κυκλόθεν

kyklóthen

G2943 preposition

SILEX Entry

Definition

in a circular manner, from or on every side; most often as an adverb indicating spatial or figurative surrounding, encircling, or from all directions. In some contexts, can mean 'around (a place or object),' 'on all sides,' 'in the vicinity,' or metaphorically, pertaining to those in the surrounding area or outer regions.

Semantic Range

around, on every side, all around, encircling; from all sides; in the surrounding region or area

Root / Etymology

from κύκλος ('circle, ring, circumference, round object') with the adverbial suffix -θεν indicating 'from' or 'on the side of'. It literally means 'from the circle' or 'from around'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

κυκλόθεν appears in Koine Greek as a spatial adverb, primarily in narrative and descriptive contexts to indicate objects, people, or events occurring or located on every side of a reference point or encircling it. In the Septuagint, it frequently renders Hebrew phrases meaning 'all around' or 'surrounding' (e.g., סביב sabiv). In the New Testament, it occurs in similar spatial senses, such as describing the crowds or objects situated about (all around) a central figure or location. The sense can also extend to figurative or metaphorical use, as in indicating a group among those surrounding something conceptually (e.g., 'those from the surrounding regions'). English translations generally render it as 'round about', 'around', or 'all around', but these may miss the nuance of a perspective of encirclement or being on every side. The usage remains consistent with Hellenistic and earlier Greek, where it usually denotes surrounding in space or direction.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

adverb from the same as κύκλῳ; from the circle, i.e. all around:--(round) about.

Root Family

κυκλ- (kyklóthen) — encircle, surround, go around

Root κυκλ- encircle, surround, go around
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2944 κυκλόω they encircled
G2945 κύκλῳ in a circle
G4033 περικυκλόω they will encircle completely

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2943-01 κυκλόθεν kuklothen PREP GEN around from all around all around 3

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2943-01 Revelation 4:3 κυκλόθεν kuklothen PREP GEN around from all around all around
G2943-01 Revelation 4:4 κυκλόθεν kuklothen PREP GEN around from all around around
G2943-01 Revelation 4:8 κυκλόθεν kuklothen ADV around from all around all around