Greek word · G2944

κυκλόω

kykloō

to surround

To move around something, to encircle, to surround. Used of people crowding around someone, and very often of armies surrounding a city or a camp, that is, besieging it.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κυκλόω, -ῶ

(κύκλος), [in LXX chiefly for סָבַב ;]

1. to move in a circle, revolve.

2. to surround, encircle: with accusative of person(s), John 10:24 (WH, txt., cf. -εύω), Acts 14:20; pass., Luke 21:20, Hebrews 11:30 (cf. περι-κυκλόω).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 21:20

Range of meaning

To move around something, to encircle, to surround. Used of people crowding around someone, and very often of armies surrounding a city or a camp, that is, besieging it.

Against the English

"Surrounded" (BSB, ESV, WEB) can sound like an accomplished fact. The Greek present participle pictures the encircling under way ("being surrounded", as NIV has it). KJV's "compassed" is accurate but archaic.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint: 2 Kgs 6:14 (the Aramean army surrounds Dothan); Ps 117(118):10–12 ("all nations surrounded me"); Ps 21(22):17 ("dogs have surrounded me"). New Testament: Heb 11:30 (Jericho's walls fall after being encircled for seven days); Rev 20:9 (the nations surround "the camp of the saints and the beloved city"). Luke 19:43 uses the compound perikykloō in Jesus' lament over Jerusalem: "your enemies will throw up a palisade around you and encircle you."

From the study of 1 Maccabees 12:13

Range of meaning

Kykloō: to go around, surround, encircle, often with hostile intent, as in besieging a city. Kyklō: 'in a circle', 'round about', used for the surrounding area or neighbours.

Against the English

KJV/Brenton fold the verb into the phrase 'on every side', which keeps the idea of all directions but loses the active picture of enemies closing a ring. WEB 'encompassed' keeps the verb but sounds bookish. None of the English versions brings out that the verse begins and ends with the same 'circle' word.

Used elsewhere in the period

The verb has strong roots in the Septuagint Psalms of distress: 'all the nations surrounded (ekyklōsan) me' (Ps 117[118]:10–12); 'many dogs surrounded (ekyklōsan) me' (Ps 21[22]:17). 'The nations round about (kyklō)' is a stock phrase in 1 Maccabees for Israel's hostile neighbours (1:11; 5:1, 10, 38; 12:53).

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 21:20 κυκλουμένην being encircled

    But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.

    Here: Present passive participle: Jerusalem "being encircled", seen while the ring is still closing. The tense suits the command that follows. There is still time to get out (v.21).

John · 1

  1. John 10:24 ἐκύκλωσαν Encircled

    So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 14:20 κυκλωσάντων When were sorrounding

    But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 11:30 κυκλωθέντα having been encircled

    By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.