[Greek] στρέφω (strephō), [Latin] vertere: to turn, to turn words around in a sentence, to change, to turn around, to convert, to turn about, to reverse, to turn back; Mt. 5:39, Mt.9:22, Mt. 16:23, Mt.18:3, Lk.7:9,44, Lk.9:55, Lk.10:23, Lk.14:25, Lk.22:61, Lk.23:28, Jn.1:38, Jn.20:14,16, Acts 7:39,42, Acts 13:46, Rev. 11:6
A wise anastrophe (figure of speech which changes the order of subject, verb, and object) from Yoda (aka Anastrophe Master).
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: Not surprisingly, this term is used extensively in various contexts. This use of turning itself can provide a wide range of meanings and nuances. Other meanings include encountering, rotating, upsetting, changing, tormenting, twisting, pondering, engaging, and withdrawing. Sophocles’ Trachiniae states “Even your rage would be deflated, if you learn the whole of it.” Euripides’ Medea 1152 states “You must not be unkind to your kin but must cease your anger and turn your face toward us again.” Homer’s Odyssey 4.520 states “And the gods changed the course of the wind that it blew fair, and they reached home.” Euripides’ Medea 411 states “Men’s thought have become deceitful. The common talk will so alter that women’s way will enjoy good repute. Honor is coming to the female sex: no more women will be maligned by slanderous rumor.”
Old Testament: This term is also used extensively in the Old Testament. Such examples include overthrowing, destroying, changing, disturbing, overwhelming, being weak, being unreliable, and turning. This term references man’s character, conversion, and God’s changing man’s hearts. Conversion involves man’s character, inner conversion, and the conversion experience through blessing (and cursing). The Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will join them in their prophetic state and will be changed into another man (1Sam.10:6). You changed my mourning into dancing; you took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness (Psa.29:12). God is not man that He should speak falsely, nor human that He should change His mind (Num.23:19). When the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants changed their minds about them (Exo.14:5). I will not overthrow the town you speak of (Gen.19:21). They turned back, deceitful like their ancestors; they proved false like a bow with no tension (Psa.78:57).
New Testament: This term can mean to turn (around), to come to believe, to come to believe, to change one’s ways, to walk to, to walk away, to change, to return something, and to reject. Jesus often turned to the disciples who needed instruction. Jesus returned (responded) to those faithful persons in need of help. Such persons included the sinful woman, centurion, Jairus, and the hemorrhagic woman. Jesus says one must turn and become like children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. The disciples must be like children who are more trusting, dependent, and innocent.
Scripture:
“Do not give what is holy to dog, or throw your pears before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Mt.7:6
Dogs and swine were contemptible Jewish terms for Gentiles. These term may have been derived from the Jews (and Jewish Christians) who opposed preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles.
“But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.” Mt. 5:39
Turning the other cheek: A Roman would generally use his right hand in order to strike someone. When striking something perceived as his equal, the Roman would use his right fist in striking the other’s left cheek. In striking someone deemed “inferior” (like a Jew), the Roman would use the back of his right hand in slapping the other’s right cheek. Jesus’ instructions to turn one’s other cheek is forcing the attacker to use right his hand to strike the left cheek. In other words, this action is forcing the attacker (Roman) to view his victim (Jew) as his equal.
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Mt. 18:3
Jesus call each of us to be like children being dependent and trusting of God.
Catastrophe: A catastrophe is essentially a falling down (kata-). This word originally meant a fatal turning point in a drama. It was not until the middle of the 18th century that this term took a “turn for the worse” in becoming a calamitous disaster.
Apostrophe: This is a punctuation mark used either to indicate possession or for the omission of letters or numbers. An apostrophe is also a rhetorical device in which the speaker turns away from his audience and instead addresses another person(s) or an object. A lawyer, who is speaking to the judge, will then turn toward the jury or the defendant. An apostrophe is frequently found in music and literature.
“Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk to you again.” Paul Simon, The Sounds of Silence 1966
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!” Jane Tyler 1806
“You stupid computer, why aren’t you working!” Me and many others
Anastrophe: This is a figure of speech in which the normal word order of the subject, the verb, and the object is changed. Refer to Yoda, the wise master of anastrophes.
“Do or do not. There is no try!” Yoda
Conclusion:
Catastrophe, apostrophe, anastrophe, revert, convert
I was not really surprised that this term had many uses and meanings in the Greek Hellenistic era. It was interesting to discover the more nuanced meanings of this term. Such examples included pondering, inquiring, waging, and encountering.
In the Old Testament, this term plays a significant role in man’s conversion (good and bad) in contrast to God’s unchanging nature. Turning to and turning away from God becomes another important theme.
In the New Testament, this term also plays a prominent role in various contexts. When Jesus turns, He encounters both faithful people (in need of help) and foolish disciples. So perhaps, encountering is not so nuanced as I thought! Jesus was really an expert of human behavior and psychology. Jesus’ wisdom about “turning the other cheek” was able to help to “turn” other peoples’ hearts away from violence.
WARNING — USELESS WORDS ALERT–
Hypostrophe: a patient turning himself, return of a disease
Antistrophe: the second section of a Greek choral ode
Peristrophe: a genus of a species of flowering plants
Diastrophe: a cross between a disaster and a catastrophe
Jesus calls all of us to turn to Him (and the Father) and become like children. Ok…“Twinkle, twinkle, little star…” ☺☺☺