4012. peri
Lexical Summary
peri: about, concerning, around, on account of

Original Word: περί
Part of Speech: Preposition
Transliteration: peri
Pronunciation: pe-REE
Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee')
KJV: (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)
NASB: about, concerning, around, against, behalf, regarding, regard
Word Origin: [from the base of G4008 (πέραν - other side)]

1. (properly) through (all over), i.e. around
2. (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)}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
about, around

From 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 Origin
a 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: περί

περί (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; 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.); (here L Tr WH omit τά); τά περί τῆς ὁδοῦ, Acts 24:22; with the genitive of a person one's affairs, his condition or state: Acts 28:15; Ephesians 6:22; Philippians 1:27; Philippians 2:19ff; Colossians 4:8; in a forensic sense, one's cause or case, Acts 24:10; τά περί Ἰησοῦ (or τοῦ κυρίου) (the (rumors) about Jesus (as a worker of miracles), Mark 5:27 T Tr marginal reading brackets WH); the things (necessary to be known and believed) concerning Jesus, Acts 18:25; Acts 23:11; Acts 28:23 Rec., 31; the things that befell Jesus, his death, Luke 24:19; the things in the O. T. relative to him, the prophecies concerning him, Luke 24:27; the career, death, appointed him by God, Luke 22:37 (here T Tr WH τό etc.). γ. περί τίνος, absolutely, at the beginning of sentences, concerning, as to: 1 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 16:1, 12; but in other places it is more properly taken with the following verb, Matthew 22:31; Matthew 24:36; Mark 12:26; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 1 Corinthians 8:1, 4; 1 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; cf. Winers Grammar, 373 (350).

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); ; περί ἁμαρτιῶν ἔπαθε (ἀπέθανεν), 1 Peter 3:18; περί ἁμαρτίας namely, θυσίαι, sacrifices for sin, expiatory sacrifices, Hebrews 10:6 (from Psalm 39:7 (); cf. Numbers 8:8; see ἁμαρτία, 3; τά περί τῆς ἁμαρτίας Leviticus 6:25; τό περί τῆς ἁμαρτίας, Leviticus 14:19); ἱλασμός περί τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10.

II. with the ACCUSATIVE (Winers Grammar, 406 (379));

a. of place; about, around: as, about parts of the body, Matthew 3:4; ( L T Tr WH); Mark 1:6; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2; Revelation 15:6. about places: Luke 13:8; Acts 22:6; Jude 1:7; τά περί τόν τόπον ἐκεῖνον, the neighborhood of that place, Acts 28:7; οἱ περί with an accusative of place, those dwelling about a place or in its vicinity, Mark 3:8 (T Tr WH omit; L brackets οἱ). οἱ περί τινα, those about one, i. e. with him, his companions, associates, friends, etc., Mark 4:10; Luke 22:49; (add, Mark 16 WH (rejected) Shorter Conclusion); according to Greek idiom οἱ περί τόν Παῦλον, Paul and his companions (German die Paulusgesellschaft) (cf. Winers Grammar, 406 (379); Buttmann, § 125, 8), Acts 13:13; according to a later Greek usage αἱ περί Μάρθαν denotes Martha herself, John 11:19 (although others (e. g. Meyer, Weiss, Keil, Godet, others) understand by it Martha and her attendants or domestics; but L Tr WH read πρός τήν (for τάς περί) Μάρθαν); cf. Matthiae, § 583, 2; Bernhardy (1829), p. 263; Kühncr ii., p. 230f; (Winers Grammar, and Buttmann, as above). in phrases the underlying notion of which is that of revolving about sometiring: of persons engaged in any occupation, οἱ περί τά τοιαῦτα ἐργάται (A. V. the workmen of like occupation), Acts 19:25; περισπᾶσθαι, πυρβάζεσθαι περί τί, Luke 10:40, 41 (but here L T Tr WIt text θορυβάζῃ which see (and WH marginal reading omits περί πολλά)) (περί τήν γεωργίαν γίνεσθαι, 2 Macc. 12:1).

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, ; ; Mark 6:48; Acts 10:( L T Tr WH),; .

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

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Meaning and Reach

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:
• spatial (“around”),
• thematic (“concerning,” “about”),
• causal or representative (“for,” especially “for sins”),
• approximative (“about” a time or number).

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:
Revelation 15:6 pictures the seven angels “clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.”
Luke 19:37 speaks of the crowds “around the descent of the Mount of Olives.”

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
• 7:1 “Now concerning the matters you wrote about …”
• 8:1 “Now concerning food sacrificed to idols …”
• 12:1 “Now concerning spiritual gifts …”
• 16:1, 12 “Now concerning the collection …” “Now concerning our brother Apollos …”

1 Thessalonians
• 4:9 “Now concerning brotherly love …”
• 4:13 “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep …”
• 5:1 “Now concerning the times and seasons …”

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:
Luke 24:27 “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.”
Acts 28:23 Paul testifies “concerning the kingdom of God … persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.”

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:
Hebrews 10:6 “In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.”
Hebrews 10:18 “Where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer necessary.”
1 John 2:2 “He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

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:
Ephesians 6:18 “Pray in the Spirit at all times … and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.”
Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God every time I remember you.”
Colossians 4:3 “And pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word …”

Intercessory ministry thus circles “around” others, wrapping them in prayer.

Witness and Testimony

John’s Gospel highlights witness language:
John 1:7 “He came as a witness to testify concerning the Light.”
John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they that testify about Me.”

The recurring perí emphasizes that all true testimony has Christ as its central theme.

