περιάγω (periagō)
periagō
to take/go around
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb periagō describes the physical act of moving around a place or leading someone through it. Its core meaning is straightforward: to go about, traverse, or lead around. In the New Testament, this word appears in six verses, primarily in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, with one instance in First Corinthians.
The sources highlight two distinct uses. Sometimes it is transitive, meaning to lead a person around, as seen when Paul mentions leading his sister-wife about in 1 Corinthians 9:5. More often, it is intransitive, describing Jesus’ ministry of traveling from town to town. Matthew 4:23 and 9:35 use it to depict Jesus going about Galilee, teaching and healing. This usage emphasizes the active, mobile nature of his mission rather than a static presence.
The word’s force comes from its prefix peri, meaning "around," combined with agō, "to lead" or "go." This creates an image of comprehensive coverage, as if moving through every part of a region. Translators typically render it simply as "went about" or "traveled around," capturing the sense of thorough, purposeful movement across a landscape.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word periagō paints a picture of active, thorough movement. It describes Jesus traveling through Galilee, moving from town to town to teach and heal. This shows that God’s care is not limited to one place or group. He moves among people, meeting them where they are.
For us, this reminds us that faith is lived out in motion. We are called to be present in our communities, sharing kindness and truth as we go. It is a call to engagement, not isolation. When we serve others, we participate in this same kind of purposeful journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- He was going2×
- you traverse1×
- was going throughout1×
- to take about1×
- going about1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περιῆγεν3×
- περιάγων1×
- περιάγετε1×
- περιάγειν1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 4:23
Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
This verse establishes the pattern of Jesus’ ministry as a comprehensive tour of teaching and healing across Galilee.
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Matthew 9:35
Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
It repeats the theme, emphasizing that His mission covered every city and village without exception.
-
Mark 6:6
He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.
Here it highlights Jesus’ commitment to teaching even in small villages despite the resistance He faced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does periagō mean in the New Testament?
How is it used in Matthew 4:23?
Does it appear in the letters of Paul?
Every Occurrence (6 verses across 4 books)
Matthew 3 verses
Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing…
Matthew 9:35Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the…
Matthew 23:15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he…