ἀναστρέφω (G390) — Greek Lexicon

ἀναστρέφω

anastréphō

G390 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To turn back, return; in extended senses, to conduct oneself, behave, or live in a particular manner. The primary sense involves a physical or figurative movement—turning around or reversing direction. In later Hellenistic and Koine usage, the verb is often employed metaphorically to describe one's conduct, manner of life, or behavior, particularly over a sustained period.

Semantic Range

to turn around, to return, to overturn, to upset, to turn back, to conduct oneself, to behave, to live, to abide, to dwell, to remain, to spend one's life, to circulate

Root / Etymology

From ἀνά (up, again, back) and στρέφω (to turn). The compound originally bore the sense of turning up or back, i.e., returning, but developed metaphorical applications in later Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀναστρέφω primarily meant 'to turn upside down,' 'to turn back,' or 'to return.' In the Hellenistic period and continuing into Koine, especially in the New Testament and related literature, it regularly developed a more abstract sense, referring to a person's manner of living or conducting oneself (e.g., Galatians 1:13). The metaphorical extension from physical movement to behavioral or habitual action is typical of Greek verbs in στρέφω compounds. The noun ἀναστροφή ('conduct, way of life') attests this shift in meaning. The English translation 'conversation' in older versions (e.g., KJV) reflects a now-obsolete sense of the English word meaning 'conduct' or 'way of life,' not verbal interaction. This verb is distinct from στρέφω itself, which more commonly refers to physical turning or changing of direction. In the Septuagint, ἀναστρέφω most often has the concrete sense of 'return' or 'turn back'; in the New Testament, ethical or behavioral connotations are primary. Later Christian and patristic usage retains the focus on one's way of living. This breadth of usage is not always captured by single-word English translations and is prone to anachronism when 'conversation' is read as mere dialogue rather than general behavior or conduct.

Translation Consistency

primary "live" 1 occurrence

In Koine Greek anastrephō most often carries the extended, metaphorical sense of how one conducts one’s life—‘to live’ or ‘to behave’—and ‘live’ is the most natural, idiomatic English choice that covers ‘spend one’s life,’ ‘abide,’ and related senses. It also allows straightforward inflection (lives, lived, living). The rarer literal senses (turn, return, overturn) will be handled contextually where needed.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):

"conducted ourselves" (2x) "having turned back" (1x) "return" (1x) "those conducting" (1x) "conduct ourselves" (1x) "conduct yourselves" (1x) "conducting" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀνά and στρέφω; to overturn; also to return; by implication, to busy oneself, i.e. remain, live:--abide, behave self, have conversation, live, overthrow, pass, return, be used.

Root Family

ἀναστρέφω (anastréphō) — to turn, to turn back, to return

Root στρέφ- to turn, to turn back, to return

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G390-02`	ἀναστρέφεσθαι	anastrephesthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	to behave	to be conducting oneself	to be living oneself	2
`G390-07`	ἀνεστράφημεν	anestraphemen	`V AOR PASS IND 1P PL`	lived	we conducted ourselves	we conducted ourselves	2
`G390-01`	ἀναστράφητε	anastraphete	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL`	conduct yourselves	turn yourselves back	conduct yourselves	1
`G390-06`	ἀναστρέψω	anastrepso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will return	I will turn back	I will return	1
`G390-04`	ἀναστρεφομένους	anastrephomenous	`V PRS PASS PTCP ACC M PL`	who live	being conducted	conducting themselves	1
`G390-03`	ἀναστρεφομένων	anastrephomenon	`V PRS PASS PTCP GEN M PL`	treated	of those being turned back	of those conducting themselves	1
`G390-05`	ἀναστρέψαντες	anastrepsantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having returned	having turned back	having turned back	1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G390-05`	Acts 5:22	ἀναστρέψαντες	anastrepsantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having returned	having turned back	having turned back
`G390-06`	Acts 15:16	ἀναστρέψω	anastrepso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will return	I will turn back	I will return
`G390-07`	2 Corinthians 1:12	ἀνεστράφημεν	anestraphemen	`V AOR PASS IND 1P PL`	we conducted ourselves	we conducted ourselves	we conducted ourselves
`G390-07`	Ephesians 2:3	ἀνεστράφημέν	anestraphemen	`V AOR PASS IND 1P PL`	lived	we conducted ourselves	we conducted ourselves
`G390-02`	1 Timothy 3:15	ἀναστρέφεσθαι	anastrephesthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	to behave	to be conducting oneself	to be living oneself
`G390-03`	Hebrews 10:33	ἀναστρεφομένων	anastrephomenon	`V PRS PASS PTCP GEN M PL`	treated	of those being turned back	of those conducting themselves
`G390-02`	Hebrews 13:18	ἀναστρέφεσθαι	anastrephesthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	to conduct ourselves	to be conducting oneself	to conduct ourselves
`G390-01`	1 Peter 1:17	ἀναστράφητε	anastraphete	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL`	conduct yourselves	turn yourselves back	conduct yourselves
`G390-04`	2 Peter 2:18	ἀναστρεφομένους	anastrephomenous	`V PRS PASS PTCP ACC M PL`	who live	being conducted	conducting themselves

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