4029. perikeimai

Lexical Summary

perikeimai: To be surrounded, to lie around, to be encircled.

Original Word: περίκειμαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: perikeimai
Pronunciation: pe-ree'-kay-my
Phonetic Spelling: (per-ik'-i-mahee)
KJV: be bound (compassed) with, hang about
NASB: hung, beset, surrounding, wearing
Word Origin: [from G4012 (περί - about) and G2749 (κεῖμαι - laid)]

1. to lie all around, i.e. inclose, encircle, hamper
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

enclose, encircle, wear

From peri and keimai; to lie all around, i.e. Inclose, encircle, hamper (literally or figuratively) -- be bound (compassed) with, hang about.

see GREEK peri

see GREEK keimai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from peri and keimai
Definition
to lie around
NASB Translation
beset (1), hung (2), surrounding (1), wearing (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4029: περίκειμαι

περίκειμαι; (περί and κεῖμαι); from Homer down;

1. to lie around (cf. περί, III. 1): περί (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 52, 4, 12) τί (A. V. were hanged, Mark 9:42); Luke 17:2; ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος (A. V. are composed about with a cloud etc.), Hebrews 12:1.

2. passively (cf. Buttmann, 50 (44)), to be compassed with, have round one, (with the accusative; cf. Winers Grammar, § 32, 5; Buttmann, § 134, 7): ἅλυσιν, Acts 28:20 (δεσμά, 4 Macc. 12:3); ἀσθένειαν, infirmity cleaves to me, Hebrews 5:2 (ὕβριν, Theocritus, 23,14; ἀμαυρωσιν, νέφος, Clement of Rome, 2 Cor. 1, 6 [ET]).

Topical Lexicon

Overview of Biblical Usage

The verb portrays something encircling, binding, or encompassing a person. Its five appearances move from literal objects (millstone, chain) to moral and spiritual realities (weakness, witnesses), tracing how what surrounds a life shapes both judgment and hope.

Gravity of Causing Others to Stumble

Mark 9:42 and Luke 17:2 employ the image of a “large millstone… hung around his neck” before one is cast into the sea. The weight encircling the offender’s neck graphically accents the Lord’s severe warning against harming “one of these little ones who believe in Me.” The verb makes the penalty vivid: the stone is not merely attached but tightly wrapped, sealing inevitable ruin. The passages underscore three truths:

1. Responsibility – Those in positions of influence bear an encircling accountability for the spiritual welfare of the vulnerable.
2. Irreversibility – Once the millstone is secured, escape is impossible, illustrating the finality of divine judgment.
3. Covenant concern – “Little ones” signifies believers under Christ’s care; harming them offends the Shepherd Himself (see Matthew 18:6–14).

Chains for the Hope of Israel

In Acts 28:20 Paul tells the Roman Jews, “it is for the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” His fetter, wrapped around his wrist, becomes a symbol of gospel perseverance. The surrounding chain signifies:
• Continuity – Paul’s message fulfills Israel’s prophetic expectation (Isaiah 11:10; Jeremiah 33:14–16).
• Visibility – The restraint physically presses on his skin, yet it cannot restrain the word of God (2 Timothy 2:9).
• Solidarity – By choosing the noun “hope” Paul links his personal confinement to the national destiny promised by God, inviting his hearers to see the gospel as the natural outgrowth of covenant faithfulness.

Priestly Compassion Grounded in Shared Weakness

Hebrews 5:2 states that the high priest “is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.” The weakness is not an occasional stumble but a condition that wraps around the priestly office. Old-covenant ministers entered the sanctuary conscious of their own frailty, offering sacrifices “for himself and for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 5:3). This enveloping limitation:
• Cultivated empathy – Awareness of personal infirmity enabled measured dealings with sinners.
• Anticipated Christ – The Son, though sinless, took on flesh and was “tempted in every way, just as we are” (Hebrews 4:15), fulfilling the office without the encircling stain.

Encouragement from a Cloud of Witnesses

Hebrews 12:1 shifts the focus from what weighs down to what upholds: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance…” The verb pictures believers running within a stadium enveloped by past champions of faith (Hebrews 11). Their testimony:
• Affirms continuity – God’s redemptive plan spans generations; saints of old still speak (Hebrews 11:4).
• Motivates perseverance – Their accounts form a living panorama pressing athletes of faith toward the finish line.
• Directs eyes to Jesus – The surrounding throng culminates in “the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2), shifting attention from human effort to divine enablement.

Interrelated Themes

1. Weight versus witness – The same verb frames either condemning weight (millstone) or encouraging witness (cloud), revealing that what encircles a life can drag downward or propel forward.
2. Visible tokens of invisible realities – Chain and weakness are outward signs of gospel advance and priestly empathy.
3. Responsibility within community – Whether protecting “little ones,” representing Israel, or cheering fellow runners, each context stresses relational accountability before God.

Applications for Ministry Today

• Guard the vulnerable – Churches must weigh the eternal gravity of leading young believers astray, adopting safeguards and cultivating holy example.
• Embrace cost for the gospel – Like Paul’s chain, present hardships borne for Christ authenticate the message and encourage the flock.
• Lead with humility – Pastors and elders, aware of personal limitations, extend gentle correction, mirroring the true High Priest’s compassion.
• Draw strength from testimony – Regular rehearsal of Scripture’s accounts and congregational testimonies rallies believers to endurance amidst cultural pressure.

Conclusion

Across its five occurrences the verb paints a spectrum: crushing judgment, restrictive chains, compassionate weakness, and cheering witnesses. Each usage reveals a facet of God’s dealings with humanity—His holiness that punishes offense, His faithfulness that sustains the imprisoned apostle, His mercy that equips flawed servants, and His encouragement that surrounds every runner in the race of faith.

Forms and Transliterations

περικειμαι περίκειμαι περικειμενον περικείμενον περικειρόμενον περικειται περίκειται περικεκαρμένον perikeimai períkeimai perikeimenon perikeímenon perikeitai períkeitai

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 9:42 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: μᾶλλον εἰ περίκειται μύλος ὀνικὸς
NAS: millstone hung around
KJV: that a millstone were hanged about his
INT: rather if is put a millstone heavy

Luke 17:2 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: λίθος μυλικὸς περίκειται περὶ τὸν
NAS: a millstone were hung around
KJV: that a millstone were hanged about his
INT: stone of a mill is put around the

Acts 28:20 V-PIM/P-1S
GRK: ἅλυσιν ταύτην περίκειμαι
NAS: you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this
KJV: of Israel I am bound with this
INT: chain this I have around [me]

Hebrews 5:2 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται ἀσθένειαν
NAS: also is beset with weakness;
KJV: also is compassed with infirmity.
INT: also himself is encompassed with weakness

Hebrews 12:1 V-PPM/P-ANS
GRK: τοσοῦτον ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος
NAS: of witnesses surrounding us, let us also
KJV: are compassed about with so great
INT: so great having encompassing us a cloud

Strong's Greek 4029
5 Occurrences

περίκειμαι — 1 Occ.
περικείμενον — 1 Occ.
περίκειται — 3 Occ.