What does ἐκκλίνω (ekklínō) mean in the Bible?
ἐκκλίνω (ekklínō): To turn away or aside, especially from the right path or from evil influences
Greek · G1578
ἐκκλίνω
ἐκκλίνω (ekklínō): To turn away or aside, especially from the right path or from evil influences
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
ἐκκλίνωG1578
Pronunciationekklínō
What does ἐκκλίνω (ekklínō) mean in the Bible?
Full entry for ἐκκλίνω (G1578) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1578?
The BSB source-word alignment has 3 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include have turned away (1), He must turn (1), Turn away (1).
Where does ἐκκλίνω (ekklínō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Romans 3:12. Its strongest book concentrations include Romans (2), 1 Peter (1).
Are there verse guides for ἐκκλίνω (ekklínō)?
This entry includes 1 verse guide that explain exact original-language forms in context.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithave turned away1×Romans 3:12
He must turn1×1 Peter 3:11
Turn away1×Romans 16:17
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowRomans 3:12
Aligned rows3
Books represented2
Romans21 Peter1
Source forms
ἐκκλινάτω1xekklinatō1 Peter 3:11
ἐκκλίνετε1xekklineteRomans 16:17
ἐξέκλιναν1xexeklinanRomans 3:12
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular1x1 Peter 3:11
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural1xRomans 3:12
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural1xRomans 16:17
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. To turn away or aside, especially from the right path or from evil influences
Source Gloss
to turn from
Extended definitionSource: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
To turn away or aside, especially from the right path or from evil influences
intrans., to turn aside, turn away: metaphorically, from the right path, absol., Rom.3:12 (LXX); from evil, absol., 1Pe.3:11; before ἀπό, with genitive of person(s), Rom.16:17.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
3 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
exeklinan
I fall away from, turn away
Read verseRomans 16:17Verb Second Person Plural Aorist Active Imperative
ἐκκλίνατεekklinate
I fall away from, turn away
Read verse1 Peter 3:11Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Imperative
ἐκκλινάτωekklinatw
I fall away from, turn away
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms3TensesAorist, PresentVoicesActive
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality1×
Imperativecommand or strong request2×
Present ActiveRom 16:171×
Aorist Active1 Pet 3:111×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 3 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist2present1
Voice
active3
Mood
imperative2indicative1
NT Occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Where It Appears in Scripture
Where this word appears in Scripture: passage, original form, and sense in context.
Biblical Witnesses
The wise person turns aside from evil, avoiding danger through caution
One who keeps his way turns from evil, maintaining righteousness through avoidance
The wicked person turns aside justice through bribery, perverting righteousness
Word Origins
ἐκκλίνω is built from these roots:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.