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

Root περί 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