περίεργος G4021
meddlesome, overly curious, or involved in matters beyond proper concern; busybody practices
Originally describing someone who takes needless trouble or is excessively inquisitive, this word developed moral overtones. In Acts 19:19, it describes magical arts—practices that meddle in forbidden spiritual realms. In 1 Timothy 5:13, Paul warns about younger widows becoming busybodies, prying into others' affairs. Classical usage ranged from the merely curious to the officious meddler. The NT emphasizes improper curiosity that crosses boundaries, whether into occult practices or private matters.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Describes both magical practices (Acts 19:19) and busybody behavior (1 Tim 5:13). The Ephesian converts burned their books of magic arts—'periergos' practices that sought to manipulate spiritual forces. Paul's pastoral warning about widows uses the same term for those who meddle in others' business. The multilingual split ('magic-arts' vs. 'busybodies') reveals two expressions of the same vice: improper, boundary-crossing curiosity, whether into forbidden spiritual realms or private affairs. 2×
AR["السِّحْرَ", "فُضولِيّاتٍ"]·ben["কৌতূহলী,", "জাদুবিদ্যা"]·DE["neugierig", "περίεργα"]·EN["busybodies", "magic-arts"]·FR["curieux", "περίεργοι"]·heb["הַמַּעֲשִׂים-הַסְּמוּיִים", "חַרְחוּרִיּוֹת"]·HI["जादू-टोना", "जियअसुएए"]·ID["sihir", "usil"]·IT["magia", "periergoi"]·jav["kepo,", "sihir"]·KO["마술을", "참견하는-자들,"]·PT["curiosas-artes", "intrometidas"]·RU["любопытные", "чародейством"]·ES["artes-mágicas", "entrometidas"]·SW["uchawi", "wajishughulisho"]·TR["büyücülük", "meraklı"]·urd["جادو", "فضول"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
περίεργος, ον, taking needless trouble, Refs 5th c.BC+. adverb -γως Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 officious, meddlesome, Refs 5th c.BC+; π. εἰμι I am a busy-body, Refs; περίεργα βλέπειν look curiously at, with accusative, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __3 of an inquiring mind, Refs 4th c.BC+; inquisitive, curious, Refs 2nd c.AD+; π. παιδία Refs 2nd c.AD+; τὸ π. Refs 2nd c.AD+. adverb -γως, ἔχειν Refs 2nd c.AD+ H.:…