περιμένω
periménō
G4037 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To remain in a place or continue to persist in a state while anticipating the arrival or occurrence of someone or something; to stay around in expectation or readiness. In contextual usage, especially in the New Testament, typically refers to remaining or staying in a location while awaiting a person's arrival or an event (e.g. awaiting divine fulfillment or an appointed meeting).
Semantic Range
to stay around, to wait for, to remain in anticipation, to persist in a place while awaiting
Root / Etymology
From the preposition περί (around, about) and the verb μένω (to remain, abide, stay). The compound construction emphasizes the sense of remaining around or waiting in readiness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
περιμένω is a rare compound verb in Koine Greek. It does not occur in classical sources but is found in Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the New Testament (Acts 1:4), where it describes remaining in a place with expectation (not simply passive waiting but active anticipation). In the Septuagint and wider Koine literature, its usage remains limited, and it is less frequent than a simple verb like μένω ('remain, abide'). In the New Testament, περιμένω is used of waiting for what is promised or expected, with some nuance of purposeful or expectant remaining (as opposed to accidental or passive delay). English translations usually render it as 'wait for,' but this does not always capture the active nuance of expecting or ready anticipation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from περί and μένω; to stay around, i.e. await:--wait for.
Root Family
μεν- (kataménō) — to remain, to stay, to abide
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2650 | καταμένω | those persistently remaining |
| G3305 | μέντοι | nevertheless |
| G3306 | μένω | we remained |
| G3438 | μονή | dwelling places |
| G362 | ἀναμένω | to remain in expectation |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4037-01 |
περιμένειν | perimenein | V PRS ACT INF |
to wait | to remain in anticipation | to remain in anticipation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4037-01 |
Acts 1:4 | περιμένειν | perimenein | V PRS ACT INF |
to wait | to remain in anticipation | to remain in anticipation |