περιΐστημι
periḯstēmi
G4026 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To stand or be situated around, to encircle or surround; by extension, to be present in the vicinity or to stand nearby as a bystander; in transferred senses, to avoid or keep away from, to turn oneself aside or refrain from involvement with someone or something. The primary sense relates to physical or figurative positioning 'around' something or someone, leading to uses both of proximity and of intentional distancing, depending on the context.
Semantic Range
to stand around, to encircle, to be present as a bystander, to stand by, to surround; to keep away from, to avoid, to shun, to refrain from involvement
Root / Etymology
From the preposition περί (around, about) and ἵστημι (to stand, to set). The compound literally means 'to stand around' or 'to set oneself about [something]'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, περιΐστημι primarily described a physical act: standing or being positioned around someone or something, or causing others to stand around, with uses in military, spatial, or observational contexts. In Hellenistic Greek, the verb acquires figurative usages, such as refraining from something, shunning, or avoiding, through the idea of standing at a distance or circling around an issue rather than engaging directly. In the New Testament, the word occurs with the sense of 'avoiding' (2 Timothy 2:16; Titus 3:9), showing a semantic development from physical circumambulation or standing by, to a deliberate metaphorical distancing from behavior, topics, or people. Standard English translations often choose terms like 'avoid' or 'shun', which capture the later figurative sense but do not always communicate the underlying spatial or positioning connotation. The Septuagint uses the term in both physical and figurative senses, reflecting the broader semantic field of Koine usage. The verb can be active (causing to stand around, surrounding) or intransitive (standing around, bystander), so context is crucial for interpretation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from περί and ἵστημι; to stand all around, i.e. (near) to be a bystander, or (aloof) to keep away from:--avoid, shun, stand by (round about).
Root Family
περιΐστημι (periistēmi) — to stand around, to encircle, to surround, to stand by, to avoid
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4026-03 |
περιΐστασο | periistaso | V PRS MID IMP 2P SG |
avoid | Stand yourself aside | 2 |
G4026-01 |
περιέστησαν | periestesan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
surrounded | they were standing around | 1 |
G4026-02 |
περιεστῶτα | periestota | V PRF ACT PTCP ACC M SG |
standing around | having stood around | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4026-02 |
John 11:42 | περιεστῶτα | periestota | V PRF ACT PTCP ACC M SG |
standing around | having stood around |
G4026-01 |
Acts 25:7 | περιέστησαν | periestesan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
surrounded | they were standing around |
G4026-03 |
2 Timothy 2:16 | περιΐστασο | periistaso | V PRS MID IMP 2P SG |
avoid | Stand yourself aside |
G4026-03 |
Titus 3:9 | περιΐστασο | periistaso | V PRS MID IMP 2P SG |
avoid | Stand yourself aside |