περιδέω (perideō)
perideō
to wrap around
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb perideō means to bind or tie something tightly around another object, creating a secure enclosure. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in John 11:44, describing the moment Jesus commands Lazarus to be unwrapped from his grave clothes. The image is visceral and specific: strips of linen wrapped so thoroughly around the body that movement was impossible.
Its meaning comes from its parts: peri ("around") and deō ("to bind"). This distinguishes it from simple covering; it implies tension and restriction. The sources note its use in Job 12:18 (in the Greek Old Testament) where God binds kings with a girdle, suggesting strength and control. Here, the binding is so complete that Lazarus could not even see or walk without assistance.
Translators render it as "wrapped" or "bound," capturing both the physical reality and the spiritual weight of the scene. The word emphasizes total entombment, making Jesus’ command to "loose him" all the more dramatic. It is a rare word in Scripture, chosen for its precise description of death’s grip.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word περιδέω describes a binding so tight that movement is impossible. In John 11:44, Lazarus comes out of the tomb wrapped hand and foot, with a cloth over his face. This was not a gentle covering but a secure enclosure meant to keep him dead inside. The image shows how completely death holds its grip.
Jesus does not just heal from a distance; He commands those who are bound to be set free. This moment reminds us that no situation is too tightly wrapped for God’s power. When we feel restricted by fear, grief, or sin, His voice still carries the authority to loosen what holds us back.
We can trust that the same Lord who spoke life into Lazarus speaks to our deepest bindings today. He invites us to step out of the tomb and walk in freedom, knowing He has already won the victory over every chain.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- had bound about.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περιεδέδετο.1×
Key Verses
-
John 11:44
He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.”
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where περιδέω describes the tight linen wrappings that physically restricted Lazarus, highlighting the completeness of his death and the necessity of Jesus' command to loose him.