περιεργάζομαι
periergázomai
G4020 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To engage busily in matters, especially those not properly one's own; to busy oneself with, or involve oneself unduly in other people's affairs. The primary meaning is to carry out activities with excessive involvement, frequently implying a negative or disruptive social consequence, particularly when meddling or intruding into issues beyond one's proper responsibility.
Semantic Range
to involve oneself in, to busy oneself with, to meddle in, to interfere, to be a busybody, to be occupied with trivial or inappropriate matters
Root / Etymology
From the preposition περί (around, about) and the verb ἐργάζομαι (to work, to be engaged in work). The compound indicates engaging in work or activities "all around" (i.e., in every direction, not focused), often with the sense of overstepping appropriate boundaries.
Historical & Contextual Notes
περιεργάζομαι appears in the New Testament mainly in 2 Thessalonians 3:11, where it describes individuals who are idle and distract themselves through unwarranted concern for others' affairs. The root ἐργάζομαι in secular Greek commonly means to labor or work at something, while the addition of περί adds the nuance of being overly involved ("worked about"). In the broader Hellenistic and Koine context, the verb came to convey a pejorative sense: not simply diligence, but interference. Compare with the noun περιεργία (meddlesomeness, curiosity, cf. Acts 19:19) and with expressions for "busybodies" or those who are unduly inquisitive in the affairs of others. In the Septuagint and extra-biblical literature, the term conveys a similar association with distracting, meddlesome behavior. English translations like "be a busybody" or "meddle" approximate the word's negative social connotation but may not fully convey its sense of disruptive overinvolvement. The term does not refer to ordinary curiosity or work ethic, but to problematic interference in social settings.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from περί and ἐργάζομαι; to work all around, i.e. bustle about (meddle):--be a busybody.
Root Family
περιεργάζομαι (periergazomai) — to work around, to busy oneself, to meddle, to involve oneself unduly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4020-01 |
περιεργαζομένους | periergazomenous | V PRS MID PTCP ACC M PL |
busybodies | those busying themselves about | busying themselves about | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4020-01 |
2 Thessalonians 3:11 | περιεργαζομένους | periergazomenous | V PRS MID PTCP ACC M PL |
busybodies | those busying themselves about | busying themselves about |