### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **metastréphō**, represented by `{{G3344}}`, means to **turn across**, **transmute**, or figuratively to **corrupt**. It is derived from μετά and στρέφω. It appears **3 times** in **3 unique verses** in the Bible, carrying the dual meaning of being physically turned or spiritually perverted.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{G3344}}` describes a radical transformation in three distinct contexts. Prophetically, it is used to describe a cosmic event where "The sun shall be **turned** into darkness" before the day of the Lord [[Acts 2:20]]. In a pastoral exhortation, it commands a change of heart, stating "let your laughter be **turned** to mourning, and your joy to heaviness" [[James 4:9]]. Finally, it is used as a stern warning against false teachers who "would **pervert** the gospel of Christ" [[Galatians 1:7]], highlighting a malicious corruption of truth.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the concepts being transformed by `{{G3344}}`:
* `{{G2098}}` **euangélion** (a good message, i.e. the gospel): This is the divine truth that is at risk of being perverted. The integrity of the **gospel** is so vital that believers are called to have a manner of life that "becometh the **gospel** of Christ" [[Philippians 1:27]].
* `{{G5479}}` **chará** (cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight): This emotional state is commanded to be turned into heaviness in James. In contrast, **joy** is described as a fruit of the Spirit, alongside love and peace [[Galatians 5:22]].
* `{{G4655}}` **skótos** (shadiness, i.e. obscurity): This is the state into which the sun is turned in Acts. Spiritually, believers have been delivered from the power of **darkness** and translated into the kingdom of His Son [[Colossians 1:13]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G3344}}` is demonstrated in its varied applications, underscoring the gravity of transformation, whether for good or ill.
* **Corruption of Divine Truth:** The use of **pervert** in [[Galatians 1:7]] establishes that the gospel is a fixed and holy message. Any attempt to alter it is not a simple disagreement but a destructive act that troubles the church.
* **Call to Repentance:** The command in [[James 4:9]] for laughter to be **turned** to mourning is a call for a profound spiritual shift away from worldly pleasure toward a godly sorrow that acknowledges sin.
* **Eschatological Signs:** Its use in [[Acts 2:20]] places it in the context of prophecy, where the **turning** of celestial bodies serves as a sign of God's ultimate authority over creation and the coming day of judgment.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G3344}}` is a powerful verb that signifies a fundamental change of state. It is far more than a simple rotation; it is a complete transmutation. From the perversion of the most sacred truths to the sorrow of repentance and the dramatic signs in the heavens, **metastréphō** consistently points to a total and significant reversal of a thing's original nature or purpose.
TRV