περιρρήγνυμι (perirrēgnumi)
perirrēgnumi
to strip off
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb perirrēgnumi describes a violent tearing or ripping away, specifically of clothing. Its core meaning involves breaking or tearing something off from all sides, creating an image of sudden, forceful removal rather than gentle undressing.
In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Acts 16:22. There, it depicts the Roman soldiers tearing the garments from Paul and Silas before beating them. The prefix peri suggests action surrounding the object, emphasizing the completeness of the ripping motion.
Translators typically render this as "tore off" or "stripped." The word carries a harsh tone, highlighting the brutality of the moment. It serves as a vivid detail in the narrative, showing how quickly dignity was stripped away by the crowd’s anger.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word περιρρὴγνυμι paints a harsh picture of sudden violence. In Acts 16:22, it describes Roman soldiers tearing clothes from Paul and Silas. This was not gentle undressing but a forceful stripping meant to humiliate and expose them before beating. The prefix peri suggests action surrounding the object, emphasizing the completeness of the ripping motion.
While this word appears only once in the New Testament, its imagery reminds us that dignity can be stripped away quickly by anger or injustice. Yet, even in such brutal moments, the early church stood firm. Paul and Silas did not retaliate but prayed and sang hymns. Their response shows that true freedom comes from within, untouched by external violence.
When you face situations where your rights or dignity are threatened, remember this story. External circumstances may change, but your spirit can remain free through faith. This word invites us to trust God’s protection even when others try to tear away our peace. It is a call to resilience, rooted in the hope that no force can separate us from God’s love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having torn off1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περιρήξαντες1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 16:22
The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods.
This verse uses περιρρὴγνυμι to describe the violent tearing of Paul and Silas' clothes, highlighting the brutality and humiliation intended by the crowd.