verb
hupostrefamō
Strong’sG5290
I turn back, return
stem hupostref-35 times in the New Testamentin 5 of 27 books13 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
To turn back, return — the word is used of a person or persons going back to a place, whether returning home, returning to where they started, or turning back after completing some errand 124. This is the sense found throughout the New Testament, regularly followed by a place name or phrase telling where the return is to or from 1.
In earlier Greek the word could also be used transitively, meaning to turn back or about something else (such as turning horses around), rather than the subject turning back itself 13; this transitive use is not found in the New Testament 1.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ὑπο-στρέφω
[in LXX chiefly for שׁוּב],
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G5290 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
turn round about or back, ἵππους Refs 8th c.BC+; ὁ κισσὸς.. Βακχίαν ὑποστρέφων ἅμιλλαν bringing back the Bacchic struggle, i. e. the swift and eager dance, Refs 5th c.BC+
2 roll up, Refs 4th c.BC+
3 passive, revolve beneath, τινι Refs 4th c.BC+
II intransitive, turn about, especially of persons flying or retreating, Refs 8th c.BC+:—passive, αὖτις ὑποστρεφθείς Refs 8th c.BC+; -στρᾰφείς Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2 generally, return, αὖτις ὑ. Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐπὶ ζήτησινRefs 3rd c.AD+; in future middle, οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σ᾽ ὑποστρέψεσθαι ὀΐω Refs 8th c.BC+; of a disease, return, recur, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.3 turn away, and so elude an attack, Refs 5th c.BC+: metaphorically in middle, with infinitive, refuse, τὸν ἀΐδιον ἐπιγινώσκειν Θεὸν ὑπεστρέφοντο (i.e. οἱ Βλέμυες) Refs 6th c.AD+
II.4 ὑποστρέψαντες reversely, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.5 retract the accent, Refs 2nd c.AD+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| hupostrefaleὑπέστρεφον | was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural | returned | 2× |
| hupostrefamiὙποστρέψω | will happen · Ifuture active indicative 1st person singular | return | 1× |
| hupostrefamaὑπέστρεψα | happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular | returned | 1× |
| hupostrefataὑπέστρεψεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | returned | 6× |
| hupostrefalaὑπέστρεψαν | happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural | returned | 10× |
| hupostrefasōrὙπόστρεφε | happening now · youpresent active imperative 2nd person singular | return | 1× |
| hupostrefarōὑποστρέφειν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | return | 4× |
| hupostrefaraὑποστρέψαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | return | 2× |
| hupostrefarōntosὑποστρέφων | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | returning | 1× |
| hupostrefarōntoὑποστρέφοντι | happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative singular masculine | returning | 1× |
| hupostrefarantoὑποστρέψαντι | happened · to, foraorist active participle dative singular masculine | returned | 1× |
| hupostrefarantoisὑποστρέψαντες | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine | returned | 3× |
| hupostrefarantaisὑποστρέψασαι | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural feminine | returned | 2× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 20 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | hupostrefamō | hupostrefame | hupostrefami1×Ὑποστρέψω | hupostrefama1×ὑπέστρεψα | hupostrefamē | hupostrefamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | hupostrefasō | hupostrefase | hupostrefasi | hupostrefasa | hupostrefasē | hupostrefaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hupostrefatō | hupostrefate | hupostrefati | hupostrefata6×ὑπέστρεψεν | hupostrefatē | hupostrefatelē |
| we 1st person plural | hupostrefanō | hupostrefane | hupostrefani | hupostrefana | hupostrefanē | hupostrefanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | hupostrefavō | hupostrefave | hupostrefavi | hupostrefava | hupostrefavē | hupostrefavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | hupostrefalō | hupostrefale2×ὑπέστρεφον | hupostrefali | hupostrefala10×ὑπέστρεψαν | hupostrefalē | hupostrefalelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | hupostrefameiō | hupostrefameia | hupostrefameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | hupostrefaseiō | hupostrefaseia | hupostrefaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hupostrefateiō | hupostrefateia | hupostrefateiē |
| we 1st person plural | hupostrefaneiō | hupostrefaneia | hupostrefaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | hupostrefaveiō | hupostrefaveia | hupostrefaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | hupostrefaleiō | hupostrefaleia | hupostrefaleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, 1 occurrence
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | hupostrefasōr1×Ὑπόστρεφε | hupostrefasar | hupostrefasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hupostrefatōr | hupostrefatar | hupostrefatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | hupostrefavōr | hupostrefavar | hupostrefavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | hupostrefalōr | hupostrefalar | hupostrefalēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | hupostrefamoiō | hupostrefamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | hupostrefasoiō | hupostrefasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hupostrefatoiō | hupostrefatoia |
| we 1st person plural | hupostrefanoiō | hupostrefanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | hupostrefavoiō | hupostrefavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | hupostrefaloiō | hupostrefaloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 6 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | hupostrefarō4×ὑποστρέφειν | hupostrefari | hupostrefara2×ὑποστρέψαι | hupostrefarē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 8 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | hupostrefarōntos2×ὑποστρέφων | hupostrefarintos | hupostrefarantos6× | hupostrefarēntos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
hupostref is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
35 occurrences, every one of them listed
hupostrefale“returned”was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural2×
Luke 23:48… theōrarantois teim generanteim, tuptarōntois teim stētheim hupostrefale.… spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts.
