περιλάμπω (perilampō)
perilampō
to shine around
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb perilampō describes a light that shines brightly around something, creating a radiant halo or glow. It appears only twice in the New Testament, both within the narrative accounts of Luke and Acts, to depict sudden, supernatural illumination.
In Luke 2:9, this word captures the moment an angel of the Lord stands before shepherds, and "the glory of the Lord shone around them." The image is not just of a spotlight, but of an enveloping brightness that surrounds the witnesses. Similarly, Acts 26:13 records Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus, where a light from heaven shone around him and his companions with a brilliance greater than the sun.
The word combines peri ("around") and lampō ("to shine"), emphasizing the circumferential nature of the light. It suggests a divine presence that is both visible and overwhelming. Translators typically render it as "shone around" or "surrounded by light," preserving the sense of being encircled by glory rather than merely illuminated from one direction.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word perilampō paints a picture of divine presence that does not just touch you, but completely surrounds you. In Luke’s Gospel, we see this when shepherds are working in the fields and suddenly the glory of the Lord shines around them. It was not a distant light or a subtle hint; it was an overwhelming brightness that left them terrified yet chosen to receive good news. This shows us that God’s presence is often intense and all-encompassing, breaking into our ordinary moments with startling clarity.
We see this same pattern in Acts when Paul describes his conversion. A light from heaven shone around him and his companions, brighter than the sun. This wasn't just illumination for seeing; it was revelation that changed everything. When we feel surrounded by darkness or confusion, this word reminds us that God’s light can break through with power. It does not merely highlight one part of our lives but envelops us in His truth and grace.
For your faith, this means you are never outside the reach of His glory. Just as the shepherds and Paul were caught in this radiant circle, you too can trust that God’s presence is close enough to shine around you. It invites you to look up from your daily tasks and recognize the holiness that stands near, offering peace rather than fear when we turn to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- shone around1×
- having shone around1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περιέλαμψεν1×
- περιλάμψαν1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 2:9
Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
This occurrence marks the transition from ordinary shepherding to divine revelation, where the light signifies God's immediate and overwhelming presence with the humble witnesses.
-
Acts 26:13
at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.
Here the word emphasizes the blinding intensity of Christ's encounter with Paul, showing how divine light can overpower natural sight to bring about a new direction in life.