περιάπτω (periaptō)
periaptō
to touch
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb periaptō carries the specific meaning of tying something around or attaching it closely to another object. In the New Testament, this action appears only once, in Luke 22:55, where the Gospel writer describes the scene in the courtyard of the high priest. The text states that they lit a fire and stood around it, using this word to convey the sense of gathering tightly near the heat.
Lexical sources note that while synonyms like thigganō exist for general touching, periaptō implies a stronger, more physical connection or encircling motion. This usage highlights the intensity of the moment, as the soldiers and servants clustered closely around the flames. The word’s root suggests an action of binding or surrounding, which fits the image of people huddling together for warmth in the darkness.
Translators typically render this term simply as "stood around" or "gathered," capturing the physical arrangement without losing the nuance of proximity. By choosing this specific verb, Luke emphasizes the crowded, intimate nature of the gathering, contrasting the cold night with the artificial heat of the fire. This single occurrence provides a vivid snapshot of the events leading to Jesus’ arrest.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word periaptō describes people gathering closely around a source of warmth, binding themselves to the heat in the cold night air. In Luke’s account, soldiers and servants huddle together, their bodies pressed close for comfort against the chill. This physical closeness mirrors how we often seek safety in numbers during times of uncertainty or fear.
Yet the scene holds a deeper tension. Peter sits among them, physically near the fire but spiritually distant from Jesus. The warmth that sustains the group cannot shield him from the moment he will soon deny his Lord. It reminds us that proximity to a community or a ritual does not guarantee intimacy with Christ.
True safety is found not in the crowd, but in the One who stands alone for us. When we feel isolated or afraid, we are invited to draw near to Jesus, whose presence offers a warmth that never fades. He welcomes us into His circle, regardless of our past failures or current fears.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- They having kindled around1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περιαψάντων1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 22:55
When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.
This verse uses periaptō to describe the physical clustering of the crowd around the fire, highlighting the tension between their collective warmth and Peter’s spiritual isolation.