verb
perisseuamō
Strong’sG4052
I exceed, am left over
stem perisseu-39 times in the New Testamentin 12 of 27 books21 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
The word describes something being left over or remaining in surplus beyond what was needed or expected — for example, food remaining after everyone had eaten their fill 134. Strong's and Dodson also gloss it simply as "left over" or "remain" 24.
Closely related, it means to abound, be abundant, or be in plentiful supply, said of things such as grace, joy, or wealth that exist in great quantity, and of persons who have more than enough of something 1234.
Of persons it can also mean to be superior, to excel, or to do better than others, sometimes with a sense of surpassing a standard or another person 13.
In addition, later Greek uses the word transitively, to make something abound or to cause someone to excel — that is, to produce abundance in someone or something, rather than simply possessing it 123.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
περισσεύω
(< περισσός), [in LXX: I Ki 2:33 (מַרְבִּית), I Ki 2:36, Ec 3:19 (יתר ni., יוׄתֵר), To 4:16, Si 10:27 11:12 19:24, 30:38 (33:29), I Mac 3:30*;]
SYN.: πλεονάζω.
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4052 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidper-is-syoo'-o
to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also (transitively) to cause to superabound or excel
Fromfrom G4053;
King James(make, more) abound, (have, have more) abundance (be more) abundant, be the better, enough and to spare, exceed, excel, increase, be left, redound, remain (over and above).
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Attic dialect περιττεύω, imperfect ἐπερίσσευον (περιέσσευον is condemned by Refs 2nd c.AD+, (περισσός) to be over and above the number, μύριοί εἰσιν ἀριθμόν.., εἷς δὲ π. Refs 8th c.BC+; περιττεύσουσιν ἡμῶν οἱ πολέμιοι the enemy will go beyond us, outflank us, Refs 5th c.BC+
II to be more than enough, remain over, τἀρκοῦντα καὶ περιττεύοντα Refs; τὸ π. [ἀργύριον] Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ περιττεύουσα τροφή NT+4th c.BC+; τοσοῦτον τῷ Περικλεῖ ἐπερίσσευσε, κτλ. such abundance of reason had Pericles for his belief, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2 in bad sense, to be superfluous, τὰ περισσεύοντα τῶν λόγων Refs 5th c.BC+; ἵν᾽ ἐμοὶ περιττεύῃ, i. e. that I may be over-rich, Refs 2nd c.AD+
III of persons, abound in, χορηγίᾳ, opposed to ἐλλείπω, NT+2nd c.BC+:—middle, with genitive, περισσεύονται ἄρτων have more than enough of.., NT
III.2 to be superior, π. παρά τινα to be better than.., LXX; ὑπέρ τιναLXX; be better, have the advantage, NT; π. μᾶλλον abound more and more, i.e. in Christian graces, NTmiddle, περισσευόμεθα, opposed to ὑστερούμεθα, NT
IV causal, make to abound, πᾶσαν χάριν π. NT:—passive, to be made to abound, NT
IV.2 of Time, π. τὰς ὥρας make them longer, Refs 2nd c.AD+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
9 rarer renderings are not shown; every occurrence below carries the English it was given there.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| perisseuamōπερισσεύω | happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular | have an abundance | 1× |
| perisseuatōπερισσεύει | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | abound | 3× |
| perisseuanōπερισσεύομεν | happening now · wepresent active indicative 1st person plural | better | 1× |
| perisseuavōπερισσεύετε | happening now · yepresent active indicative 2nd person plural | excel | 1× |
| perisseuolōπερισσεύονται | happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | have more than enough | 1× |
| perisseualeἐπερίσσευον | was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural | increased | 1× |
| perisseuitiπερισσευθήσεται | will happen · he/she/itfuture passive indicative 3rd person singular | have an abundance | 2× |
| perisseuataἐπερίσσευσεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | abounds | 4× |
| perisseualaἐπερίσσευσαν | happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural | left over | 1× |
| perisseuateiōπερισσεύῃ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active subjunctive 3rd person singular | abound | 2× |
| perisseuaveiōπερισσεύητε | happening now · yepresent active subjunctive 2nd person plural | excel | 4× |
| perisseuateiaπερισσεύσῃ | happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular | exceeds | 2× |
| perisseuatoiaπερισσεύσαι | happened · he/she/itaorist active optative 3rd person singular | abound | 1× |
| perisseuarōπερισσεύειν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | abound | 5× |
| perisseuaraπερισσεῦσαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | make … abound | 1× |
| perisseuarōntasπερισσεύουσα | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular feminine | overflowing | 1× |
| perisseuarōntemπερισσεῦον | happening now · objectpresent active participle direct singular neuter | left over | 2× |
| perisseuarōnteuπερισσεύοντος | happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive singular neuter | abundance | 2× |
| perisseuarōntoisπερισσεύοντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | abounding | 2× |
| perisseuarantemπερισσεῦσαν | happened · subjectaorist active participle direct singular neuter | left over | 1× |
| perisseuaranteimπερισσεύσαντα | happened · objectaorist active participle direct plural neuter | left over | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 15 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | perisseuamō1×περισσεύω | perisseuame | perisseuami | perisseuama | perisseuamē | perisseuamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuasō | perisseuase | perisseuasi | perisseuasa | perisseuasē | perisseuaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuatō3×περισσεύει | perisseuate | perisseuati | perisseuata4×ἐπερίσσευσεν | perisseuatē | perisseuatelē |
| we 1st person plural | perisseuanō1×περισσεύομεν | perisseuane | perisseuani | perisseuana | perisseuanē | perisseuanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuavō1×περισσεύετε | perisseuave | perisseuavi | perisseuava | perisseuavē | perisseuavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseualō | perisseuale1×ἐπερίσσευον | perisseuali | perisseuala1×ἐπερίσσευσαν | perisseualē | perisseualelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | perisseuomō | perisseuome | perisseuomē | perisseuomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuosō | perisseuose | perisseuosē | perisseuoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuotō | perisseuote | perisseuotē | perisseuotelē |
| we 1st person plural | perisseuonō | perisseuone | perisseuonē | perisseuonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuovō | perisseuove | perisseuovē | perisseuovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseuolō1×περισσεύονται | perisseuole | perisseuolē | perisseuolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | perisseuimi | perisseuima |