Truth and Error

Perí can frame both fidelity and deviation:
2 Timothy 2:18 Hymenaeus and Philetus “have strayed concerning the truth.”
1 Timothy 6:4 the false teacher is “obsessed with disputes and arguments about words.”

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:
Matthew 18:6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble …”
Jude 1:15 the Lord comes “to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts …”

But it also conveys comfort:
1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.”

Chronology and the Day of the Lord

Eschatological teaching often begins with perí:
Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows …”
1 Thessalonians 5:1 “Now concerning the times and seasons …”

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.

Forms and Transliterations
περι περί περὶ ὑπὲρ hyper hypèr peri perí perì uper
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 2:8 Prep
GRK: ἐξετάσατε ἀκριβῶς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου
KJV: diligently for the young child;
INT: search carefully for the child

Matthew 3:4 Prep
GRK: ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν
NAS: belt around his waist;
KJV: a leathern girdle about his loins;
INT: a belt of leather about the waist

Matthew 4:6 Prep
GRK: αὐτοῦ ἐντελεῖται περὶ σοῦ καὶ
NAS: HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU'; and 'ON [their] HANDS
KJV: angels charge concerning thee: and
INT: of him he will give orders concerning you and

Matthew 6:28 Prep
GRK: καὶ περὶ ἐνδύματος τί
NAS: are you worried about clothing?
KJV: take ye thought for raiment?
INT: and about clothing why

Matthew 8:18 Prep
GRK: Ἰησοῦς ὄχλον περὶ αὐτὸν ἐκέλευσεν
NAS: a crowd around Him, He gave orders
KJV: multitudes about him,
INT: Jesus [a] crowd around him he commanded

Matthew 9:36 Prep
GRK: ὄχλους ἐσπλαγχνίσθη περὶ αὐτῶν ὅτι
KJV: he was moved with compassion on them,
INT: crowds he was moved with compassion for them because

Matthew 11:7 Prep
GRK: τοῖς ὄχλοις περὶ Ἰωάννου Τί
NAS: to the crowds about John,
KJV: unto the multitudes concerning John,
INT: to the crowds concerning John What

Matthew 11:10 Prep
GRK: οὗτός ἐστιν περὶ οὗ γέγραπται
NAS: This is the one about whom
KJV: this is [he], of whom it is written,
INT: For this is [he] concerning whom it has been written

Matthew 12:36 Prep
GRK: ἄνθρωποι ἀποδώσουσιν περὶ αὐτοῦ λόγον
KJV: account thereof in
INT: men they will give of it an account

Matthew 15:7 Prep
GRK: καλῶς ἐπροφήτευσεν περὶ ὑμῶν Ἠσαίας
KJV: Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
INT: rightly prophesied concerning you Isaiah

Matthew 16:11 Prep
GRK: ὅτι οὐ περὶ ἄρτων εἶπον
NAS: that I did not speak to you concerning bread?
KJV: to you concerning bread,
INT: that not concerning bread I spoke

Matthew 17:13 Prep
GRK: μαθηταὶ ὅτι περὶ Ἰωάννου τοῦ
NAS: that He had spoken to them about John
KJV: unto them of John
INT: disciples that concerning John the

Matthew 18:6 Prep
GRK: μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον
NAS: hung around his neck,
INT: a millstone heavy upon the neck

Matthew 18:19 Prep
GRK: τῆς γῆς περὶ παντὸς πράγματος
NAS: on earth about anything
KJV: on earth as touching any thing
INT: the earth concerning any matter

Matthew 19:17 Prep
GRK: με ἐρωτᾷς περὶ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ
NAS: are you asking Me about what
INT: me ask you about what is good

Matthew 20:3 Prep
GRK: καὶ ἐξελθὼν περὶ τρίτην ὥραν
NAS: And he went out about the third hour
KJV: And he went out about the third hour,
INT: And having gone out about the third hour

Matthew 20:5 Prep
GRK: δὲ ἐξελθὼν περὶ ἕκτην καὶ
NAS: he went out about the sixth
KJV: Again he went out about the sixth and
INT: moreover having gone out about [the] sixth and

Matthew 20:6 Prep
GRK: περὶ δὲ τὴν
NAS: And about the eleventh [hour] he went
KJV: And about the eleventh hour
INT: about moreover the

Matthew 20:9 Prep
GRK: δὲ οἱ περὶ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην
NAS: those [hired] about the eleventh
KJV: when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh
INT: also those [hired] about the eleventh

Matthew 20:24 Prep
GRK: δέκα ἠγανάκτησαν περὶ τῶν δύο
KJV: [it], they were moved with indignation against the two
INT: ten were indignant about the two

Matthew 21:45 Prep
GRK: ἔγνωσαν ὅτι περὶ αὐτῶν λέγει
NAS: that He was speaking about them.
KJV: that he spake of them.
INT: they knew that about them he speaks

Matthew 22:16 Prep
GRK: μέλει σοι περὶ οὐδενός οὐ
KJV: carest thou for any [man]: for
INT: there is care to you about no one not

Matthew 22:31 Prep
GRK: περὶ δὲ τῆς
NAS: But regarding the resurrection
KJV: But as touching the resurrection
INT: concerning moreover the

Matthew 22:42 Prep
GRK: ὑμῖν δοκεῖ περὶ τοῦ χριστοῦ
NAS: do you think about the Christ,
KJV: think ye of Christ? whose
INT: you think concerning the Christ

Matthew 24:36 Prep
GRK: Περὶ δὲ τῆς
KJV: But of that day
INT: concerning moreover the

Strong's Greek 4012
333 Occurrences


περὶ — 333 Occ.

4011
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