Bible Dictionary
SUBVERT
To subvert is to overturn, overthrow, or pervert. In Scripture it may describe undermining a person’s cause, disturbing believers, overthrowing households, or twisting someone away from the truth.
Definition
To subvert is to overturn, overthrow, undermine, or twist out of the right course. It may describe the destruction of a cause, the disturbance of believers, the overthrow of households, or perversion from the truth.
Biblical Usage
The Bible uses the term for subverting souls, overthrowing whole households, bringing hearers to destruction, and perverting a person who has turned aside. It can also describe a man being wronged or overturned in his cause.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>sub-vurt' (`awath; anatrepo): Occurs 5 t:</p><p>(1) in the sense of overturning, etc., as the translation of `awath, "to make bent or crooked" (La 3:36), "to subvert a man in his cause"; of anaskeudzo, primarily, "to pack up baggage"; then, "to ravage," etc. (Ac 15:24, "subverting your souls"); of anatrepo, "to turn upside down," "to overturn" (Tit 1:11, "who subvert whole houses," the Revised Version (British and American) "overthrow"); of katastrophe, "overthrow," "destruction" (2Ti 2:14, "to the subverting of them that hear");</p><p>(2) in the sense of perverting: ekstrepho, "to turn or twist out" "to turn about" (Tit 3:11, "such is subverted," the Revised Version (British and American) "perverted"). For "overthrown me" (Job 19:6) the Revised Version (British and American) has "subverted me (in my cause)," margin "overthrown me"; for "perverteth" (Pr 19:3), "subverteth."</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>