"lit., a compass, circumference, contents; fig., a section, a portion of Scripture, Acts 8:32*"
Definition and meaning
lit., a compass, circumference, contents; fig., a section, a portion of Scripture, Acts 8:32*
In the original Greek the word is written: περιοχή
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 perioche (G4042) across the King James Bible.
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
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Common questions
Strong's G4042 (perioche) is a Greek word that means: lit., a compass, circumference, contents; fig., a section, a portion of Scripture, Acts 8:32* It appears 1 times in the King James Bible.
The word perioche (G4042) appears 1 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4042 is perioche, a Greek word defined as: lit., a compass, circumference, contents; fig., a section, a portion of Scripture, Acts 8:32*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
perioche is a Greek word found in the New Testament.