from περί and βάλλω; to throw all around, i.e. invest (with a palisade or with clothing):--array, cast about, clothe(-d me), put on.
Transliteration:peribállō
Pronunciation:per-ee-bal'-lo
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb G4016 (peribállō) is a compound word formed from the preposition περί (peri), meaning "around" or "about," and the verb βάλλω (ballō), meaning "to throw" or "to cast." The core meaning thus conveys the action of "throwing around" or "casting about." This foundational sense gives rise to two primary semantic ranges in biblical usage:
1. **To Clothe or Array:** This is the most frequent application, where the act of "throwing around" refers to putting on garments, dressing oneself or another, or being arrayed in clothing. It encompasses the idea of enveloping with fabric, signifying appearance, status, identity, or protection.
2. **To Surround or Encircle:** In a more literal sense of "throwing around," it can describe the act of encompassing or besieging, as in throwing a wall or palisade around a city. This usage emphasizes the act of enclosing or entrapping.
Both usages share the common thread of encompassing or enveloping, whether with material (clothing) or physical structures (siege works).
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
G4016 appears numerous times in the New Testament, with its usage primarily falling into the "to clothe" category, though the "to surround" meaning is also significant.
1. **Clothing (Literal and Symbolic):**
* **Jesus' Mockery and Robes:** [[Matthew 27:28]], [[Mark 15:17]], and [[Luke 23:11]] describe soldiers περιβάλλω-ing Jesus with a scarlet or purple robe as an act of derision, highlighting His humiliation. This contrasts sharply with His true divine kingship.
* **John the Baptist's Attire:** [[Mark 1:6]] notes John the Baptist was περιβάλλω-ed with camel's hair and a leather belt, emphasizing his ascetic lifestyle and prophetic identity, reminiscent of Elijah.
* **The Rich Man's Splendor:** In the parable of Lazarus, [[Luke 16:19]] states the rich man was περιβάλλω-ed in purple and fine linen, signifying his earthly wealth and luxury, which stood in stark contrast to his spiritual poverty.
* **Heavenly Beings and the Redeemed (Revelation):** The book of Revelation frequently uses G4016 to describe the attire of heavenly beings and the redeemed, often in white robes:
* Angels: [[Mark 16:5]] describes a young man περιβάλλω-ed in a white robe at Jesus' tomb, signifying his angelic nature.
* Elders: [[Revelation 4:4]] depicts the twenty-four elders περιβάλλω-ed in white garments, symbolizing their priestly purity and royal authority.
* The Multitude: [[Revelation 7:9]] and [[Revelation 7:13]] show the great multitude from every nation περιβάλλω-ed in white robes, symbolizing their salvation, purification through Christ's blood, and victory.
* Christ and His Heavenly Army: [[Revelation 19:14]] describes the armies of heaven following Christ, περιβάλλω-ed in fine linen, white and pure, signifying their righteousness and participation in Christ's triumph.
* Exhortation to Churches: [[Revelation 3:5]] promises that those who overcome will be περιβάλλω-ed in white garments, linking spiritual victory with a changed identity. [[Revelation 3:18]] admonishes the Laodiceans to buy white garments from Christ to περιβάλλω themselves, emphasizing the need for true spiritual wealth and righteousness rather than their self-perceived material riches.
* Symbolic Figures: [[Revelation 12:1]] describes the woman περιβάλλω-ed with the sun, a powerful cosmic image of divine glory and protection. [[Revelation 15:6]] speaks of the seven angels coming out of the temple, περιβάλλω-ed in pure, bright linen, underscoring their sacred task.
2. **Surrounding/Encompassing (Siege):**
* **Jerusalem's Destruction:** In [[Luke 19:43]], Jesus prophesies that Jerusalem's enemies will περιβάλλω her with a barricade (or "palisade"), signifying a complete encirclement and siege leading to its destruction. This is a powerful image of impending judgment and the fulfillment of prophecy.
