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περιοικέω

perioikéō

G4039 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To live or reside in the area surrounding a particular place; to dwell in proximity or in neighboring areas. The term refers both to residing in the vicinity of a location and to the concept of neighboring residency. Depending on context, can indicate those who inhabit border regions or settlements adjacent to a central city or main settlement, and, by extension, those who constitute neighboring communities.

Semantic Range

to reside around, to dwell in surrounding areas, to live nearby, to inhabit neighboring regions

Root / Etymology

Compound from the preposition περί (around, about) and the verb οἰκέω (to dwell, reside). The formation directly expresses the sense of 'dwelling around' a central point or area.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Koine Greek, περιοικέω is comparatively rare and descriptive, often designating people or groups who inhabit rural areas surrounding a city or more central settlement as opposed to city dwellers themselves. While the root οἰκέω is common and simply means 'to live' or 'to reside,' the addition of περί emphasizes physical proximity but distinct separation from a central population or settlement. In Greek historical and civic contexts (e.g., classical Athens, Sparta), related forms like περιοίκοι (perioikoi) referred to resident non-citizen populations living in the areas around the main city, especially in the Peloponnesian context. However, in Hellenistic and New Testament usage, the verb maintains its basic spatial meaning without the technical civic nuance. Standard English translations render it simply as 'dwell around/about,' but this may lose the sense of social and geographic relation intrinsic to the Greek term. It does not necessarily connote close social integration, but rather coexistence in adjacent or neighboring spaces.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from περί and οἰκέω; to reside around, i.e. be a neighbor:--dwell round about.

Root Family

οἰκ- (enkatoikéō) — to dwell, to inhabit, to reside

Root οἰκ- to dwell, to reside
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1460 ἐγκατοικέω one dwelling within
G1774 ἐνοικέω let it dwell within
G2733 κατοικία of a dwelling
G3351 μετοικίζω I will resettle
G3609 οἰκεῖος household members

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4039-01 περιοικοῦντας perioikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL living around those dwelling around those dwelling around 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4039-01 Luke 1:65 περιοικοῦντας perioikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL living around those dwelling around those dwelling around
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