Acts 8:25… kai lalarantois ton logon tou kuriou hupostrefale eis Hierosolumeim, pollain tē kōmain toiu …… the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in …
hupostrefami“return”will happen · Ifuture active indicative 1st person singular1×
Luke 11:24… zētarōntem anapausian, kai mē heuriskarōntem legatō; Hupostrefami eis ton oikon mu hothen exerchama;… it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’
hupostrefama“returned”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular1×
Galatians 1:17… alla aperchama eis Arabian, kai palin hupostrefama eis Damaskan.… I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
hupostrefata“returned”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular6×
Luke 1:56… sun auta hōs mēnoin treis, kai hupostrefata eis ton oikon autau.… for about three months and then returned home.
Luke 4:1Iēsus de plēros pneumeu hagieu hupostrefata apo tou Iordanou, kai agote en …… Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led …
Luke 4:14Kai hupostrefata tos Iēsus en ta dunamia teu …Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of …
Luke 8:37“returned”… sunechole; autos de embainarantos eis ploiem hupostrefata.… of them. So He got into the boat and started …
Luke 17:15“turned back”… de ek autoiu, horarantos hoti iita, hupostrefata meta fōnau megau doxazarōntos ton theon,When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice.
Acts 13:13“returned”… Pamfuliau; Iōannos de apochōrarantos apo autoiu hupostrefata eis Hierosolumeim.… Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
hupostrefala“returned”happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural10×
Luke 2:20kai hupostrefala tois poimenois doxazarōntois kai ainarōntois ton …The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all …
Luke 2:45kai mē heuriskarantois hupostrefala eis Ierousalēm anazētarōntois auton.… they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
Luke 10:17Hupostrefala de tois hebdomēkonta duo meta charau …The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even …
Luke 24:33kai anastēarantois auta ta hōra hupostrefala eis Ierousalēm, kai heuriskala athroizorēntoin toin …… got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the …
Luke 24:52kai autois proskunarantois auton hupostrefala eis Ierousalēm meta charau megau,And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
Acts 1:12Tote hupostrefala eis Ierousalēm apo oreu teu kalorōnteu …Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of …
Acts 12:25Barnabos de kai Saulos hupostrefala, eis Ierousalēm plērarantois tan diakonian, sumparalabarantois …… fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called …
Acts 14:21… tan polan ekeinan kai mathēteuarantois hikanoin hupostrefala eis tan Lustran kai eis Ikoniem …… and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
Acts 21:6… embainana eis tem ploiem, ekeinois de hupostrefala eis teim idieim.… went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
Acts 23:32… easarantois toin hippeusoin aperchorō sun auto hupostrefala eis tan parembolan;The next day they returned to the barracks and let the …
hupostrefasōr“return”happening now · youpresent active imperative 2nd person singular1×
Luke 8:39Hupostrefasōr eis ton oikon su, kai diēgosōr …“Return home and describe how much God …
hupostrefarō“return”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive4×
Luke 2:43kai teleiarantoiu tain hēmerain, en te hupostrefarō autoin hupomenata Iēsus tos paidos en …… days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind …
Luke 8:40En de te hupostrefarō ton Iēsun apodecheta auton tos ochlos, …When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they …
Acts 13:34“return”… anastēata auton ek nekroiu mēketi mellarōnton hupostrefarō eis diafthoran, houtōs legatē hoti Dōami …… fact, God raised Him from the dead, never to see decay. As He has said: ‘I will give you the …
Acts 20:3“return”… eis tan Surian geneta gnōmau teu hupostrefarō dia Makedoniau.… to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
hupostrefara“return”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive2×
Luke 19:12… chōran makran labara heauto basileian kai hupostrefara.… claim to his kingship and then return.
2 Peter 2:21“turn back”… tan hodan tau dikaiosunau ē epignōskarantoi hupostrefara ek tau paradōirantau autoi hagiau entolau;… have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.
hupostrefarōntos“returning”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Acts 8:28“returning”ate tē hupostrefarōntos kai kathorōntos epi teu harmeu autou …and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah …
hupostrefarōnto“returning”happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative singular masculine1×
Hebrews 7:1… theou tou hupsistou, tos sunantarantos Abraam hupostrefarōnto apo tau kopau toiu basilevoiu kai …… God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings …
hupostrefaranto“returned”happened · to, foraorist active participle dative singular masculine1×
Acts 22:17Geneta de mi hupostrefaranto eis Ierousalēm kai proseuchorōntou mu en …Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at …
hupostrefarantois“returned”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine3×
Luke 7:10kai hupostrefarantois eis ton oikon tois pempirantois heuriskala …And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the …
Luke 9:10Kai hupostrefarantois tois apostolois diēgela auto hoseim poiala. …Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that …
Luke 17:18ouk heuriskila hupostrefarantois dōara doxan to theo ei mē …… one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?”
hupostrefarantais“returned”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural feminine2×
Luke 23:56hupostrefarantais de hetoimazala arōmeim kai mureim. Kai …Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And …
Luke 24:9“returning”kai hupostrefarantais apo teu mnēmeieu apangelala houteim panteim …And when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to …