περισσῶς (perissōs)
perissōs
excessively
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb perissōs describes an action or state that goes beyond normal limits, meaning "exceedingly," "abundantly," or "vehemently." Derived from a root suggesting surplus or excess, it signals intensity rather than mere quantity. In the Gospels, it captures the heightened emotion of crowds and leaders, such as when the people cried out vehemently for Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus (Mark 15:14). It also appears in moments of shock, like the disciples’ reaction to the difficulty of salvation (Mark 10:26).
This word emphasizes the degree of an event or feeling. In Acts, it describes Paul’s extreme measures against early Christians, noting that he persecuted them "exceedingly" (Acts 26:11). Translators often use words like "greatly" or "abundantly" to convey this superlative force, ensuring the reader grasps the sheer magnitude of the situation. It serves as a linguistic marker for events that stand out due to their intensity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word περισσῶς (perissōs) conveys a sense of intensity that goes beyond ordinary limits. In the New Testament, it often highlights moments where human emotion or reaction reaches a peak. For instance, in Mark 10:26, the disciples are described as being exceedingly astonished by Jesus’ teaching on salvation. This shock reveals how deeply His words challenged their understanding of God’s grace and human effort.
Similarly, in Acts 26:11, Paul describes his past persecution of believers as being fueled by excessive rage. This intensity underscores the spiritual blindness that can accompany religious zeal when it is not grounded in love. Recognizing this word helps us see how powerful emotions can drive both rejection and misunderstanding of divine truth.
Reflecting on these passages invites us to examine our own responses to God’s Word. Are we easily shocked by His counter-cultural calls? Do we allow anger or pride to intensify our reactions against others? This word reminds us that true faith requires a calm trust in God’s sovereignty, even when circumstances seem overwhelming or unjust.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- excessively2×
- exceedingly1×
- Excessively1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περισσῶς4×
Key Verses
-
Mark 10:26
They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?”
The disciples' excessive astonishment highlights the radical nature of Jesus' teaching that salvation depends entirely on God, not human ability.
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Acts 26:11
Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Paul's excessive rage illustrates how intense religious zeal can become destructive when it opposes the truth of Christ.
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Mark 15:14
Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!”
The crowd's vehement cries for crucifixion demonstrate how collective emotion can override reason and justice in rejecting Jesus.