Lexical Summary peri: about, concerning, around, on account of Original Word: περί Strong's Exhaustive Concordance about, aroundFrom the base of peran; properly, through (all over), i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period) -- (there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with. In comparative, it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through). see GREEK peran HELPS Word-studies 4012 perí (a preposition) – properly, all-around (on every side); encompassing, used of full (comprehensive) consideration where "all the bases are covered" (inclusively). 4012 (perí) is often translated "concerning" ("all about"). [4012 /perí is the root of the English term, "perimeter."] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. preposition Definition about, concerning, around (denotes place, cause or subject) NASB Translation about (103), about* (1), against (4), all around (1), around (12), around* (1), because (2), behalf (4), case* (1), cause* (1), circumstances* (1), companions* (1), concerning (48), condition* (1), connection (2), followers* (1), help (1), neighborhood (1), over (1), over...about (1), refers (1), regard (3), regarding (4), vicinity (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4012: περίπερί (akin to πέρα, πέραν; (Curtius, § 359)), preposition, joined in the N. T. with the genitive and the accusative (in classical Greek also with the dative), and indicating that the person or thing relative to which an act or state is predicated is as it were encompassed by this act or state; Latincircum, circa; around, about. I. with the GENITIVE it denotes that around which an act or state revolves; about, concerning, as touching, etc. (Latinde, quod attinet ad, causa with a genitivepropter) (cf. Winers Grammar, 372f (349)). a. about, concerning, (Latinde; in later Latin alsocirca): after verbs of speaking, teaching, writing, etc., see under ἀναγγέλλω, ἀπαγμαι, διαγνωρίζω, διαλέγομαι, διδάσκω, διηγοῦμαι (Hebrews 11:32), διήγησις, εἶπον and προεῖπον, ἐπερωτάω and ἐρωτάω, κατηχέω, λαλέω, λέγω, λόγον αἰτέω, λόγον ἀποδίδωμι, λόγον δίδωμι, μαρτυρέω, μνεία, μνημονεύω, προκαταγγέλλω, προφητεύω, ὑπομιμνῄσκω, χρηματίζομαι, ἦχος, φήμη, etc.; after verbs of hearing, knowing, ascertaining, inquiring, see under ἀκούω, γινώσκω, ἐπίσταμαι, εἶδον, ἐξετάζω, ζητέω, ἐκζητέω, ἐπιζητέω, ζήτημα, πυνθάνομαι, etc.; after verbs of thinking, deciding, supposing, doubting, etc.; see under διαλογίζομαι, ἐνθυμέομαι, πέπεισμαι, πιστεύω, διαπορέω, ἐλέγχω, etc. b. as respects (A. V. often (as) touching); α. with verbs, to indicate that what is expressed by the verb (or verbal noun) holds so far forth as some person or thing is concerned; with regard to, in reference to: Acts 28:21; Hebrews 11:20; ἡ περί σου μνεία, 2 Timothy 1:3; ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν, 1 Corinthians 7:37; ἐπιταγήν ἔχειν, ibid. 25; see ἐντέλλομαι, ἐντολή, παρακαλέω, παραμυθέομαι, πρόφασις, ἔκδικος, λαγχάνω to cast lots. β. with the neuter plural (and singular) of the article, τά περί τίνος the things concerning a person or thing, i. e. what relates to, can be said about, etc.: τά περί τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ, Acts 1:3; Acts 8:12 (Rec.); c. on account of; α. of the subject matter, which at the same time occasions the action expressed by the verb: so after verbs of accusing, see ἐγκαλέω, κατηγορέω, κρίνω τινα περί τίνος, etc.; after verbs expressing emotion, see θαυμάζω, ἀγανακτέω, καυχάομαι, σπλαγχνίζομαι, εὐχαριστέω, εὐχαριστία, αἰνέω, μέλειμοι μεριμνάω; also after εὔχομαι, 3 John 1:2, see πᾶς. II. 2 b. θ'. β. of the cause for (on account of) which a tiring is done, or of that which gave occasion for the action or occurrence: Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14; John 10:33 (περί τῆς βλασφημίας λάβετε αὐτόν, Ev. Nic c. 4, p. 546, Thilo edition (p. 221, Tdf. edition)); Acts 15:2; Acts 19:23; Acts 25:15, 18, 24; Colossians 2:1 (R G). γ. on account of i. e. for, for the benefit or advantage of: Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24 R G; Luke 4:38; John 16:26; John 17:9, 20; Hebrews 5:3; Hebrews 11:40; περί and ὑπέρ alternate in Ephesians 6:18f (cf. Winers Grammar, 383 (358) n. also § 50, 3; Buttmann, § 147, 21, 22; Wieseler, Meyer, Lightfoot, Ellicott on Galatians 1:4). δ. περί is used of the design or purpose for removing something or taking it away: περί ἁμαρτίας, to destroy sin, Romans 8:3; διδόναι ἑαυτόν περί τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, to expiate, atone for, sins, Galatians 1:4 (where R WH text ὑπέρ (see as in above, and cf. ὑπέρ, I. 6)); also to offer sacrifices, and simply sacrifices, περί ἁμαρτιῶν. Hebrews 5:3 (R G ὑπέρ; see as above); II. with the ACCUSATIVE (Winers Grammar, 406 (379)); a. of place; about, around: as, about parts of the body, Matthew 3:4; ( b. as to, in reference