### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **periménō**, represented by `{{G4037}}`, is defined as to stay around, or to await. It is formed from the words περί and μένω. Its usage is highly specific, appearing only **1 times** across **1 unique verses** in the entire Bible, highlighting a singular, pivotal moment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{G4037}}` is found in [[Acts 1:4]]. In this passage, the resurrected Jesus is "assembled together" with his disciples and gives them a command. He instructs them not to "depart from Jerusalem" but instead to **wait for** the promise of the Father. This act of waiting is therefore not passive, but a direct response to a specific divine instruction given in the crucial period before the full establishment of the early church.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of this command in [[Acts 1:4]] is illuminated by several related words used in the same verse:
* `{{G4871}}` **synalízō** (to accumulate, i.e. convene): This term, meaning to "assemble together," establishes the setting where the disciples received the command, emphasizing their shared experience.
* `{{G3853}}` **parangéllō** (to transmit a message, i.e. to enjoin): This word for "commanded" underscores that waiting was not a suggestion but a direct and authoritative order from Jesus.
* `{{G5563}}` **chōrízō** (to place room between, i.e. part): Used as "depart," this word specifies the negative instruction—what the disciples were forbidden from doing—which gives purpose to their waiting.
* `{{G1860}}` **epangelía** (an announcement; especially a divine assurance of good): This is the object of their waiting: "the promise." The word signifies a divine assurance from the Father, which is elsewhere identified as the promise of the Spirit [[Galatians 3:14]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G4037}}` is significant despite its rarity, focusing on the nature of faith and obedience.
* **Awaiting Divine Fulfillment:** The act of waiting is directly tied to a "promise" `{{G1860}}` from God. This shows that biblical waiting is not an empty exercise but a confident expectation based on a divine assurance, requiring patience until God acts [[Hebrews 10:36]].
* **Obedience in Stillness:** The command to **wait for** `{{G4037}}` is paired with the command to "not depart" `{{G5563}}`. This demonstrates that obedience to God can involve intentional stillness and remaining in a specific place or state until His purposes unfold.
* **A Prerequisite for Power:** In the narrative of Acts, this commanded waiting in Jerusalem is the immediate precursor to the disciples receiving the "promise of the Father" [[Acts 1:4]]. The waiting itself is a necessary step of faith and preparation.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G4037}}` **periménō**, while appearing only once, captures a foundational principle of the Christian faith. Its use in [[Acts 1:4]] transforms "waiting" from a passive state into a dynamic act of obedience and expectant faith. It illustrates a crucial moment where believers are commanded to remain in a specific state of anticipation for the fulfillment of a divine promise from the Father, setting the stage for the subsequent work of God.
TRV