περιάγω

periágō

G4013 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To lead around, take around, or carry about; to move someone or something in a circular or circuitous course. In extended sense: to lead or accompany someone around a place, or to wander about. Reflexively, can mean to go around or travel about oneself, often suggesting repeated or aimless movement.

Semantic Range

to lead around, to take around, to carry around, to accompany around, to move in a circuit, to travel about, to wander, to go about

Root / Etymology

From περί (around, about) + ἄγω (to lead, to bring). The compound expresses the idea of leading or moving in a circuit or circumference, or going about in a place.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, περιάγω commonly means to lead or take something or someone around one place or another, sometimes for display, as in leading an animal around for sale or show. In the New Testament, its primary uses are metaphorical or literal: (1) of Jesus being 'led around' (e.g., in mockery, Lk 23:11); (2) of apostolic figures being 'taken around' or accompanied (1 Cor 9:5: the right to 'lead about' a sister/woman, i.e., travel accompanied by a believing wife). It can also express the action of traveling or wandering from place to place (Heb 11:37). English translations often render the term contextually as 'lead about,' 'go about,' or 'wander,' but these renderings may obscure the physical nuance of movement in a circuit or repeated fashion, present in the original Greek. The term is less common outside biblical literature but retains this core spatial or circuitous sense throughout its use in Koine.

Translation Consistency

primary "go" 4 occurrences

Most occurrences and natural English renderings use the notion of ‘going’/‘going about’. "Go" covers both intransitive senses (travel, wander, go about) and can be used with causative/constructs to convey leading someone around; it is the most natural, flexible single-word choice for consistent rendering across the lemma’s range.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"leading around" (1x) "lead around" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from περί and ἄγω; to take around (as a companion); reflexively, to walk around:--compass, go (round) about, lead about.

Root Family

περιάγω (periagō) — to lead, to conduct, to move around

Root περι-, ἀγ- to lead, to conduct, to move around

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4013-04 περιῆγεν periegen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he went about he was leading around he was going around 3
G4013-03 περιάγων periagon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG he went about leading around going about 1
G4013-02 περιάγετε periagete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you travel around you are leading around you are leading around 1
G4013-01 περιάγειν periagein V PRS ACT INF to take along to lead around to lead around 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4013-04 Matthew 4:23 περιῆγεν periegen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he went about he was leading around he was going around
G4013-04 Matthew 9:35 περιῆγεν periegen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG went through he was leading around he was going around
G4013-02 Matthew 23:15 περιάγετε periagete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you travel around you are leading around you are leading around
G4013-04 Mark 6:6 περιῆγεν periegen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he went about he was leading around he was going around
G4013-03 Acts 13:11 περιάγων periagon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG he went about leading around going about
G4013-01 1 Corinthians 9:5 περιάγειν periagein V PRS ACT INF to take along to lead around to lead around