Apostrepho describes turning away in refusal or departure, and also turning people or things away from a stated direction.

The most common attested use concerns turning away in refusal, departure, or rejection, whether from a person, truth, a speaker, or a borrower. Other verses use the verb for turning people or wrongdoing away from something, while one accusation describes a man as leading the people astray.

1. Turning away in refusal or rejection · dominant

   In 2 Timothy 1:15, the aorist passive indicative describes those in Asia as having turned away from Paul; in 2 Timothy 4:4, the future active indicative concerns turning away from listening to the truth. Hebrews 12:25 warns against refusing the speaker, Matthew 5:42 prohibits refusing a borrower, and Titus 1:14 describes people who reject the truth.

   2 Timothy 1:152 Timothy 4:4Hebrews 12:25Matthew 5:42Titus 1:14
2. Turning someone or something from a direction · common

   Acts 3:26 uses a present active infinitive in the clause about turning each person from wicked ways, while Romans 11:26 uses a future active indicative concerning ungodliness being turned away from Jacob. In Matthew 26:52, the aorist active singular command addresses the sword being put back in its place.

   Acts 3:26Romans 11:26Matthew 26:52
3. Allegedly leading people astray · rare

   In Luke 23:14, the present active accusative singular participle characterizes the accused man in the charge brought against him. The APB renders the accusation as bringing him as one who was "misleading the people," though the translation does not align individual English words to the form.

   Luke 23:14

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB uses wording such as "turned away," "turn away," "refuse," "reject," and "misleading." These renderings present the clauses in varied English to the Greek form.