περιλείπω
perileípō
G4035 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To leave behind or be left behind on all sides; used chiefly in the passive voice, meaning to survive others, to remain alive or present after others have gone, died, or been taken away. In contexts, especially in Pauline literature, the term conveys the sense of being left over or spared when others are not.
Semantic Range
to survive, to be left behind, to remain after others, to outlast, to be spared
Root / Etymology
From the preposition περί (around) and the verb λείπω (to leave, abandon). Formed as a compound verb, with the meaning shaped by the nuances of both elements.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb περιλείπω appears rarely in surviving Greek literature. Its use is largely restricted to Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the New Testament (notably in 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17), where it refers to those 'left, remaining,' particularly in eschatological contexts. The passive forms are predominant, emphasizing the condition of being among those surviving or still present rather than having actively left someone or something behind. In earlier (Classical) Greek, the simple verb λείπω is frequent, but the compound with περί appears later and is more specialized in sense. Standard English translations typically render the term as 'remain' or 'survive,' but the notion of being left after others have gone (especially through death) is primary. The term is found also in later Christian literature with similar meanings, but never as a technical term; its rarity and context-specific use preclude an independent theological sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from περί and λείπω; to leave all around, i.e. (passively) survive:--remain.
Root Family
περιλείπω (perileipō) — to leave, to abandon, to be left behind, to survive
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4035-01 |
περιλειπόμενοι | perileipomenoi | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
remain | those being left behind | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4035-01 |
1 Thessalonians 4:15 | περιλειπόμενοι | perileipomenoi | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
remain | those being left behind |
G4035-01 |
1 Thessalonians 4:17 | περιλειπόμενοι | perileipomenoi | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
who remain | those being left behind |