περι-σπάω G4049
to distract, drag away; to be overburdened with tasks
This verb means to drag away, distract, or be pulled in different directions. Luke uses it to describe Martha, who 'was distracted' (περιεσπᾶτο) by much serving while Mary sat at Jesus' feet (Luke 10:40). The term conveys being pulled away from what matters by excessive busyness. It captures the tension between activity and attention, between doing and being, in spiritual life.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To be distracted or pulled away by many tasks. Luke's account of Martha's complaint reveals how service can become distraction when it diverts attention from Jesus himself. The multilingual glosses ('was-distracted,' 'estaba-distraída,' 'être-distrait') consistently emphasize being pulled in multiple directions, highlighting Jesus' gentle correction that one thing—attentive presence—is needed above frantic activity. 1×
AR["كانَتْ-مَشْغولَةً"]·ben["ব্যস্ত-ছিলেন"]·DE["περιεσπᾶτο"]·EN["was-distracted"]·FR["être-distrait"]·heb["הָיְתָה-טְרוּדָה"]·HI["व्याकुल-थी"]·ID["sibuk"]·IT["periespato"]·jav["repot"]·KO["분주하였다"]·RU["заботилась"]·ES["estaba-distraída"]·SW["alikuwa-akisumbuka"]·TR["dağılmıştı"]·urd["پریشان-تھی"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
περι-σπάω, future -σπάσωRefs 1st c.BC+:—draw off from around, strip off, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ χλαμύδιον αὑτοῦ π. Refs 1st c.BC+:—middle, strip oneself of, τὴν τιάραν Refs 5th c.BC+ (so also in active, π. τὴν πορφύραν Refs 1st c.AD+ __2 strip bare, περισπάσας ξίφος (Pierson χερὶ σπάσας) Refs 5th c.BC+ __II wheel about, of a general, Refs 2nd c.BC+; intransitive of the troops, Refs; especially wheel…