"pr. of place, (1) gen., about, around; about, concerning, respecting, Mt. 2:8; 11:10; 22:31; Jn. 8:18; Rom. 8:3, et al. freq.; (2) acc., of place, about, around, round about, Mt. 3:4; Mk. 3:34; Lk. 13:8; οἱ περί τινα, the companions of a person, Lk. 22:49; a person and his compan..."
Definition and meaning
pr. of place, (1) gen., about, around; about, concerning, respecting, Mt. 2:8; 11:10; 22:31; Jn. 8:18; Rom. 8:3, et al. freq.; (2) acc., of place, about, around, round about, Mt. 3:4; Mk. 3:34; Lk. 13:8; οἱ περί τινα, the companions of a person, Lk. 22:49; a person and his companions, Acts 13:13; simply a person, Jn. 11:19; τὰ περί τινα, the condition, circumstances of any one, Phil. 2:23; of time, about, Mt. 20:3, 5, 6, 9; about, concerning, respecting, touching, Lk. 10:40; 1 Tim. 1:19; 6:21; Tit. 2:7
In the original Greek the word is written: περί
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of peri (G4012) across the King James Bible.
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
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Common questions
Strong's G4012 (peri) is a Greek word that means: pr. of place, (1) gen., about, around; about, concerning, respecting, Mt. 2:8; 11:10; 22:31; Jn. 8:18; Rom. 8:3, et al. freq.; (2) acc., of place, about, around, round about, Mt. 3:4; Mk. 3:34; Lk. 13... It appears 303 times in the King James Bible.
The word peri (G4012) appears 303 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4012 is peri, a Greek word defined as: pr. of place, (1) gen., about, around; about, concerning, respecting, Mt. 2:8; 11:10; 22:31; Jn. 8:18; Rom. 8:3, et al. freq.; (2) acc., of place, abo. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
peri is a Greek word found in the New Testament.