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuisi | perisseuisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuiti2×περισσευθήσεται | perisseuita |
| we 1st person plural | perisseuini | perisseuina |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuivi | perisseuiva |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseuili | perisseuila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 8 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | perisseuameiō | perisseuameia | perisseuameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuaseiō | perisseuaseia | perisseuaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuateiō2×περισσεύῃ | perisseuateia2×περισσεύσῃ | perisseuateiē |
| we 1st person plural | perisseuaneiō | perisseuaneia | perisseuaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuaveiō4×περισσεύητε | perisseuaveia | perisseuaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseualeiō | perisseualeia | perisseualeiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | perisseuomeiō | perisseuomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuoseiō | perisseuoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuoteiō | perisseuoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | perisseuoneiō | perisseuoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuoveiō | perisseuoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseuoleiō | perisseuoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | perisseuimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuiseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuiteia |
| we 1st person plural | perisseuineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuiveia |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseuileia |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuasōr | perisseuasar | perisseuasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuatōr | perisseuatar | perisseuatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuavōr | perisseuavar | perisseuavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseualōr | perisseualar | perisseualēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuosōr | perisseuosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuotōr | perisseuotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuovōr | perisseuovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseuolōr | perisseuolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuivar |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseuilar |
Wishes — optative mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | perisseuamoiō | perisseuamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuasoiō | perisseuasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuatoiō | perisseuatoia1×περισσεύσαι |
| we 1st person plural | perisseuanoiō | perisseuanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuavoiō | perisseuavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseualoiō | perisseualoia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | perisseuomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | perisseuonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseuoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | perisseuimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | perisseuisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | perisseuitoia |
| we 1st person plural | perisseuinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | perisseuivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | perisseuiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 6 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | perisseuarō5×περισσεύειν | perisseuari | perisseuara1×περισσεῦσαι | perisseuarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | perisseuorō | perisseuorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | perisseuiri | perisseuira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 9 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | perisseuarōntos7× | perisseuarintos | perisseuarantos2× | perisseuarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | perisseuorōntos | perisseuorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | perisseuirintos | perisseuirantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
perisseu is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
39 occurrences, every one of them listed
perisseuamō“have an abundance”happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular1×
Philippians 4:18“have an abundance”apechamō de panteim kai perisseuamō; plēromē decherantos para Epafroditou teim para …… I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are …
perisseuatō“abound”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular3×
2 Corinthians 1:5hoti kathōs perisseuatō teim pathēmeim tou Christou eis nin, …… just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ …
2 Corinthians 1:5… eis nin, houtōs dia tou Christou perisseuatō kai tas paraklēsias nu.… so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
2 Corinthians 3:9“abound”… diakonia tau katakrisiau doxas, polle mallon perisseuatō tas diakonias tau dikaiosunau doxa.… if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!
perisseuanō“better”happening now · wepresent active indicative 1st person plural1×
1 Corinthians 8:8… to theo; oute gar ean esthianeia, perisseuanō, oute ean mē esthianeia, husteronō.… we do not eat, and no better if we do.
perisseuavō“excel”happening now · yepresent active indicative 2nd person plural1×
2 Corinthians 8:7alla hōsper en pante perisseuavō, pistia kai logo kai gnōsia kai …But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech …
perisseuolō“have more than enough”happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Luke 15:17“have more than enough”… fēate; Posois misthiois tou patrou mu perisseuolō artoiu, mis de lima hōde apolomō;… his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, but here I am, starving …
perisseuale“increased”was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural1×
Acts 16:5“increased”… oun ekklēsais stereoole ta pistia kai perisseuale to arithmo kata hēmeran.So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
perisseuiti“have an abundance”will happen · he/she/itfuture passive indicative 3rd person singular2×
Matthew 13:12hotinos gar echatō, dōiti auto kai perisseuiti; hotinos de ouk echatō, kai hem …… be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what …
Matthew 25:29to gar echarōnto panto dōiti kai perisseuiti; tou de mē echarōntou kai hem …… be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not …
perisseuata“abounds”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular4×
Romans 3:7“abounds”… tou theou en te ēme pseusme perisseuata eis tan doxan autou, tinem ēti …However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as …
Romans 5:15“abounded”… anthrōpou Iēsu Christou eis toin polloin perisseuata.… the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!
