UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: surrounding region

Semantic entry: 1.80

Semantic domains: Geographical Objects and Features

Subdomains: Sociopolitical Areas

Definition: an area or region around or near some central or focal point

Notes: In certain contexts, however, περίχωρος may include not only the surrounding region but also the point of reference, for example, τῆς περιχώρου τῶν Γερασηνῶν ‘the Gerasenes and the people living around them’ RV LUK 8:37 · LV LUK 8:37 · Read together LUK 8:37. In a context such as RV MAT 3:5 · LV MAT 3:5 · Read together MAT 3:5, ἡ περίχωρος τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, it is difficult to speak of ‘the area surrounding the Jordan River,’ since a river is not like a city which would constitute a center. Accordingly, one must often translate ἡ περίχωρος τοῦ Ἰορδάνου as ‘the land on both sides of the River Jordan.’