Greek word · G4028

περικαλύπτω

perikalyptō

to cover

To cover all round, to wrap or veil. Used of covering the head or face, and in the Septuagint of overlaying objects (e.g. the ark covered with gold, Exod 28:20 area usage) or covering with cloth.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

περι-καλύπτω

[in LXX for כָּסָה pi., שָׁבַץ pu., etc. ;]

to cover around, cover up or over. with accusative, Mark 14:65, Luke 22:64; pass., before χρυσίῳ, Hebrews 9:4.†

(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 Mark 14:65

Range of meaning

To cover all round, to wrap or veil. Used of covering the head or face, and in the Septuagint of overlaying objects (e.g. the ark covered with gold, Exod 28:20 area usage) or covering with cloth.

Against the English

BSB and NIV say “blindfolded,” which shows the purpose. KJV, WEB and YLT keep the literal “cover his face.” Either way, the point is that Jesus could not see who hit him.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 22:64 uses the same verb (perikalypsantes) and makes the game explicit: “Who is it that struck you?” In the Greek world, covering the head of a condemned man had parallels. Haman's face is covered once he is doomed (Esther 7:8), and Roman ritual for executions included veiling the head (Livy 1.26, caput obnubito). Whether either is in view here is debated.

Where it appears

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 14:65 περικαλύπτειν to cover up

    Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.

    Here: To wrap something all the way round the head or face, so a blindfold or a cloth over the head. It sets up the mocking test that follows.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 22:64 περικαλύψαντες having blindfolded

    They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?”

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 9:4 περικεκαλυμμένην covered around

    containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

    Here: A perfect participle, meaning 'covered and remaining covered'. It describes the ark's permanent gold overlay.

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