περικυκλόω (perikukloō)
perikukloō
to surround
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb perikukloō means to encircle or surround completely. It combines a prefix meaning "around" with a root related to "circle," creating a vivid image of something being enclosed on all sides. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Luke 19:43.
Here, Jesus uses it to describe the fate that will befall Jerusalem. He says enemies will build a wall around the city and encircle it, cutting off any escape. This usage highlights the word’s specific application to military siege, where a place is hemmed in so tightly that no one can enter or leave.
Translators typically render this as "surround" or "enclose." The term carries a sense of inevitability and finality, emphasizing the total nature of the confinement rather than just proximity. It serves as a powerful visual metaphor for judgment and restriction in this single biblical instance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word perikukloō paints a stark picture of being completely encircled. In Luke 19:43, Jesus uses it to describe Jerusalem facing a military siege. Enemies built walls around the city, leaving no way in or out. This image captures the feeling of total restriction and inevitable judgment.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God sees all circumstances. Even when life feels like you are hemmed in with no escape, His perspective is clear. The confinement described was not random but part of a larger divine timeline. We can trust that God remains sovereign even when our options seem limited.
While the historical event brought sorrow, it also points to spiritual truths about separation and consequence. It invites us to examine our own lives for areas where we might be closing ourselves off from grace. May you find peace in knowing that no situation is beyond God's reach or understanding.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they will surround1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περικυκλώσουσίν1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 19:43
For the days will come on you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side,
This verse uses perikukloō to describe the physical encirclement of Jerusalem by enemy forces, emphasizing the inescapable nature of the coming siege.