim) or stochos - mark) means to miss the mark, deviate from truth: swerve. To err, deviate in a figurative and spiritual sense.
Literally Paul is saying these men
concerning the truth, missed the mark or deviated from the truth.
Astocheo does not mean to miss achieving the aim that one has set, but not to set the proper aim at which one ought to aim. It is not focusing on the right goal instead of not achieving one’s set aim. Naturally if one specializes in the proclamation of something that is not essential and central, he will inevitably neglect that which is central and important. The verb does not mean what is conceived by some as “to fall from grace.”
The false teachers and their followers had clearly demonstrated by their deviation from Apostolic truth that they had left the straight path of sound doctrine. They had deviated from "The Way" an early title for the church. They had deviated from "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6) and the result was upheaval of faith for faith comes by hearing (truth) and hearing (truth) equates with the pure milk of the Word of God.
So Paul is saying here are some men who have embraced TRUTH for a while and then gone astray from that TRUTH. This emphasizes Paul's charge for us to be very "diligent...(to handle) accurately the Word of Truth" for clearly it can be mishandled with disastrous consequences.
Note that astocheo is used only by Paul in the NT, the other two uses being found in the first epistle to Timothy...
For some men, straying from these things (What things? verse 5 ''Instruction'' which is fruitful), have turned aside (astocheo) to fruitless (profitless for their talk produced no godliness. Shakespeare described such babble as “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” God said it was ''straw...(not) fire'' in Jer 23:28) discussion (It wasn't that they were missing what they had aimed at, for this verb indicates that their problem was they had not set the proper aim, i.e., instruction which yields spiritual fruit), 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. (1Timothy 1:7, 8)
O Timothy, guard (see word study on phulasso = aorist imperative) what has been entrusted (placed beside you as a deposit consigned to Timothy for faithful keeping and faith teaching to faithful men who would be able to teach others also) to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"--21 which some have professed (announced with certainty, asserted respecting themselves) and thus gone astray (astocheo) from "the faith (pistis). Grace be with you. (1Timothy 6:20, 21)
