"over careful; officious, a busybody, 1 Tim. 5:13; in NT περίεργα, magic arts, sorcery, Acts 19:19*"
Definition and meaning
over careful; officious, a busybody, 1 Tim. 5:13; in NT περίεργα, magic arts, sorcery, Acts 19:19*
In the original Greek the word is written: περίεργος
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 periergos (G4021) across the King James Bible.
Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
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Common questions
Strong's G4021 (periergos) is a Greek word that means: over careful; officious, a busybody, 1 Tim. 5:13; in NT περίεργα, magic arts, sorcery, Acts 19:19* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word periergos (G4021) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4021 is periergos, a Greek word defined as: over careful; officious, a busybody, 1 Tim. 5:13; in NT περίεργα, magic arts, sorcery, Acts 19:19*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
periergos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.