Greek word · G4066

περίχωρος

perichōros

surrounding region

Literally 'the land round about': the surrounding countryside or neighbourhood. In the LXX it is used of the Jordan valley plain (Gen 13:10).

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

περί-χωρος, -ον

[in LXX: chiefly (ἡ π.) for כִּכָּר ;]

round about, neighbouring (Dem., Plut., al.). In LXX and NT, as subst., ἡ π. (sc. γῆ), the region round about: Matthew 14:35, Mark 1:28, Luke 4:14, 37 7:17 8:37, Acts 14:6; ἡ π. τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, Luke 3:3; by meton. for the people of the same region, Matthew 3:5.†

(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 7:17

Range of meaning

Literally 'the land round about': the surrounding countryside or neighbourhood. In the LXX it is used of the Jordan valley plain (Gen 13:10).

Against the English

'Region round about' (KJV), 'surrounding region' (BSB/WEB), 'surrounding country(side)' (ESV/NIV/NLT), 'surrounding district' (NASB). They are all accurate.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 3:3 (John preaching in 'all the region around the Jordan'); 4:14, 4:37 (Jesus' fame in the surrounding region); 8:37 (the region of the Gerasenes).

From the study of Matthew 3:5

Range of meaning

Perichōros is 'the surrounding country, the neighbourhood'. With 'of the Jordan' it names the settled land along the Jordan valley, which in this period included Perea on the east bank (ruled by Herod Antipas) as well as the western side.

Against the English

'Region around the Jordan' (BSB, WEB, ESV) and 'region round about Jordan' (KJV) are accurate. Some paraphrases say 'Jordan Valley', which is close but loses the possible echo of the Genesis phrase.

Used elsewhere in the period

The exact phrase hē perichōros tou Iordanou appears in the LXX of Genesis 13:10–11 for the well-watered Jordan plain that Lot chose (Hebrew kikkar hayyarden, 'the circle/plain of the Jordan'). Luke 3:3 says John went 'into all the region around the Jordan'. Matthew adds this third area to Mark's two.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 3:5 περίχωρος region around

    People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.

    Here: Literally 'the country round about': the settlements along both sides of the Jordan valley. The same phrase in the Greek Old Testament names the Jordan plain of Genesis 13.

  2. Matthew 14:35 περίχωρον surrounding region

    And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 1:28 περίχωρον surrounding region

    And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.

Luke · 5

  1. Luke 3:3 περίχωρον surrounding region

    He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

    Here: The country lying around the river, on both banks. In the Greek Old Testament, 'the whole region of the Jordan' is the well-watered plain that Lot chose (Genesis 13:10–11), so the phrase was a recognised name for the lower Jordan valley.

  2. Luke 4:14 περιχώρου surrounding region

    Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region.

  3. Luke 4:37 περιχώρου.¶ surrounding region.

    And the news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding region.

  4. Luke 7:17 περιχώρῳ.¶ surrounding region.

    And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding region.

    Here: The lands around Jewish territory. This prepares for v.18, where the news reaches John the Baptist in prison outside Galilee proper.

  5. Luke 8:37 περιχώρου surrounding region

    Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.

    Here: The countryside and villages around a town. The word widens the request beyond the herdsmen and the nearby town to the whole district.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 14:6 περίχωρον, surrounding region,

    they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,

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