The diverse contexts reveal G4016 as a versatile verb that can convey both literal physical actions and profound theological truths, particularly concerning identity, status, purity, and divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of G4016 connects it to several related Greek words and theological concepts:
* **`{{G1746}}` (endúō):** "to put on, clothe." This verb is often used interchangeably with G4016 when referring to the act of clothing, though G4016 might carry a slightly stronger emphasis on the act of *casting around* or *enveloping*. For instance, [[Romans 13:14]] uses `{{G1746}}` for "put on the Lord Jesus Christ," a concept very similar to being περιβάλλω-ed with white robes in Revelation.
* **`{{G2440}}` (himátion):** "garment, cloak." This refers to the article of clothing itself.
* **`{{G4749}}` (stolē):** "robe, long garment." Often used for ceremonial or formal robes.
* **`{{G2066}}` (esthēs):** "clothing, apparel." A general term for garments.
Theologically, G4016 is closely linked to:
* **Righteousness (`{{G1343}}` dikaiosýnē):** The white robes in Revelation are often interpreted as symbolic of the righteousness of the saints, given by Christ.
* **Purity (`{{G2513}}` katharós):** The "pure, bright linen" signifies ceremonial and moral purity.
* **Salvation (`{{G4991}}` sōtēría):** Being clothed in white garments is a sign of having received salvation and victory over sin and death.
* **Humility (`{{G5012}}` tapeinophrosynē):** While G4016 is not used in [[1 Peter 5:5]], the concept of "clothing yourselves with humility" (`{{G1746}}`) illustrates the metaphorical use of garments for spiritual virtues.
* **Glory (`{{G1391}}` doxa):** The clothing of heavenly beings and the woman in [[Revelation 12:1]] signifies divine splendor and majesty.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of G4016 is multifaceted, encompassing themes of identity, transformation, divine judgment, and eschatological hope.
1. **Identity and Transformation:** The act of being περιβάλλω-ed with certain garments is profoundly symbolic of a change in identity or status. For the redeemed in Revelation, being clothed in white robes signifies their new identity in Christ, purified by His blood, and declared righteous. It speaks to a spiritual transformation from sin and death to life and purity, marking them as belonging to God.
2. **Divine Purity and Presence:** The consistent depiction of heavenly beings (angels, elders) in white or bright garments underscores their inherent purity and the sanctity of God's presence. This visual motif emphasizes the holiness required to stand before the Almighty.
3. **Judgment and Warning:** The use of G4016 in [[Luke 19:43]] concerning Jerusalem's encirclement serves as a stark warning of divine judgment. It illustrates the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, where a city is completely encompassed by its fate. This highlights God's sovereign control over history and prophecy.
4. **Spiritual Garments vs. Worldly Appearance:** The contrast between the rich man's earthly splendor ([[Luke 16:19]]) and the spiritual poverty of the Laodicean church ([[Revelation 3:18]]) underscores that outward appearance or material wealth is insignificant compared to the spiritual "clothing" of righteousness and true faith that comes from Christ.
5. **Christ's Humiliation and Ultimate Triumph:** The journey of Christ being περιβάλλω-ed with robes of mockery during His passion, only for His heavenly armies to be περιβάλλω-ed in glorious, pure linen at His return ([[Revelation 19:14]]), powerfully illustrates the trajectory from His earthly humiliation to His ultimate cosmic triumph and glory.
### Summary
G4016 (peribállō) is a Greek verb meaning "to throw around," which extends semantically to "to clothe or array" and "to surround or encircle." In the New Testament, its primary usage is to describe the act of clothing, often with profound symbolic meaning. It depicts literal garments, such as those worn by Jesus during His passion or by John the Baptist, but more significantly, it portrays spiritual "garments" like the white robes of the redeemed and heavenly beings in Revelation. These spiritual clothes symbolize righteousness, purity, salvation, and a new identity in Christ. The word also vividly describes the physical encirclement of Jerusalem, signifying divine judgment and the fulfillment of prophecy. G4016 thus serves as a rich term that conveys both physical actions and deep theological truths concerning transformation, divine nature, and God's sovereign plan.
TRV