Strong's Lexicon periergos: Busybody, meddlesome, curious about trifles Original Word: περίεργος Word Origin: From the Greek words περί (peri, meaning "around" or "about") and ἔργον (ergon, meaning "work" or "deed"). Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "periergos," the concept of meddling or being a busybody can be related to Hebrew terms that describe gossip or slander, such as רָכִיל (rakil, meaning "slanderer" or "talebearer"). Usage: The term "periergos" is used in the New Testament to describe individuals who are overly concerned with matters that do not pertain to them, often involving themselves in the affairs of others in an intrusive or unnecessary manner. It conveys a sense of being meddlesome or engaging in activities that are not productive or beneficial. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, social order and community harmony were highly valued. Individuals who were considered "periergos" disrupted this harmony by involving themselves in matters that were not their concern. Such behavior was frowned upon as it could lead to gossip, division, and unnecessary conflict within the community. The early Christian church, emphasizing unity and love, discouraged such behavior to maintain peace and focus on spiritual growth. HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4021 períergos (an adjective, derived from 4012 /perí, "all around" and 2041 /érgon, "work") – properly, worked all-around, which describes "over-doing" – i.e. spending excessive time (effort) where it doesn't belong (or should not happen). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom peri and ergon Definition overly careful, curious, meddling, subst. a busybody NASB Translation busybodies (1), magic (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4021: περίεργοςπερίεργος, περιεργον (περί and ἔργον; see περί, III. 2), busy about trifles and neglectful of important matters, especially busy about other folks' affairs, a busybody: 1 Timothy 5:13 (often so in secular authors from Xenophon, mem. 1, 3, 1; περιεργων καί πολυπράγμων, Epictetus diss. 3, 1, 21); of things: τά περίεργα, impertinent and superfluous, of magic (A. V., curious) arts, Acts 19:19 (so περίεργος practising magic, Aristaen., epistles 2, 18, 2 (cf. Plutarch, Alex. 2, 5)); cf. Kypke, Observations, and Kuinoel, commentary at the passage. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance meddlesome, belonging to magicFrom peri and ergon; working all around, i.e. Officious (meddlesome, neuter plural magic) -- busybody, curious arts. see GREEK peri see GREEK ergon Forms and Transliterations περιεργα περίεργα περιεργοι περίεργοι perierga períerga periergoi períergoiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 19:19 Adj-ANPGRK: τῶν τὰ περίεργα πραξάντων συνενέγκαντες NAS: who practiced magic brought KJV: which used curious arts brought INT: of those who the magic arts had practiced having brought 1 Timothy 5:13 Adj-NMP Strong's Greek 4021 |
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