2 Corinthians 8:2… kai tas kata batheu ptōcheias autoiu perisseuata eis tem ploutem tau haplotau autoiu;… their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
Ephesians 1:8hau perisseuata eis nin en panta sofia kai …that He lavished on us with all wisdom and …
perisseuala“left over”happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural1×
John 6:13… toiu pente artoiu toiu krithinoiu heim perisseuala toi bibrōskarēntoi.… pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
perisseuateiō“abound”happening now · he/she/itpresent active subjunctive 3rd person singular2×
Philippians 1:9… agapas vu ēti mallon kai mallon perisseuateiō en epignōsia kai panta aisthēsia,… my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and …
Philippians 1:26“abound”hina tem kauchēmem vu perisseuateiō en Christo Iēso en mi dia …so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.
perisseuaveiō“excel”happening now · yepresent active subjunctive 2nd person plural4×
1 Corinthians 14:12… tan oikodoman tau ekklēsau zētavōr hina perisseuaveiō.… to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the …
2 Corinthians 8:7… hina kai en houta ta charita perisseuaveiō.… in you — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 9:8… en pante pantote pantan autarkeian echarōntois perisseuaveiō eis pantem ergem agathem;… all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
1 Thessalonians 4:1“progress”… areskarō theo, kathōs kai peripatavō, hina perisseuaveiō mallon.… pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.
perisseuateia“exceeds”happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular2×
Matthew 5:20legamō gar vi hoti ean mē perisseuateia vu tas dikaiosunas polloterem toiu grammatevoiu …… tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees …
2 Corinthians 4:15… pleonazarantas dia toiu polloteroiu tan eucharistian perisseuateia eis tan doxan tou theou.… to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow, to the glory …
perisseuatoia“abound”happened · he/she/itaorist active optative 3rd person singular1×
1 Thessalonians 3:12“abound”vin de tos kurios pleonazatoia kai perisseuatoia ta agapa eis allēloin kai eis …And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else …
perisseuarō“abound”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive5×
Luke 12:15… pantau pleonexiau, hoti ouk en te perisseuarō tino tas zōas autou atō ek …… life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Romans 15:13“abound”… eirēnau en te pisteuarō, eis tem perisseuarō vin en ta elpida en dunamia …… joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the …
Philippians 4:12oidamē kai tapeinorō, oidamē kai perisseuarō; en pante kai en pantei muomē, …… humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I …
Philippians 4:12… muomē, kai chortazorō kai peinarō, kai perisseuarō kai husterorō;… being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need.
1 Thessalonians 4:10“progress”… ta Makedonia. parakalanō de vin, adelfoir, perisseuarō mallon,… brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more
perisseuara“make … abound”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive1×
2 Corinthians 9:8dunatatō de tos theos pantan charitan perisseuara eis vin, hina en pante pantote …And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all …
perisseuarōntas“overflowing”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular feminine1×
2 Corinthians 9:12… teim husterēmeim toiu hagioiu, alla kai perisseuarōntas dia pollaiu eucharistiaiu to theo… of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to …
perisseuarōntem“left over”happening now · objectpresent active participle direct singular neuter2×
Matthew 14:20… pantois kai chortazila, kai airala tem perisseuarōntem teiu klasmeiu dōdeka kofinoin plēroin.… basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Matthew 15:37… esthiala pantois kai chortazila, kai tem perisseuarōntem teiu klasmeiu airala hepta spuridain plērain.… basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
perisseuarōnteu“abundance”happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive singular neuter2×
Mark 12:44“abundance”pantois gar ek teu perisseuarōnteu autoi balala, houtas de ek tau …For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty …
Luke 21:4“abundance”pantois gar houtois ek teu perisseuarōnteu autoi balala eis teim dōreim, houtas …For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she …
perisseuarōntois“abounding”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine2×
1 Corinthians 15:58“abounding”… adelfoir mu agapētoir, hedraiois genovōr, ametakinētois, perisseuarōntois en te erge tou kuriou pantote, …Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you …
Colossians 2:7“abounding”… kai bebaiorōntois ta pistia kathōs didaskiva, perisseuarōntois en eucharistia.… in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
perisseuarantem“left over”happened · subjectaorist active participle direct singular neuter1×
Luke 9:17… kai chortazila pantois, kai airita tem perisseuarantem autoi klasmeiu kofinois dōdeka.… basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
perisseuaranteim“left over”happened · objectaorist active participle direct plural neuter1×
John 6:12… legatō toi mathētoi autou; Sunagavar teim perisseuaranteim klasmeim, hina mē tinem apoleteia.… disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”