περίκειμαιperíkeimai
to lie all around, i.e. inclose, encircle, hamper (literally or figuratively)
Greek (New Testament) · G4029
Meanings
1. to lie round about: μύλος, λίθος (RV, were hanged about), Mark 9:42, Luke 17:2; νεφος μαρτύρων, Hebrews 12:1.
2. to have around one, be clothed with: Acts 28:20; figuratively, ἀσθένειαν, Hebrews 5:2.
Same root
- περίperí · G4012properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period)
- κεῖμαιkeîmai · G2749to lie outstretched (literally or figuratively)
Where it appears
Appears 5 times in the Bible.
- Mark 9:42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.
- Luke 17:2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin.
- Acts 28:20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”
- Hebrews 5:2 And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.
- Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.