verb
strefomō
Strong’sG4762
I turn, am converted, change
stem stref-21 times in the New Testamentin 5 of 27 books11 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
στρέφω means, at its core, to turn — to turn oneself around, or to turn something in a particular direction 1234. This is its most common New Testament use: someone turns around physically, turns to face another person, or turns something toward someone else 13.
It can also mean to bring back or give back something, as when money that had been taken is returned 13. Strong's likewise notes the sense "turn back again" alongside the more literal turning 2.
Finally, στρέφω can mean to change or convert, describing a transformation from one state or condition into another 1234. Dodson's gloss "am converted, change" reflects this figurative use 4, and LSJ records the same sense of "convert" or transform in the biblical text 3.
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
στρέφω
[in LXX chiefly for הפך, also for סבב, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4762 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidstref'-o
to twist, i.e. turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively)
Fromstrengthened from the base of G5157;
King Jamesconvert, turn (again, back again, self, self about).
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
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 ἄλλονLXX; 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+
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| strefonōστρεφόμεθα | happening now · wepresent middle or passive indicative 1st person plural | turning | 1× |
| strefataἔστρεψεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | returned | 2× |
| strefitaἐστράφη | happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular | turned | 1× |
| strefilaἐστράφησαν | happened · theyaorist passive indicative 3rd person plural | turned back | 1× |
| strefiveiaστραφῆτε | happened · yeaorist passive subjunctive 2nd person plural | change | 1× |
| strefileiaστραφῶσιν | happened · theyaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person plural | turn | 1× |
| strefasarστρέψον | happened · youaorist active imperative 2nd person singular | turn | 1× |
| strefarōστρέφειν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | turn | 1× |
| strefirantosστραφεὶς | happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative singular masculine | turned | 10× |
| strefirantasστραφεῖσα | happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative singular feminine | turned | 1× |
| strefirantoisστραφέντες | happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative plural masculine | turn | 1× |
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 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 5 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | strefamō | strefame | strefami | strefama | strefamē | strefamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | strefasō | strefase | strefasi | strefasa | strefasē | strefaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefatō | strefate | strefati | strefata2×ἔστρεψεν | strefatē | strefatelē |
| we 1st person plural | strefanō | strefane | strefani | strefana | strefanē | strefanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefavō | strefave | strefavi | strefava | strefavē | strefavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | strefalō | strefale | strefali | strefala | strefalē | strefalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | strefomō | strefome | strefomē | strefomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | strefosō | strefose | strefosē | strefoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefotō | strefote | strefotē | strefotelē |
| we 1st person plural | strefonō1×στρεφόμεθα | strefone | strefonē | strefonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefovō | strefove | strefovē | strefovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | strefolō | strefole | strefolē | strefolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | strefimi | strefima |
| you 2nd person singular | strefisi | strefisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefiti | strefita1×ἐστράφη |
| we 1st person plural | strefini | strefina |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefivi | strefiva |
| they 3rd person plural | strefili | strefila1×ἐστράφησαν |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 2 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | strefameiō | strefameia | strefameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | strefaseiō | strefaseia | strefaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefateiō | strefateia | strefateiē |
| we 1st person plural | strefaneiō | strefaneia | strefaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefaveiō | strefaveia | strefaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | strefaleiō | strefaleia | strefaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | strefomeiō | strefomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | strefoseiō | strefoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefoteiō | strefoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | strefoneiō | strefoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefoveiō | strefoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | strefoleiō | strefoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | strefimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | strefiseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefiteia |
| we 1st person plural | strefineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefiveia1×στραφῆτε |
| they 3rd person plural | strefileia1×στραφῶσιν |
Commands — imperative mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | strefasōr | strefasar1×στρέψον | strefasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefatōr | strefatar | strefatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefavōr | strefavar | strefavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | strefalōr | strefalar | strefalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | strefosōr | strefosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefotōr | strefotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefovōr | strefovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | strefolōr | strefolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | strefisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefivar |
| they 3rd person plural | strefilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | strefamoiō | strefamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | strefasoiō | strefasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefatoiō | strefatoia |
| we 1st person plural | strefanoiō | strefanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefavoiō | strefavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | strefaloiō | strefaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | strefomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | strefosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | strefonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | strefoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | strefimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | strefisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | strefitoia |
| we 1st person plural | strefinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | strefivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | strefiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | strefarō1×στρέφειν | strefari | strefara | strefarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | streforō | streforē | ||
| acted on passive voice | strefiri | strefira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 12 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | strefarōntos | strefarintos | strefarantos | strefarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | streforōntos | streforēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | strefirintos | strefirantos12×στραφεὶς |
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
stref 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.
21 occurrences, every one of them listed
strefonō“turning”happening now · wepresent middle or passive indicative 1st person plural1×
Acts 13:46“turning”… krinavō heautoin tau aiōniau zōau, idou strefonō eis teim ethneim;… not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
strefata“returned”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Matthew 27:3… tos paradōarōntos auton hoti katakrinita metamelirantos strefata teim triakonta argurieim toi archierevoi kai …… he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to …
Acts 7:42strefata de tos theos kai paradōata autoin …But God turned away from them and gave them over …
strefita“turned”happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
John 20:14houteim legarantas strefita eis teim opisō, kai theōratō ton …When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there …
strefila“turned back”happened · theyaorist passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Acts 7:39… tois patrois nu, alla apōthela kai strefila en tai kardiai autoiu eis Aiguptan,… rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
strefiveia“change”happened · yeaorist passive subjunctive 2nd person plural1×
Matthew 18:3… legata; Amēn legamō vi, ean mē strefiveia kai geneveia hōs teim paidieim, ouk …… tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you …
strefileia“turn”happened · theyaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person plural1×
John 12:40… ofthalmoi kai noaleia ta kardia kai strefileia, kai iemi autoin.… and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
strefasar“turn”happened · youaorist active imperative 2nd person singular1×
Matthew 5:39… sin rapizatō eis tan dexan siagonan, strefasar auto kai tan allosan;… slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
strefarō“turn”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive1×
Revelation 11:6… kai exousian echalō epi teiu hudeiu strefarō auteim eis haimem kai pataxara tan …… of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to …
strefirantos“turned”happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative singular masculine10×
Matthew 9:22tos de Iēsus strefirantos kai horarantos autan legata; Tharsasōr, thugatrar; …Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter …
Matthew 16:23tos de strefirantos legata to Petro; Hupagasōr opisō mu, …But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind …
Luke 7:9… houteim tos Iēsus thaumazata auton, kai strefirantos to akoloutharōnto auto ochlo legata; Legamō …… this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He …
Luke 7:44kai strefirantos pros tan gunaikan to Simōno fēate; …And turning toward the woman, He said to …
Luke 9:55strefirantos de epitimata autoi.But Jesus turned and rebuked them.
Luke 10:23“turning”Kai strefirantos pros toin mathētoin kata idian legata; …Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are …
Luke 14:25Sumporeuole de auto ochlois pollois, kai strefirantos legata pros autoin;… were traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them,
Luke 22:61kai strefirantos tos kurios emblepata to Petro, kai …And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter …
Luke 23:28“turning”strefirantos de pros autain tos Iēsus legata; …But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of …
John 1:38strefirantos de tos Iēsus kai theaserantos autoin …Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do …
strefirantas“turned”happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative singular feminine1×
John 20:16legatō auta Iēsus; Mariam. strefirantas ekeinas legatō auto Hebraisti; Rabbouni hem …Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew …
strefirantois“turn”happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative plural masculine1×
Matthew 7:6… autoin en toi podoi autoiu kai strefirantois rēgaleia vin.… them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.