πεῖρα
peîra
G3984 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A trial or attempt; the act of making an effort to do something, often with the sense of testing or trying, but may also denote an experiment or experience that probes capabilities or character. The term ranges from a neutral attempt at something, to a more purposeful or challenging test of a person or thing.
Semantic Range
attempt, trial, test, effort, experience, experimentation, proof
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root πεῖρ-; related to πειράω/πειράζω ('to attempt, to try, to test'). Ultimate etymology is uncertain, but potentially Indo-European, with cognates in related Greek verbs indicating the sense of 'attempting' or 'proving.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, πεῖρα is used broadly for an attempt, endeavor, or experiment across literature, philosophy, and rhetoric; it often denotes practical experience or the process of proving something's quality (cf. Herodotus, Plato). In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the word retains this range, with 'trial' often shading into ethical or existential testing (e.g., Sirach, Wisdom, Pauline epistles). Importantly, the English tradition of translating πεῖρα as 'trial' may sometimes obscure its neutral notion of 'attempt' or 'experience' without necessarily any negative connotation. Distinct from πειρασμός, which more strongly conveys temptation or adversity, πεῖρα remains focused on the act or experience of trying or being tried. In usage, context determines whether the emphasis is on the process ('attempt') or outcome ('test, proof'). Commonly associated with legal, philosophical, and everyday settings involving demonstration, investigation, or assessment.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the base of πέραν (through the idea of piercing); a test, i.e. attempt, experience:--assaying, trial.
Root Family
πεῖρα (peira) — trial, attempt, test, experience
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3984-01 |
πεῖραν | peiran | N ACC F SG |
a trial | a trial | a trial | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3984-01 |
Hebrews 11:29 | πεῖραν | peiran | N ACC F SG |
a trial | a trial | a trial |
G3984-01 |
Hebrews 11:36 | πεῖραν | peiran | N ACC F SG |
trial | a trial | a trial |