2944. kukloó

Lexical Summary

kukloó: To encircle, surround, encompass

Original Word: κυκλόω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kukloó
Pronunciation: koo-klo'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (koo-klo'-o)
KJV: compass (about), come (stand) round about
NASB: encircled, gathered around, stood around, surrounded
Word Origin: [from kuklos "a ring, cycle" (akin to G2947 (κυλιόω - rolling around))]

1. to encircle, i.e. surround

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

to surround, encircle

From the same as kukloi; to encircle, i.e. Surround -- compass (about), come (stand) round about.

see GREEK kukloi

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as kukló
Definition
to encircle
NASB Translation
encircled (1), gathered around (1), stood around (1), surrounded (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2944: κυκλόω

κυκλόω, κύκλῳ: 1 aorist ἐκύκλωσα; passive, present participle κυκλουμενος; 1 aorist participle κυκλωθεις; (κύκλος); the Sept. chiefly for סָבַב;

1. to go round, lead round (Pindar, Euripides, Polybius, others).

2. to surround, encircle, encompass: of persons standing round, τινα, John 10:24 (Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading ἐκύκλευσαν (which see)); Acts 14:20; of besiegers (often so in secular authors and in the Sept.), Luke 21:20; Hebrews 11:30, and R G Tr in Revelation 20:9. (Compare: περικυκλόω.)

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The verb rendered “to surround” or “to encircle” captures the action of closing in on a person or place, either for protection or, more often in Scripture, for pressure, threat, or judgment. Its five New Testament occurrences trace an arc from historical narrative to prophetic climax, illustrating the consistent biblical theme that God’s people may be hemmed in by hostile powers yet remain under His sovereign care.

Occurrences in the New Testament

• Luke 21:20 – “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that her desolation is near.” Jesus foretells the A.D. 70 siege, warning His disciples to discern the sign and flee.
• John 10:24 – “So the Jews gathered around Him and were saying, ‘How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.’” The hostile crowd encloses Jesus, pressing Him for a declaration they can use against Him.
• Acts 14:20 – “But the disciples gathered around him, and he got up and went back into the city.” Paul, left for dead, is encircled by believers whose presence precedes his miraculous recovery.
• Hebrews 11:30 – “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.” The rehearsal of Israel’s encircling march underscores faith-driven obedience that brought divine victory.
• Revelation 20:9 – “And they marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.” The final rebellion ends exactly as foretold—God decisively intervenes when evil encircles His people.

Old Testament and Septuagint Background

The Greek term frequently renders Hebrew verbs such as sabab, describing strategic siege (2 Kings 6:14), celebratory procession (Psalm 48:12), or covenantal protection (Psalm 34:7). This backdrop informs New Testament usage: surrounding can signal either imminent peril or God-ordained deliverance, depending on who is doing the encircling.

Themes and Theological Significance

1. Divine Sovereignty in Siege: Whether Jericho or eschatological Jerusalem, God remains the ultimate actor. Human encirclement cannot cancel His promises.
2. Faith Tested by Pressure: From Joshua’s silent march to the churches facing end-time hostility, the righteous are proved in the crucible of being hemmed in.
3. Corporate Solidarity: In Acts 14:20 the disciples’ encircling of Paul models pastoral care—intercession and presence release resurrection power.
4. Judgment of the Wicked: Revelation 20:9 depicts the armies of Gog gathering like a ring of iron only to be obliterated, demonstrating that evil reaches a divinely set limit.

Ministry Implications

• Intercession: Believers are called to “surround” the afflicted with prayer, mirroring Acts 14:20 and anticipating God’s restorative power.
• Discernment of the Times: Luke 21:20 urges attentiveness. Spiritual vigilance recognizes when cultural or political forces besiege biblical truth, prompting wise, courageous response.
• Perseverance and Hope: Hebrews 11:30 links obedient persistence with breakthrough; ministries today march in faith, trusting God to bring walls down in His timing.
• Eschatological Preaching: Revelation 20:9 assures congregations that present encirclement is temporary; ultimate victory belongs to the Lamb.

Christological Insight

John 10:24 shows Christ willingly enclosed by enemies yet untouched until His appointed hour. His calm amid the circle of hostility foreshadows the cross, where apparent entrapment becomes redemptive triumph. In Him, the Church finds both pattern and power to stand when surrounded.

Practical Application

When families, churches, or missionaries feel pressed on every side, the biblical witness of this verb encourages:
• Look up—divine deliverance is near (Psalm 34:7).
• Stand together—mutual encirclement strengthens the weary (Galatians 6:2).
• Keep marching—obedient faith topples obstacles (2 Corinthians 10:4).
• Proclaim victory—God will ultimately encircle His people with everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).

Thus Strong’s Greek 2944 unites history, prophecy, and pastoral practice around the assurance that though saints may be surrounded, they are never forsaken.

Forms and Transliterations

εκυκλευσαν εκύκλευσαν ἐκύκλευσαν εκύκλου εκύκλουν εκύκλωσα εκυκλώσαμεν εκυκλωσαν εκύκλωσαν εκύκλωσάν ἐκύκλωσαν εκύκλωσε εκύκλωσέ εκύκλωσεν εκύκλωσέν κυκλοί κυκλουμενην κυκλουμένην κυκλούμενον κυκλούν κυκλούντα κυκλούντες κυκλούσα κυκλωθεντα κυκλωθέντα κυκλών κυκλώσαντες κυκλωσαντων κυκλωσάντων κυκλώσατε κυκλώσει κυκλώση κυκλώσουσι κυκλώσουσιν κυκλώσω ekukleusan ekuklosan ekuklōsan ekykleusan ekýkleusan ekyklosan ekyklōsan ekýklosan ekýklōsan kuklosanton kuklōsantōn kuklothenta kuklōthenta kukloumenen kukloumenēn kyklosanton kyklosánton kyklōsantōn kyklōsántōn kyklothenta kyklothénta kyklōthenta kyklōthénta kykloumenen kykloumenēn kyklouménen kyklouménēn

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 21:20 V-PPM/P-AFS
GRK: δὲ ἴδητε κυκλουμένην ὑπὸ στρατοπέδων
NAS: Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
KJV: Jerusalem compassed with
INT: moreover you see being encircled with armies

John 10:24 V-AIA-3P
GRK: ἐκύκλωσαν οὖν αὐτὸν
NAS: then gathered around Him, and were saying
KJV: came the Jews round about him, and
INT: Encircled therefore him

Acts 14:20 V-APA-GMP
GRK: κυκλωσάντων δὲ τῶν
NAS: But while the disciples stood around him, he got
KJV: as the disciples stood round about him,
INT: having surrounded however the

Hebrews 11:30 V-APP-NNP
GRK: Ἰεριχὼ ἔπεσαν κυκλωθέντα ἐπὶ ἑπτὰ
NAS: fell down after they had been encircled for seven
KJV: fell down, after they were compassed about
INT: of Jericho fell having been encircled for seven

Revelation 20:9 V-AIA-3P
GRK: γῆς καὶ ἐκύκλευσαν τὴν παρεμβολὴν
KJV: of the saints about, and
INT: earth and encircled the camp

Strong's Greek 2944
5 Occurrences

ἐκύκλευσαν — 1 Occ.
ἐκύκλωσαν — 1 Occ.
κυκλωσάντων — 1 Occ.
κυκλωθέντα — 1 Occ.
κυκλουμένην — 1 Occ.