Lexical Summary perisseuó: To abound, to be in abundance, to overflow, to excel Original Word: περισσεύω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance abound, have an abundanceFrom perissos; to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also (transitively) to cause to superabound or excel -- (make, more) abound, (have, have more) abundance (be more) abundant, be the better, enough and to spare, exceed, excel, increase, be left, redound, remain (over and above). see GREEK perissos HELPS Word-studies 4052 perisseúō (from 4012 /perí, "all-around" which indicates abundance or surplus) – properly, exceed, go beyond the expected measure, i.e. above and beyond ("more than . . . "); "what goes further (more), surpasses" (J. Thayer). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom perissos Definition to be over and above, to abound NASB Translation abound (10), abounded (1), abounding (1), abundance (2), abundant (1), better (1), cause (1), cause* (1), excel (2), has an abundance (1), have an abundance (3), have more than enough (1), having abundance (1), increasing (1), lavished (1), left over (4), leftover (1), live in prosperity (1), make...abound (1), overflowed (1), overflowing (2), surpasses (1), surplus (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4052: περισσεύωπερισσεύω; imperfect ἐπερίσσευον (Acts 16:5); future infinitive περισσεύσειν (Philippians 4:12 Rec.bez); 1 aorist ἐπερίσσευσα; passive, present περισσεύομαι (Luke 15:17, see below); 1 future 3 person singular περισσευθήσεται; (περισσός, which see); 1. intransitive and properly, to exceed a fixed number or measure; to be over and above a certain number or measure: μύριοι εἰσιν ἀριθμόν ... εἷς δέ περισσεύει, Hesiod from 14, 4 (clxix. (187), edition Göttling); hence, a. to be over, to remain: John 6:12; τό περισσεῦον τῶν κλασμάτων, equivalent to τά περισσευοντα κλάσματα, Matthew 14:20; Matthew 15:37; περισσεύει μοι τί, John 6:13 (Tobit 4:16); τό περισσεῦσαν τίνι, what remained over to one, Luke 9:17. b. to exist or be at hand in abundance: τίνι, Luke 12:15; τό περισσεῦον τίνι, one's abundance, wealth ((R. V. superfluity); opposed to ὑστέρησις), Mark 12:44; opposed to ὑστέρημα, Luke 21:4: to be great (abundant), 2 Corinthians 1:5b; 2 Corinthians 9:12; Philippians 1:26; περισσεύει τί εἰς τινα, "a thing comes in abundance, or overflows, unto one; something falls to the lot of one in large measure": Romans 5:15; 2 Corinthians 1:5a; περισσεύω εἰς τί, to redound unto, turn out abundantly for, a thing, 2 Corinthians 8:2; ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τήν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, i. e. by my lie it came to pass that God's veracity became the more conspicuous, and becoming thus more thoroughly known increased his glory, Romans 3:7; to be increased, τῷ ἀριθμῷ, Acts 16:5. c. to abound, overflow, i. e. α. to be abundantly furnished with, to have in abundance, abound in (a thing): absolutely (A. V. to abound), to be in affluence, Philippians 4:18; opposed to ὑστερεῖσθαι; Philippians 4:12; in spiritual gifts, 1 Corinthians 14:12; with a genitive of the thing in which one abounds (Winers Grammar, § 30, 8b.; (cf. Buttmann, § 132, 12)): ἄρτων, Luke 15:17 R G L T Tr marginal reading β. to be pre-eminent, to excel (cf. Buttmann, § 132, 22): absolutely, 1 Corinthians 8:8; followed by ἐν with a dative of the virtues or the actions in which one excels (Buttmann, § 132, 12), 1 Corinthians 15:13; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 3:9 (here L T Tr WH omit ἐν); 2. by later Greek usage transitively (cf. Winers Grammar, p. 23; § 38,1), to make to abound, i. e. a. to furnish one richly so that he has abundance: passive, Matthew 13:12; Matthew 25:29; with the genitive of the thing with which one is furnished, passive, Luke 15:17 WH Tr text; τί εἰς τινα, to make a thing to abound unto one, to confer a thing abundantly upon one, 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 1:8. b. to make abundant or excellent: τί, 2 Corinthians 4:15; to cause one to excel: τινα, with a dative of the thing, 1 Thessalonians 3:12. (τάς ὥρας, to extend the hours beyond the prescribed time, Athen. 2, p. 42 b.) (Compare: ὑπερπερισσεύω.) Strong’s Greek 4052 portrays the idea of exceeding a set measure—an overflow that goes beyond what is expected or required. In Scripture it touches every sphere of life: material provision, spiritual growth, gospel advance, and even divine judgment. Its 39 New Testament appearances present a coherent testimony that the God who saves is the God who super-abounds. Material Provision and Miraculous Surplus The feeding miracles illustrate physical abundance placed at the service of faith. After five thousand and four thousand were fed, “the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces that were left over” (Matthew 14:20; 15:37; Luke 9:17; John 6:13). The surplus verifies Jesus’ messianic authority and foreshadows the superabundant