περιέχω
periéchō
G4023 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To encompass, surround, or hold around; in extended use, to contain, include, or comprise within a boundary or scope; also, in certain contexts, to relate to being seized by emotion or situation (as in being 'astonished' or 'amazed').
Semantic Range
to surround physically, to enclose, to contain, to comprise as a whole, to be subject to (emotion or circumstance), to take hold of; to be seized by (as with emotion)
Root / Etymology
From περί (around, about) and ἔχω (to have, hold); literally 'to have around' or 'hold all around.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, περιέχω is attested with the sense of physically surrounding or enclosing (e.g., city walls encompassing a town). In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, this concrete sense broadens metaphorically to 'contain' or 'comprise,' applicable to ideas, situations, or contents (such as documents or vessels). In the New Testament (e.g., Mark 9:6, Hebrews 5:2), it can bear a metaphorical sense where it describes being overtaken or enveloped by fear, astonishment, or ignorance — a usage derived from the underlying concept of being 'held in' by something. The rendering 'astonished' in some English translations reflects this figurative extension, but does not exhaust the word's semantic range. Standard translations like 'contain,' 'comprise,' or 'be subject to' may capture aspects of the meaning in different contexts, but they can obscure the underlying notion of enclosure (physical or conceptual) that persists in the term's Greek usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from περί and ἔχω; to hold all around, i.e. include, clasp (figuratively):--+ astonished, contain, after (this manner).
Root Family
περιέχω (periechō) — to surround, to hold around, to contain, to encompass
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4023-02 |
περιέσχεν | perieschen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
had seized | encompassed | encompassed | 1 |
G4023-01 |
περιέχει | periechei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
it is contained | it encompasses | it is contained | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4023-02 |
Luke 5:9 | περιέσχεν | perieschen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
had seized | encompassed | encompassed |
G4023-01 |
1 Peter 2:6 | περιέχει | periechei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
it is contained | it encompasses | it is contained |