3344. metastrephó
Lexical Summary
metastrephó: To change, to alter, to pervert, to turn

Original Word: μεταστρέφω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: metastrephó
Pronunciation: meh-tah-STREF-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (met-as-tref'-o)
KJV: pervert, turn
NASB: distort, turned
Word Origin: [from G3326 (μετά - after) and G4762 (στρέφω - turned)]

1. to turn across, i.e. transmute or (figuratively) corrupt

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
pervert, turn.

From meta and strepho; to turn across, i.e. Transmute or (figuratively) corrupt -- pervert, turn.

see GREEK meta

see GREEK strepho

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from meta and strephó
Definition
to turn (about), to pervert
NASB Translation
distort (1), turned (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3344: μεταστρέφω

μεταστρέφω: 1 aorist infinitive μεταστρέψαι; passive, 2 aorist imperative 3 person singular μεταστραφήτω; 2 future μεταστραφήσομαι; from Homer down; the Sept. for הָפַך; to turn about, turn around (cf. μετά, III. 2): τί εἰς τί (to turn one thing into another), passive, Acts 2:20 (from Joel 2:31); James 4:9 (cf. Buttmann, 52 (46): (WH text μετατρέπω, which see)); equivalent to to pervert, corrupt, τί (Sir. 11:31; Aristotle, rhet. 1, 15, 24 (cf. 30 and 3, 11, 6)): Galatians 1:7.

Topical Lexicon
Semantic Nuance and Imagery

This verb portrays a decisive change of condition or orientation, whether physical, moral, or emotional. It is not a mild adjustment but a reversal so marked that the final state is recognizably different from the first. Scripture employs it to describe cosmic upheaval, doctrinal distortion, and personal repentance—each instance underscoring God’s concern that what He ordains remain uncorrupted and rightly aligned with His purpose.

Occurrences in the New Testament

Acts 2:20 records the Spirit-given prophecy that “the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,” an eschatological sign revealing the Creator’s sovereign power to overturn the natural order when redemptive history reaches its climax.

Galatians 1:7 laments that “there are some who are troubling you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.” Here the term exposes the gravity of altering the saving message: any corruption of the apostolic gospel constitutes rebellion against the Lord who gave it (Galatians 1:8-9).

James 4:9 urges sinners to “grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.” The dramatic emotional reversal mirrors genuine contrition before God, an essential step toward humble dependence and restored fellowship (James 4:10).

Theological Significance

1. Divine prerogative to overturn creation (Acts 2:20) affirms both God’s power and His fidelity to prophetic revelation. Cosmic change becomes a backdrop for the unchanging promise of salvation.

2. Doctrinal integrity safeguarded (Galatians 1:7). The word warns that altering the gospel is not innovation but desecration. Subsequent church history confirms how departures from apostolic teaching yield spiritual ruin (compare Jude 3-4).

3. Personal repentance demanded (James 4:9). The inward “turning” of emotions signals a heart reoriented to God’s holiness. True revival begins with this reversal of attitude.

Together these uses reveal a consistent biblical ethic: what God designs, whether creation, doctrine, or the human heart, must not be twisted but may be dramatically turned by Him toward redemption.

Historical and Intertestamental Background

In the Septuagint the verb frequently renders Hebrew phrases for overturning cities or subverting counsel (for example, Genesis 19:21; 2 Samuel 15:31). First-century Jews and Gentiles alike would thus hear echoes of divine judgment and radical change when the apostles employed the term. By the time of the New Testament, the word carried both the sense of ruin (as in Galatians) and transformation (as in James), sharpening its polemical edge against false teachers.

Ministry Applications

• Guard the gospel. Leaders must resist every attempt to “turn” the good news into moralism, legalism, or license. Thorough catechesis and careful exposition keep congregations anchored.

• Cultivate repentant hearts. Preaching that prompts godly sorrow (James 4:9-10; 2 Corinthians 7:10) prepares believers for renewed joy. Corporate worship should allow space for such holy reversals.

• Proclaim eschatological hope. The same Lord who can darken the sun (Acts 2:20) will also “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Teaching on end-time signs should lead to evangelistic urgency and steadfast faith.

Related Biblical Themes

Change and reversal permeate Scripture: the proud scattered and the humble lifted (Luke 1:52), the last becoming first (Mark 10:31), mourning turned to dancing (Psalm 30:11). The vocabulary of 3344 thus contributes to a larger biblical tapestry in which God overthrows sin and establishes His righteous order.

Forms and Transliterations
μεταστραφησεται μεταστραφήσεται μεταστραφήσονται μεταστραφήτω μεταστρέφω μεταστρέφων μεταστρεψαι μεταστρέψαι μεταστρέψω μεταστροφή μετατραπητω μετατραπήτω μετεστράφη μετεστράφησαν μετέστρεψε μετέστρεψεν metastraphesetai metastraphēsetai metastraphḗsetai metastrepsai metastrépsai metatrapeto metatrapētō metatrapḗto metatrapḗtō
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 2:20 V-FIP-3S
GRK: ὁ ἥλιος μεταστραφήσεται εἰς σκότος
NAS: THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
KJV: The sun shall be turned into darkness,
INT: The sun will be turned into darkness

Galatians 1:7 V-ANA
GRK: καὶ θέλοντες μεταστρέψαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον
NAS: you and want to distort the gospel
KJV: would pervert the gospel
INT: and desire to pervert the gospel

James 4:9 V-AMP-3S
GRK: εἰς πένθος μετατραπήτω καὶ ἡ
KJV: laughter be turned to
INT: to mourning let be turned and the

Strong's Greek 3344
3 Occurrences


μεταστραφήσεται — 1 Occ.
μεταστρέψαι — 1 Occ.
μετατραπήτω — 1 Occ.

3343
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