Strong's Lexicon
diastrephó: To distort, to pervert, to turn aside
Original Word:διαστρέφω
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:diastrephó
Pronunciation:dee-as-tref'-o
Phonetic Spelling:(dee-as-tref'-o)
Definition:To distort, to pervert, to turn aside
Meaning:I pervert, corrupt, oppose, distort.
Word Origin:From διά (dia, meaning "through" or "across") and στρέφω (strephó, meaning "to turn" or "to twist")
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries:The Hebrew equivalent often associated with the concept of perversion or distortion is עָוַת (avah, Strong's H5753), which means to bend, twist, or distort.
Usage:The verb "diastrephó" is used in the New Testament to describe the act of twisting or distorting something from its original or intended state. It often carries a negative connotation, implying a corruption or perversion of truth, morals, or behavior. This term is used to describe both physical and metaphorical turning away from what is right or true.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of truth and moral integrity was highly valued, and any deviation from these ideals was often viewed with disdain. The use of "diastrephó" in the New Testament reflects a Jewish and early Christian understanding of the importance of maintaining doctrinal purity and moral uprightness. The term would have resonated with audiences familiar with the philosophical and ethical teachings of the time, which emphasized the dangers of moral and intellectual corruption.
HELPS Word-studies
1294diastréphō(from1223/diá, "through, thoroughly," which intensifies4762/stréphō, "turn") – properly, turned through (thoroughly), into a new shape which however is "distorted, twisted; perverted" (Abbott-Smith) – i.e. "opposite" from the shape (form) itshould be. "Note the intensifying force of the prefix,dia meaning, "distorted, twisted in two, corrupt" (WP, 1, 142).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
dia and
strephóDefinitionto distort, fig. misinterpret, corrupt
NASB Translationmake crooked (1), misleading (1), perverse (1), perverse things (1), perverted (2), turn...away (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1294: διαστρέφωδιαστρέφω; 1 aorist infinitive
διαστρέψαι; passive participle
διεστραμμένος (cf.
WHs Appendix, p. 170f); from
Aeschylus down;
a.to distort, turn aside:τάςὁδούςκυρίουτάςεὐθείας, figuratively (Proverbs 10:10), to oppose, plot against, the saving purposes and plans of God,Acts 13:10. Hence,
b.to turn aside from the right path, to pervert, corrupt:τόἔθνος,Luke 23:2 (Polybius 5, 41, 1; 8, 24, 3);τιναἀπότίνος, to corrupt and so turn one aside from, etc.Acts 13:8 (Exodus 5:4;voluptates animum detorquent a virtute,Cicero);διεστραμμένος,perverse, corrupt, wicked:Matthew 17:17;Luke 9:41;Acts 20:30;Philippians 2:15.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
pervert, curruptFromdia andstrepho; to distort, i.e. (figuratively) misinterpret, or (morally) corrupt -- perverse(-rt), turn away.
see GREEKdia
see GREEKstrepho
Forms and Transliterations
διαστραφήσεσθε διαστραφώσιν διαστρέφειν διαστρέφετε διαστρεφοντα διαστρέφοντα διαστρέφοντες διαστρέφω διαστρεφων διαστρέφων διαστρεψαι διαστρέψαι διαστρέψει διαστρέψεις διαστρέψη διαστροφή διασφαγαί διεστραμμενα διεστραμμένα διεστραμμέναι διεστραμμένας διεστραμμενη διεστραμμένη διεστραμμενης διεστραμμένης διεστραμμένον διεστράφησαν διεστρέφετε διέστρεφον διέστρωσα διέστρωσαν διεσχίσθη διεσχίσθησαν diastrephon diastrephōn diastréphon diastréphōn diastrephonta diastréphonta diastrepsai diastrépsai diestrammena diestramména diestrammene diestrammenē diestramméne diestramménē diestrammenes diestrammenēs diestramménes diestramménēsLinks
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