ΠΕΡΙΠΟΙΗΣΙΣ
Peripoiesis, a word that in classical antiquity signified "care, preservation, acquisition," takes on a deeper theological dimension in Christian literature: it refers to the people God acquired for Himself, His "special possession." Its lexarithmos (773) suggests the fullness of divine providence and God's role as owner and protector, as well as the perfection of the relationship He seeks with believers.
REPORT ERRORDefinition
According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, the primary meaning of peripoiesis is "preservation, maintenance, care," as well as "acquisition, gain." In classical Greek, the word is used to describe diligent care for something, such as the cultivation of the body or land, or the preservation of health. It appears in authors like Xenophon and Thucydides, where it denotes careful management and safeguarding.
The meaning of the word evolves significantly in the Septuagint (LXX), where it is used to translate Hebrew terms referring to God's "special possession" or "treasured people" (לְסְגֻלָּה, segullah). This theological usage emphasizes God's exclusive relationship with and particular care for His people, as seen in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 7:6.
In the New Testament, peripoiesis retains and strengthens this theological dimension. In the Epistle to the Ephesians 1:14, it refers to "the redemption of God's own possession" (ἀπολύτρωσιν τῆς περιποιήσεως), implying the complete liberation and ultimate acquisition of believers by God as His inheritance. 1 Peter 2:9 emphatically uses it to describe Christians as "a people for his own possession" (λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν), meaning a people belonging exclusively to God, whom He has acquired and preserves with special care and love.
Etymology
Cognate words include the basic verb poieō ("to make, to create"), from which many nouns are derived, such as poiesis ("creation, act") and poiētēs ("creator"). The addition of the prefix peri- to other verbs or nouns of the poieō root creates words expressing diligence, appropriation, or excessive preoccupation, such as the adjective periergos ("diligent, but also meddlesome") and the noun periergeia ("diligence, curiosity").
Main Meanings
- Care, Maintenance, Cultivation — The general sense of careful attention or diligence towards something or someone.
- Preservation, Conservation — The act of safeguarding or keeping something in good condition, such as the preservation of health.
- Acquisition, Gain — The action of obtaining or securing something for oneself, often with the connotation of benefit or profit.
- Possession, Property — That which has been acquired and belongs to someone, one's property or estate.
- God's People as His Possession (LXX) — In the Septuagint translation, it is used to describe Israel as God's "special possession," whom He has chosen and acquired as His own property.
- The Inheritance of Believers (NT) — In the New Testament, it refers to the inheritance of believers, which is God's "possession," i.e., their complete redemption and acquisition by Him.
- Believers as a People Belonging to God (NT) — The most emphatic theological usage, where Christians are characterized as "a people for his own possession" (λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν), meaning a people belonging exclusively to God, whom He has acquired and preserves with special care.
Word Family
poieō (to make, to do) with the prefix peri-
The root poieō is one of the most productive roots in Ancient Greek, meaning "to make, to do, to create." With the addition of the prefix peri- (around, about), the meaning shifts to an action performed "around" something, i.e., care, preservation, or acquisition for oneself. This compound creates words that express diligence and appropriation, extending to the theological concept of the "special possession" people whom God has acquired and maintains with particular care.
Philosophical Journey
While rooted in classical Greek, peripoiesis attains its greatest theological significance in the Septuagint translation and the New Testament, marking a profound evolution in its meaning.
In Ancient Texts
Three significant passages from the New Testament that highlight the theological importance of peripoiesis:
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΠΕΡΙΠΟΙΗΣΙΣ is 773, from the sum of its letter values:
773 is a prime number — indivisible, a quality the Pythagoreans considered the mark of pure essence.
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΠΕΡΙΠΟΙΗΣΙΣ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 773 | Prime number |
| Decade Numerology | 8 | The lexarithmos 773 breaks down to 7+7+3 = 17, and further to 1+7 = 8. The number 8 symbolizes regeneration, completeness beyond the seven-day cycle of creation, new beginnings, and perfection. It is associated with resurrection and eternal life, reflecting God's attribute of acquiring and preserving His people for eternity, leading them into a new existence. |
| Letter Count | 11 | The word peripoiesis consists of 11 letters. The number 11, often linked to transcendence, revelation, and the surpassing of the mundane order, can suggest the revelation of God's special people and the transcendence of the human condition through divine acquisition. |
| Cumulative | 3/70/700 | Units 3 · Tens 70 · Hundreds 700 |
| Odd/Even | Odd | Masculine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | Π-Ε-Ρ-Ι-Π-Ο-Ι-Η-Σ-Ι-Σ | «Pantodynamos En Roi Ischyos Poiei Oikeious Hēmōn Sōtērias Ischys Sophias» (Almighty in the Flow of Power Makes Our Own Salvation's Strength of Wisdom) — an interpretative connection highlighting divine power and wisdom in the act of salvation and the acquisition of His people. |
| Grammatical Groups | 6V · 5C · 0A | The word contains 6 vowels (E, I, O, I, H, I) and 5 consonants (P, R, P, S, S), suggesting harmony and balance in the act of divine acquisition and preservation of His people. |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Sun ☉ / Virgo ♍ | 773 mod 7 = 3 · 773 mod 12 = 5 |
Isopsephic Words (773)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon with the same lexarithmos (773) as peripoiesis, but of different roots, offering interesting comparisons:
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 62 words with lexarithmos 773. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1940.
- Bauer, W., Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W. — A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
- Nestle-Aland. — Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012.
- Rahlfs, A., Hanhart, R. — Septuaginta. 2nd ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2006.
- Kittel, G., Friedrich, G. (eds.) — Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964-1976.
- Xenophon. — Cyropaedia.
- Plato. — Republic.
- Thucydides. — History of the Peloponnesian War.