[Greek] ἀναστρέφω (anastrephō), [Latin] revertere, [Latin] conversare, [Latin] tradere, [Latin] subvertere: to turn back, to overturn, to conduct one’s self, to abide, and to return; Mt.17:22, Jn.2:15, Acts 5:22, Acts 15:16, 2Cor.1:12, Eph.2:3, 1Tim.3:15, Heb.10:33, 1Pet.1:17, 2Pet.2:18
We all must seek the wisdom from Yoda (aka “Anastrophe Master”)
Background information:
Anastrophe: This is a figure of speech in which the normal word order of the subject, the verb, and the object is changed (turned). Famous examples of anastrophes:
“Do or do not. There is no try!” Yoda
“The greatest teacher, failure is” Yoda
“Hello, darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk to you again.” Simon and Garfunkle
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are!” Jane Tyler 1806
“You stupid computer, why aren’t you working?” [insert your name] (Down this road, many times we have been!) ☺☺☺
Greek Hellenism: This term means to convert, to bring back to, to conduct oneself, to walk, to return, and to change. Euripides’ Hippolytus 1176 states “For a messenger had come saying that Hippolytus would no longer dwell in this land, being exiled by you.” Aristophanes’ Plutus 779 states “But I want to change everything. What a misfortune it is.” Sophocles’ Philoctetes 449 states “No, the gods take excellent care of their own kind. They find a strange joy in turning back from Hades all things criminal.” Herodotus’ The Histories 1.80.5 states “As soon as the horses smelled and saw the camels, they turned to flight and all Croesus’ hope was lost.”
Old Testament: This term means to come back (return), to conduct oneself, to bring forth, to overturn, to change, to repeat, and to turn. This term is used to describe one’s religious and ethical “walk” in life. In literal terms, this means “the way of walking.” This term is not used in a spatial (locational) sense. One always walks with God on the earth. This is in keeping with the moral sense of piety. Essentially, this refers to how one conducts himself (walks in a straight path) in life before God.
But I will bring back Israel to her fold (Jer.50:19). You turned back his sharp sword (Psa.89:44). They would relapse and do worse than their fathers (Jdg.2:19). I will restore the fortunes of Jacob (Eze.39:25). Can I bring him back again? (2Kgs.12:23). When a man walks in integrity and justice, happy are his children after him (Pro.20:7). None who enter theron come back again (Pro.2:19). He told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead (2Macc.6:23). Why do these people rebel with obstinate resistance? (Jer.8:5).
New Testament: This term means to abide, to return, and to conduct oneself (behave). Jesus overturns the money-changers’ tables as they were desecrating the Temple. The disciples were gathering together in Galilee when Jesus is to be handed over. The court officers came back and reported that the Apostles escaped a locked and guarded prison. Prophecy states that Jesus will rebuild the fallen hut (house) of David. Paul states one must conduct oneself in conformity to Christ. A person can be like a slave to whatever overcomes or controls him.
Scripture:
“He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.” Jn.2:15
Jesus acts in this way because they desecrated the Temple.
“But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported.” Acts 5:22
The court officers reported that there was no one in the unlocked and guarded cell.
“All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest.” Eph.2:3
We can make the choice of walking in the carnal ways of the world. Or we can choose to walk in the way of the Lord.
Conclusion:
Revert, reversion, converse, conversation, subvert, subversion, trade, trader
This term has the basic sense of turning. However, this term has various meanings. In classical Greek, ‘to turn one’s self about’ refers to one’s conduct or behavior. It is interesting that this sense continues in other cultures later in history. This term can range from turning back, engaging, to abiding.
In the Old Testament, this term also has a wide range of meanings. It was very important for Jews (Hebrews) to “walk with God” in being faithful to Him.
In the New Testament, we are all familiar with Jesus overturning the money-changers’ tables in the Temple. Paul stresses that one must live one’s life rooted in Christ. Otherwise, one will walk the path of being enslaved by sin.
My post, I hope you liked!
Next post: For those whom God leads on a unique path