πέρας (peras)
peras
end
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun peras denotes a boundary, limit, or extremity. In the New Testament it primarily describes physical edges, such as the farthest reaches of the earth. This usage appears when Matthew and Luke recount how the Queen of Sheba traveled from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31). Similarly, Romans 10:18 quotes Psalm 19 to describe God’s message reaching the boundaries of the inhabited world.
While it can refer to a spatial limit, the word also carries the sense of a conclusion or termination. It marks the point where something finishes, whether that is a geographic frontier or the end of a period of time. The term appears only four times in the New Testament, consistently pointing to a defined edge rather than an abstract concept.
Its root relates to what lies beyond a limit, emphasizing the distinction between what is contained and what is outside. Translators typically render it as "end" or "extremity," capturing its function as a marker of finality or distance. The word serves as a concrete reminder that even the most distant places are defined by their limits.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word peras marks a clear boundary, whether it is the edge of a map or the finish line of an event. When Scripture speaks of the "ends of the earth," it reminds us that God’s reach extends to every corner of our world. This is not just about geography; it shows that no one is too far away for His truth to arrive.
In Matthew and Luke, we see the Queen of Sheba traveling from the farthest limits to hear wisdom. Her journey highlights how divine insight draws people from the most distant places. Today, this same message reaches us, bridging any distance between our lives and God’s purposes.
Even when we feel isolated or overwhelmed by the vastness of life, remember that every limit is known to Him. His word goes out to the very edges, ensuring that no one is left in the dark. We can rest in the confidence that His presence defines our boundaries and guides us through them.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- ends3×
- finally1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περάτων2×
- πέρατα1×
- πέρας1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 12:42
The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.
This verse uses peras to describe the Queen of Sheba’s origin, emphasizing that she came from the farthest reaches of the earth to encounter Solomon's wisdom.
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Luke 11:31
The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and will condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.
Here, Luke mirrors Matthew by using the same term to highlight the distance traveled by the Queen, underscoring the value placed on the wisdom she sought.
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Romans 10:18
But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Paul quotes Psalm 19 here, using peras to illustrate how the gospel message has spread to the very boundaries of the inhabited world.