περικυκλόω
perikyklóō
G4033 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To surround, encircle, or encompass something or someone on all sides, often with the purpose of enclosing, besieging, or containing; in military and figurative contexts, to form a complete circle or ring around a city, group, or object.
Semantic Range
to surround completely, to encircle, to besiege, to blockade, to encompass, to form a ring or circle around
Root / Etymology
From the preposition περί ('around, about') and the verb κυκλόω ('to encircle, to move in a circle'). The compound form denotes intensification or completeness of the action 'to encircle.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, περικυκλόω is often found in military and siege contexts, indicating the strategic encirclement of a city, fortress, or group, typically to cut it off from movement or resources (e.g., Luke 21:20 describing Jerusalem being surrounded by armies). This sense continues from classical Greek, where it could also describe literal or figurative surrounding. The Septuagint uses the term in relation to armies encircling cities or to the encompassing of groups or individuals. In English Bible translations, standard renderings such as 'compass round' or 'surround' may not clearly reflect the military or strategic nuance found in the Greek usage, which includes both the physical act of surrounding and the intent to blockade or constrain. The term is rarely used outside military or hostile contexts in biblical and contemporaneous literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from περί and κυκλόω; to encircle all around, i.e. blockade completely:--compass round.
Root Family
κυκλ- (kyklóthen) — encircle, surround, go around
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2943 | κυκλόθεν | from all around |
| G2944 | κυκλόω | they encircled |
| G2945 | κύκλῳ | in a circle |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4033-01 |
περικυκλώσουσίν | perikuklosousin | V FUT ACT IND 3P PL |
will surround | they will encircle completely | they will encircle completely | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4033-01 |
Luke 19:43 | περικυκλώσουσίν | perikuklosousin | V FUT ACT IND 3P PL |
will surround | they will encircle completely | they will encircle completely |