ἀνακάμπτω
anakámptō
G344 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To turn back or bend back; to return or reverse one's direction, especially in the context of a physical journey or route. Commonly signifies the action of redirecting oneself to a prior location or along a previously traveled path, but may also indicate figurative turning back in certain contexts.
Semantic Range
to turn back, bend back, return, reverse direction, redirect movement
Root / Etymology
From ἀνά ('up, again, back') and κάμπτω ('to bend, turn'). The term is transparently formed as a compound, with the prepositional prefix adding the sense of reversal or repetition to the base meaning of bending or turning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb ἀνακάμπτω appears primarily in Hellenistic and Koine Greek with reference to literal movement—specifically the act of turning back, retracing one's steps, or returning along a path. Its usage in the Septuagint and New Testament tends to be concrete, describing travel or physical return (e.g., Luke 10:6; Acts 18:21). The term is not frequently attested in earlier classical Greek, where other verbs such as ἐπιστρέφω or ὑποστρέφω may cover similar semantic ground. In Koine, ἀνακάμπτω often appears in parallel or alternation with these verbs, but retains a nuance of bending or a directional reversal, in line with its etymological roots. English translations typically render ἀνακάμπτω as 'return' or 'turn back,' which accurately conveys the core sense, though the imagery of physical bending in the Greek is only implicit in translation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀνά and κάμπτω; to turn back:--(re-)turn.
Root Family
ἀνακάμπτω (anakámptō) — to bend, to turn, to turn back, to reverse direction
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G344-01 |
ἀνακάμψαι | anakampsai | V AOR ACT INF |
to return | to turn back | 2 |
G344-03 |
ἀνακάμψω | anakampso | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will return | I will turn back | 1 |
G344-02 |
ἀνακάμψει | anakampsei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
it will return | will turn back | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G344-01 |
Matthew 2:12 | ἀνακάμψαι | anakampsai | V AOR ACT INF |
to return | to turn back |
G344-02 |
Luke 10:6 | ἀνακάμψει | anakampsei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
it will return | will turn back |
G344-03 |
Acts 18:21 | ἀνακάμψω | anakampso | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will return | I will turn back |
G344-01 |
Hebrews 11:15 | ἀνακάμψαι | anakampsai | V AOR ACT INF |
to turn back |