Greek word · G344

ἀνακάμπτω

anakamptō

to return

Literally to bend or curve back. In use, to turn back, return, go back the way one came. It can also describe something non-physical coming back on someone.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀνα-κάμπτω

[in LXX: 1 Chronicles 19:5, Jeremiah 3:1, al. (שׁוּב), Jeremiah 15:5 (סוּר) ;]

1. trans., to bend or turn back.

2. Intrans., to return: Matthew 2:12, Acts 18:21, Hebrews 11:15; metaphorically (cf. MM, VGT, see word), Luke 10:6.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 18:21

Range of meaning

Literally to bend or curve back. In use, to turn back, return, go back the way one came. It can also describe something non-physical coming back on someone.

Against the English

Translations say “return” or “come back,” which is accurate. The underlying picture of turning around on a road is lost, but nothing misleading is added.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matt 2:12: the Magi are warned not to “return” to Herod. Luke 10:6: the disciples' peace “will return” to them if it is not received. Heb 11:15: the patriarchs could have “returned” to the land they had left. Classical writers use it for runners turning at the end of the track and for travellers retracing a route.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 2:12 ἀνακάμψαι to return

    And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.

    Here: "To bend back" or "retrace your steps." This is exactly what Herod had asked them to do in 2:8, when he told them to come back and report so that he too could 'worship.' The dream cancels Herod's instruction.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 10:6 ἀνακάμψει. it will return.

    If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 18:21 ἀνακάμψω I will return

    But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.

    Here: Literally “bend back,” as a traveller turns around to retrace a route. It is in the future tense, a straightforward promise: “I will return.”

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 11:15 ἀνακάμψαι· to return;

    If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.