Lexical Definition

‎στρέφω‎ stréphō (stref'-o) to turn ^G:V
strengthened from the base of ‎τροπή‎

convert, turn (again, back again, self, self about).

• to twist, i.e. turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively)

Abbott-Smith

στρέφω [in LXX chiefly for הפך, also for סבב, etc. ;]
to turn: c. acc. rei dat. pers., Mt 5:39; = ἀποσ-, to bring back, Mt 27:3 (cf. Is 38:8); reflexively (WM, § 38, 1), to turn oneself, Ac 7:42; c. acc. seq. εἰς, = μετασ-, to change, Re 11:6. Pass., reflexive, to turn oneself: seq. εἰς, Jo 20:14, Ac 7:39 13:46; ptcp., στραφείς, c. indic., Mt 7:6 9:22 16:23, Lk 7:9 9:55 14:25 22:61, Jo 1:38 20:16; id. seq. πρός, Lk 7:44 10:22 (WH, R, om.), ib. 23 23:28; metaph., to change: absol., Mt 18:3, Jo 12:40 (cf. ἀνα-, ἀπο-, δια-, ἐκ, ἐπι-, κατα-, μετα-, συ(ν)-, ὑπο-στρέφω).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

στρέφω,

[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 [στρέφω, καταστρέφω">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 [στρέφων [prev. author] “IT” 68; σ. ἀνταυγεῖς κόρας 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Thesmophoriazusae” 902; σεαυτὸν εἰς πονηρὰ πράγματα [prev. author] “Nu.” 1455; πόλιν πρὸς κέρδος ἴδιον 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Supplices” 413; στρατὸν πρὸς ἀλκήν [prev. author] “Andr.” 1149 ">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; [στρέφων ἀγαγεῖν ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 21.116. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.VII return, give back, ἀργύριά τισι [NT]
__A.VIII convert, τὴν πέτραν εἰς λίμνας ὑδάτων [LXX]; στραφήσῃ εἰς ἄνδρα ἄλλον[LXX]; 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+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.1Kgs.10.6 ☩ Matt.27.3 ☩ LXX.Ps.113.8* ☩ LXX.Exod.4.17 ☩ LXX.1Kgs.10.6 ☩ Acts.7.42}