to, concerning: so after ἀδόκιμος, 2 Timothy 3:8; ἀστόχειν, 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 2:18; ναυάγειν, 1 Timothy 1:19; νόσειν, 1 Timothy 6:4; περί πάντα ἑαυτόν παρέχεσθαι τύπον, Titus 2:7; τά περί ἐμέ, the state of my affairs, Philippians 2:23; αἱ περί τά λοιπά ἐπιθυμίαι Mark 4:19 (αἱ περί τό σῶμα ἐπιθυμίαι, Aristotle, rhet. 2, 12, 3; τά περί ψυχήν καί σῶμα ἀγαθά, eth. Nic. 1, 8); cf. Winers Grammar, § 30, 3 N. 5; (Buttmann, § 125, 9). c. of Time; in a somewhat indefinite specification of time, about, near: περί τρίτην ὥραν, Matthew 20:3; add, III. in COMPOSITION περί in the N. T. signifies: 1. in a circuit, round about, all around, as περιάγω, περιβάλλω, περιαστράπτω, περίκειμαι, περιοικέω, etc., etc. 2. beyond (because that which surrounds a thing does not belong to the thing itself but is beyond it): περίεργος, περισσεύω. 3. through ((?) — intensive, rather The preposition perí (4012) weaves through every genre of the Greek New Testament—Gospel narrative, apostolic history, epistle, prophecy—occurring 333 times. Its basic idea of “around” or “about” becomes, in context, a versatile servant: Because of this breadth, perí supplies a vital connective tissue in revelation, tying people to subjects, prayers to persons, sacrifices to sins, and prophecies to their fulfilment. Spatial and Circumferential Uses At the most concrete level perí marks something encircling or surrounding: Even temporal approximation grows from this spatial sense: “about the fourth watch of the night” (Mark 6:48). “Concerning” as Thematic Marker When a writer shifts to a subject, perí stands at the door. Luke opens his Gospel: “many have undertaken to compile an account concerning the things that have been fulfilled among us” (Luke 1:1). Paul adopts the formula repeatedly: 1 Corinthians 1 Thessalonians With perí, questions become sections, and doctrine unfolds with pastoral clarity. Perí and Prophetic Fulfilment Jesus and the apostles consistently link Old Testament prophecy with New Testament fulfilment by means of perí: The preposition underscores the unity of Scripture—prophecy revolves around Christ, and Christ stands at its center. Atonement and Sacrifice: “For Sins” In the cultic language of sacrifice, perí with hamartía (“sin”) becomes a technical phrase: Here perí points to substitution: the offering is made “with reference to” and “on behalf of” sin, culminating in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice. Prayer and Intercession Perí frequently introduces the beneficiaries of prayer: Intercessory ministry thus circles “around” others, wrapping them in prayer. Witness and Testimony John’s Gospel highlights witness language: The recurring perí emphasizes that all true testimony has Christ as its central theme. Truth and Error Perí can frame both fidelity and deviation: Sound doctrine and false teaching are both “around” definite content; believers must discern what that content is. Warnings, Judgment, and Compassion Perí carries solemn notes in warnings: But it also conveys comfort: Chronology and the Day of the Lord Eschatological teaching often begins with perí: The phrase guards against unhealthy speculation while affirming certainty in God’s timetable. Pastoral Strategy and Correspondence Perí structures apostolic letters, allowing writers to respond point-by-point to church concerns. This method models responsible spiritual leadership: listening first (letters received), replying clearly, and rooting every answer in Christ’s finished work and coming reign. Impact on Later Christian Vocabulary Early patristic writers adopted perí as a formal tag for topical treatises (e.g., Peri Pascha, Peri Archon), mirroring New Testament practice. The preposition thus shaped theological discourse for centuries, encouraging ordered thought “concerning” the faith once delivered. Summary Perí (4012) draws circles: circles of narrative around events, circles of doctrine around Christ, circles of prayer around people, circles of prophecy around fulfilment. Through this unassuming preposition, the Holy Spirit links every subject in Scripture to its true center, calling the Church to keep all teaching, worship, and service “concerning” the Lord Jesus Christ. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 2:8 PrepGRK: ἐξετάσατε ἀκριβῶς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου KJV: diligently for the young child; INT: search carefully for the child Matthew 3:4 Prep Matthew 4:6 Prep Matthew 6:28 Prep Matthew 8:18 Prep Matthew 9:36 Prep Matthew 11:7 Prep Matthew 11:10 Prep Matthew 12:36 Prep Matthew 15:7 Prep Matthew 16:11 Prep Matthew 17:13 Prep Matthew 18:6 Prep Matthew 18:19 Prep Matthew 19:17 Prep Matthew 20:3 Prep Matthew 20:5 Prep Matthew 20:6 Prep Matthew 20:9 Prep Matthew 20:24 Prep Matthew 21:45 Prep Matthew 22:16 Prep Matthew 22:31 Prep Matthew 22:42 Prep Matthew 24:36 Prep |