περίλυπος (perilupos)
perilupos
sorrowful
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective perilupos describes a state of being deeply or exceedingly sorrowful. Derived from the prefix peri (meaning "around" or "very") and lypē (sorrow), it intensifies the feeling of grief beyond ordinary sadness. The sources indicate that this word conveys a heaviness that can feel overwhelming, as if sorrow surrounds the person completely.
In the New Testament, this term appears in only five verses, primarily within the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is notably used to describe Jesus’ emotional state in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38; Mark 14:34), where He expresses a profound grief that precedes His suffering. The word also appears in Mark 6:26 regarding Herod’s regret and Luke 18:23 describing the rich young ruler’s sadness.
The usage in the passion narratives highlights the human depth of Jesus’ experience, showing that His sorrow was not superficial but all-consuming. Translators typically render perilupos as "very sorrowful" or "deeply grieved," capturing the weight of the emotion without adding theological interpretation beyond the text’s plain meaning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we face moments of crushing grief, it can feel as though sorrow surrounds us completely. The Greek word perilupos captures this intensity, describing a sadness so deep it feels like it reaches unto death. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus used this very term to describe His own soul. He did not hide His pain or pretend everything was fine; instead, He invited His friends to stay and watch with Him in that heavy hour.
This word reminds us that deep sorrow is not a sign of weak faith. Even the Son of God experienced profound grief before His suffering. When you feel overwhelmed by loss or anxiety, you are in company with Jesus. He understands the weight of a heart that feels it cannot go on. You do not have to carry this burden alone.
There is comfort in knowing that Jesus entered into our deepest human experiences. He felt the full force of sorrow so that He could walk beside us through it. If you are carrying a heavy load today, bring it to Him. He does not ask you to be strong enough to hide your pain. He offers His presence to hold you when you feel like you are breaking.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Very sorrowful2×
- very sorrowful1×
- sorrowful1×
- encompassingly sorrowful1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περίλυπός2×
- περίλυπος2×
- περίλυπον1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 26:38
Then Jesus said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”
This verse shows Jesus explicitly naming the depth of His grief, inviting disciples into His vulnerability rather than shielding them from it.
-
Mark 14:34
He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”
Here the word underscores the human reality of Christ’s passion, validating that even divine love experiences overwhelming sorrow.
-
Luke 18:23
But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
The term describes the rich young ruler’s sudden realization that his wealth had become a barrier to spiritual life, highlighting how attachment can cause deep regret.