I Peter 2:25--active or passive verb?

[Kim G]

Here's the verse: "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

According to Matthew Henry's commentary, the phrase "are now returned" is passive. But all the newer translations say "have returned," which is active. What does the Greek say?

 

[Phil D.]

According to Biblos the verb is ἐπεστράφητε, which is a passive form of ἐπιστρέφω.

 

[Peairtach]

Nestle-Marshall Interlinear:

For ye were as wandering sheep but ye turned (ἐπεστράφητε) now to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

 

[CharlieJ]

The grammatical form is passive, but it's unclear whether a "passive" import holds. The passive of επιστρεφω, like its root στρεφω, in the middle or passive can mean to "turn oneself." Mark 5:30, 8:33, and John 21:20 use the passive this way, and it's fairly common in the Septuagint. In fact, Peter may be drawing from the Septuagint, which often uses this verb in the context of returning to the Lord.