grace He supplies in salvation. The same vocabulary appears in the parable of the prodigal son, whose father’s hired men “have plenty of food” (Luke 15:17), contrasting the destitution of sin with the bounty of the Father’s house. Christian Generosity and Stewardship Paul frequently employs the verb to encourage liberal giving. Macedonian believers, though impoverished, allowed “their abundant joy and deep poverty [to] overflow into rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2). He exhorts Corinth to match that example: “Just as you excel in everything… see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7). God’s promise undergirds such liberality: “God is able to make all grace abound to you… so that you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). The resulting ministry “is overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12). By contrast, the rich who give merely from “surplus” (Mark 12:44; Luke 21:4) expose a heart untouched by divine overflow. Grace, Righteousness, and Redemption Overflowing Romans highlights how divine grace surpasses human sin. “If the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace… abound to the many” (Romans 5:15). Earlier Paul notes that even human deceit can serve to display God’s truthfulness “so that His glory increases” (Romans 3:7). The Sermon on the Mount presses the same principle upon personal righteousness: it must “exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees” (Matthew 5:20), proving that kingdom life is impossible without the superabundant righteousness provided in Christ. Abounding in Love, Knowledge, and Good Works Spiritual maturity is pictured as continuous overflow. Paul prays “that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight” (Philippians 1:9), so that believers might “abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8) and “overflow with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:7). He urges the Thessalonians to “continue to do so even more” in a life that pleases God (1 Thessalonians 4:1) and asks the Lord to “cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another” (1 Thessalonians 3:12). Such progress is never optional; “always excel in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Suffering and Comfort Overflowing in Christ Overflow is not limited to blessings; it also describes affliction. “Just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows” (2 Corinthians 1:5). The pattern is cruciform: an abundance of pain matched and surpassed by an abundance of consolation, ensuring that no trial outruns divine compassion. Growth of the Church Acts records that local congregations “increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5), linking quantitative growth with the same term used for qualitative overflow. Gospel proclamation, fueled by divine abundance, multiplies disciples. Warnings Against Fleshly Abundance Jesus cautions, “Watch out… for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). When abundance is hoarded, it becomes an idol; when surrendered, it becomes a conduit of grace (Philippians 4:18; 1 Corinthians 8:8). Eschatological parables reinforce the point: “Whoever has will be given more… but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away” (Matthew 13:12; 25:29). Eschatological Dimension Overflow language underscores the final triumph of divine purposes. The ministry of righteousness “surpasses” the fading glory of the law (2 Corinthians 3:9). Grace is “extending to more and more people” so that thanksgiving may “overflow… to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15). Hope likewise overflows: “May the God of hope fill you… so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Practical Ministry Application 1. Expectant Faith: Trust God’s capacity to supply beyond need, whether resources for ministry or strength in trial. In every context Strong’s 4052 directs attention away from human limitation to divine plenitude, inviting believers to live, serve, and suffer out of the limitless overflow that is theirs in Christ. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:20 V-ASA-3SGRK: ἐὰν μὴ περισσεύσῃ ὑμῶν ἡ NAS: your righteousness surpasses [that] of the scribes KJV: righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes INT: if not shall abound your Matthew 13:12 V-FIP-3S Matthew 14:20 V-PPA-ANS Matthew 15:37 V-PPA-ANS Matthew 25:29 V-FIP-3S Mark 12:44 V-PPA-GNS Luke 9:17 V-APA-NNS Luke 12:15 V-PNA Luke 15:17 V-PIM-3P Luke 21:4 V-PPA-GNS John 6:12 V-APA-ANP John 6:13 V-AIA-3P Acts 16:5 V-IIA-3P Romans 3:7 V-AIA-3S Romans 5:15 V-AIA-3S Romans 15:13 V-PNA 1 Corinthians 8:8 V-PIA-1P 1 Corinthians 14:12 V-PSA-2P 1 Corinthians 15:58 V-PPA-NMP 2 Corinthians 1:5 V-PIA-3S 2 Corinthians 1:5 V-PIA-3S 2 Corinthians 3:9 V-PIA-3S 2 Corinthians 4:15 V-ASA-3S 2 Corinthians 8:2 V-AIA-3S 2 Corinthians 8:7 V-PIA-2P Strong's Greek 4052 |
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