Greek word · G4062

περιτρέπω

peritrepō

to drive insane

To turn around, turn about, overturn or upset. Also to bring something round into a different condition.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

περι-τρέπω

[in LXX: Wisdom of Solomon 5:23 * ;]

to turn about, turn: with accusative and, dative, Acts 26:24 (cf. FlJ, Ant., ix, 4, 4).†

(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 26:24

Range of meaning

To turn around, turn about, overturn or upset. Also to bring something round into a different condition.

Against the English

'Make thee mad' (KJV), 'driving you insane/to madness' (BSB, WEB, NIV). 'Driving' captures the force. The Greek picture is more of spinning or overturning, a mind tipped upside down.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in classical and Hellenistic Greek for turning round or overturning things and situations (see LSJ s.v.). This is its only appearance in the New Testament.

Similar words

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 26:24 περιτρέπει. turns [you]!

    At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”

    Here: Literally 'turns round' or 'overturns'. Festus pictures Paul's mind tipped over, spun round into madness by too much reading. This is the only time the word appears in the New Testament.

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