"to be over and above, to be superfluous, Mt. 14:20; Mk. 12:44; Lk. 21:4; to exist in full quantity, to abound, be abundant, Rom. 5:15; 2 Cor. 1:5; to increase, be augmented, Acts 16:5; to be advanced, be rendered more prominent, Rom. 3:7; of persons, to be abundantly gifted, rich..."
Definition and meaning
to be over and above, to be superfluous, Mt. 14:20; Mk. 12:44; Lk. 21:4; to exist in full quantity, to abound, be abundant, Rom. 5:15; 2 Cor. 1:5; to increase, be augmented, Acts 16:5; to be advanced, be rendered more prominent, Rom. 3:7; of persons, to be abundantly gifted, richly furnished, abound, Lk. 15:17; Rom. 15:13; 1 Cor. 14:12; 2 Cor. 8:7; to be possessed of a full sufficiency, Phil. 4:12, 18; to abound in performance, 1 Cor. 15:58; to be a gainer, 1 Cor. 8:8; in NT trans., to cause to be abundant, 2 Cor. 4:15; 9:8; Eph. 1:8; to cause to be abundantly furnished, cause to abound, 1 Thess. 3:12; pass. to be gifted with abundance, Mt. 13:12; 25:29
In the original Greek the word is written: περισσεύω
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 perisseuo (G4052) across the King James Bible.
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
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Common questions
Strong's G4052 (perisseuo) is a Greek word that means: to be over and above, to be superfluous, Mt. 14:20; Mk. 12:44; Lk. 21:4; to exist in full quantity, to abound, be abundant, Rom. 5:15; 2 Cor. 1:5; to increase, be augmented, Acts 16:5; to be advanced,... It appears 35 times in the King James Bible.
The word perisseuo (G4052) appears 35 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4052 is perisseuo, a Greek word defined as: to be over and above, to be superfluous, Mt. 14:20; Mk. 12:44; Lk. 21:4; to exist in full quantity, to abound, be abundant, Rom. 5:15; 2 Cor. 1:5; to . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
perisseuo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.