περιοχή
periochḗ
G4042 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Primarily, an area or region, indicating a geographic or conceptual district that is encompassed or circumscribed. In literary or scriptural contexts, refers to a specific passage, section, or pericope— a distinct portion delineated within a larger text. The term can thus denote both physical locations and bounded textual units, depending on context.
Semantic Range
region, district, area, circumference, enclosed place; section, passage, delimited textual unit, pericope
Root / Etymology
From the verb περιέχω ('to surround, to contain, to encompass'), itself deriving from περί ('around') + ἔχω ('to have, to hold'). The noun περιοχή thus signifies that which is held around or enclosed, either spatially or figuratively.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, περιοχή typically refers to a region, district, or circumference— that is, the boundaries or area enclosing a place. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including in the Septuagint and New Testament, the term is rarely used, but when it does appear, it can take on a more abstract sense tied to literary context: a specific passage or section of text, particularly one whose boundaries are defined for reading or commentary. This literary usage gave rise in later Christian Greek to the technical sense of 'pericope' (a self-contained unit of Scripture). English Bible translations usually render the term as 'place' or 'section.' However, the nuance of a distinct, enclosed unit— either of territory or text— is central to its Greek usage. Comparatively, other Greek words such as τόπος can also mean 'place' or 'region,' but περιοχή emphasizes the idea of enclosure or demarcation. The term does not carry theological implications, and its usage is determined by either spatial or textual boundaries.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from περιέχω; a being held around, i.e. (concretely) a passage (of Scripture, as circumscribed):--place.
Root Family
περιεχ- (periochḗ) — to surround, to enclose, to encompass
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4042-01 |
περιοχὴ | perioche | N NOM F SG |
portion | enclosed region | portion | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4042-01 |
Acts 8:32 | περιοχὴ | perioche | N NOM F SG |
portion | enclosed region | portion |