Greek word · G396

ἀνατρέπω

anatrepō

to overturn

To turn over or upset (a table, a vessel). Figuratively, to overthrow or ruin (a city, a constitution, a family) or to upset someone's faith or thinking.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀνα-τρέπω

[in LXX for דָּחָה, הָדַף, etc. ;]

to overturn, destroy: John 2:15 WH, txt.; metaphorically, to subvert (MM, VGT, see word): 2 Timothy 2:18, Titus 1:11.†

(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 Titus 1:11

Range of meaning

To turn over or upset (a table, a vessel). Figuratively, to overthrow or ruin (a city, a constitution, a family) or to upset someone's faith or thinking.

Against the English

BSB 'undermine' suggests quiet erosion. KJV 'subvert' and WEB 'overthrow' are stronger. ESV/NASB 'upsetting' can sound mild ('emotionally upset'). The Greek picture is of something knocked over and turned upside down.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the NT it appears elsewhere at 2 Tim 2:18 ('they are overturning the faith of some') and as a variant at John 2:15 for overturning the money-changers' tables. In tragedy, Aeschylus' Furies speak of choosing 'the overturnings of houses' (Eumenides 354–55), showing that 'overturning a house' was an established image of ruin.

Similar words

Where it appears

John · 1

  1. John 2:15 ἀνέτρεψεν, He overthrew,

    So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

    Here: 'He overturned'. He physically tipped the tables over. Elsewhere the verb can also mean 'to upset' or 'to ruin' (2 Tim 2:18, of overturning people's faith), so it suits a sign that business there was being brought down.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 2:18 ἀνατρέπουσιν they are overthrowing

    who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.

Titus · 1

  1. Titus 1:11 ἀνατρέπουσιν overthrow

    who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.

    Here: 'They are turning upside down'. The word was used for overturning tables, cities and governments, and in the Pastorals for overturning faith (2 Tim 2:18). The present tense means this is going on right now.

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