περί
perí
G4012 preposition
SILEX Entry
Definition
A preposition primarily expressing the idea of 'around' or 'about,' both in physical and metaphorical senses. With the genitive, it denotes concerning, about, in regard to, or with reference to someone or something. With the accusative, it can mean around (spatially), about, or concerning, sometimes with an added nuance of purpose (for the sake of) or extension (beyond). Adopts specialized senses in idiomatic or formulaic expressions across varying genres of Greek.
Semantic Range
around, about, concerning, with respect to, regarding, for the sake of, on behalf of, surrounding, encircling, in connection with, beyond (in comparative or excess contexts), for, pertaining to
Root / Etymology
From the root περί, closely related to πέραν ('across, beyond'), ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *per ('through, around').
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, περί predominantly conveyed the sense of physical location—'around,' 'surrounding.' From the 5th century BCE onwards, especially in prose, it developed a strong metaphorical use to indicate 'concerning' or 'about' a topic, especially in philosophical and rhetorical contexts (e.g., περὶ φύσεως 'concerning nature'). In Hellenistic (Koine) Greek, and especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, περί became the standard preposition for expressing 'regarding,' 'concerning,' or 'in reference to,' with the genitive often focusing on the subject or topic, and the accusative sometimes denoting purpose or goal, or extension in space and time. English translations rarely capture the full subtlety, sometimes rendering περί as 'on behalf of,' 'for the sake of,' or 'about,' depending on the construction. The difference between usage with the genitive and the accusative diminishes in some later texts. As a prefix (e.g., περι-), it imparts the sense of 'around' or 'throughout.' It is common in titles of works or treatises ('On...,' as in 'On the Soul'). Not identical to other Greek prepositions like ὑπέρ ('on behalf of') or ἐπί ('upon, on'), though there is some overlap in particular constructions. The semantic range is broader in Koine than in classical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the base of πέραν; 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).
Root Family
περί (perí) — around, about, concerning
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4012-01 |
περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning | 335 |
Occurrences in Scripture
335 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4012-01 |
Luke 1:1 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
of | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 1:4 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
concerning | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 2:17 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 2:17 | περὶ | peri-2 | PREP GEN |
concerning | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 2:18 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
at | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 2:27 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
concerning | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 2:33 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 2:38 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 3:15 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 3:19 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
for | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 3:19 | περὶ | peri-2 | PREP GEN |
for | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 4:10 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
concerning | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 4:14 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 4:37 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 4:38 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | about |
G4012-01 |
Luke 5:14 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
for | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 5:15 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | about |
G4012-01 |
Luke 6:28 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
for | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 7:3 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 7:17 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
concerning | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 7:18 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 7:24 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 7:27 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 9:9 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 9:11 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 9:45 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | about |
G4012-01 |
Luke 10:40 | περὶ | peri | PREP ACC |
with | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 10:41 | περὶ | peri | PREP ACC |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 11:53 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | about |
G4012-01 |
Luke 12:26 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 13:1 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 13:8 | περὶ | peri | PREP ACC |
around | concerning | around |
G4012-01 |
Luke 16:2 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 17:2 | περὶ | peri | PREP ACC |
about | concerning | around |
G4012-01 |
Luke 19:37 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
for | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 21:5 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 22:32 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
for | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 22:37 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
concerning | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 22:49 | περὶ | peri | PREP ACC |
around | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 23:8 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 24:4 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 24:14 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 24:19 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
concerning | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 24:27 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
concerning | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
Luke 24:44 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | about |
G4012-01 |
John 1:7 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
John 1:8 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
of | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
John 1:15 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | concerning |
G4012-01 |
John 1:22 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
about | concerning | about |
G4012-01 |
John 1:47 | περὶ | peri | PREP GEN |
of | concerning | concerning |