Lexical Definition

‎περιΐστημι‎ periḯstēmi (per-ee-is'-tay-mee) to stand around ^G:V
from ‎περί‎ and ‎ἵστημι‎

avoid, shun, stand by (round about).

• to stand all around, i.e. (near) to be a bystander, or (aloof) to keep away from

Abbott-Smith

περι-ίστημι (Rec. ΐστημι), [in LXX: Jos 6:3 (סבב), II Ki 13:31 (נצב ni.), I Ki 4:16, Ep. Je 37, Jth 5:22, II Mac 14:9*;]
1. to place around.
2. to stand around: Jo 11:42; c. acc. pers., Ac 25:7. Mid. (in late writers), to turn oneself about to avoid, to shun: c. acc. rei, II Ti 2:16, Tit 3:9.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

περιΐστημι,.

in the transitive tenses (with perfect περιέστᾰκα [Refs 5th c.BC+], place round, π. τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__2 bring round, ὁ δῆμος εἰς ἑαυτὸν περιέστησε τὴν πολιτείαν [Refs 5th c.BC+].with; εἰς τοσοῦτον π. τινά, ὥστε.. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; especially into a worse state, εἰς τοῦθ᾽ ἡ τύχη τὰ πράγματα αὐτῶν περιέστησεν ὥστε.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἴκους εἰς πενίαν π. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; convert, εἰς τὸ περιφερὲς [τὸν ἀέρα] [Refs 4th c.BC+]; transfer, π. τὰς ἑαυτοῦ συμφορὰς εἴς τινα [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II in aorist 1 middle, place round oneself, ξυστοφόρων κύκλον [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B passive and middle, with aorist 2 (aorist 1, see.below [Refs]perfect, and pluperfect active:—stand round about, περίστησαν γὰρ ἑταῖροι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κῦμα περιστάθη a wave rose around (Epic dialect aorist passive), [Refs 8th c.BC+]; οἱ περιεστῶτες the bystanders, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.2 with accusative objecti, encircle, surround, χορὸν περιίσταθ᾽ ὅμιλος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; βοῦν δὲ περιστήσαντο (perhaps περίστησάν τε)[Refs 8th c.BC+]; μή πώς με περιστήωσ᾽ ἕνα πολλοί (Epic dialect 3rd.pers. plural subjunctive aorist 2 for -στῶσι) that their numbers surround me not, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__B.3 with dative, περιισταμένους τῇ κλίνῃ [Refs 5th c.BC+]: mostly metaphorically, come round to one, ἡμῖν.. ἀδοξία τὸ πλέον ἢ ἔπαινος περιέστη [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀνάγκη π. τινί, with infinitive, [Refs]circumstances, mostly bad, τὰ περιεστηκότα πράγματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II come round, revolve, κύκλῳ [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of winds, ἐκ τῶν ἀπαρκτίων εἰς θρασκίας [Refs]; of Time, περιισταμένης τῆς ὥρας [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.2 come round to, devolve upon, περιειστήκει ὑποψία ἐς τὸν Ἀλκιβιάδην [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰς ὀλίγους ἡμᾶς περιέστη [ἡ στατίων] [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__B.II.3 of events, come round, turn out, especially for the worse, ἐξ ἀρρωστίης π. τινὶ ἐς ὕδερον [Refs 5th c.BC+] became dropsical, [Refs]; ἐς τοῦτο περιέστη ἡ τύχη fortune was so completely reversed, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοὐναντίον περιέστη αὐτῷ it turned out quite contrary for him, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φιλεῖ ἐς τύχας τὰ πολλὰ περιίστασθαι come to be dependent on chances, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐνταῦθα τὰ πράγματα π. ὥστε.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; περιέστηκεν εἰς τοῦτο ὥστε.. [Refs 4th c.BC+]: with infinitive, περιειστήκει τοῖς βοηθείας δεήσεσθαι δοκοῦσιν αὐτοὺς βοηθεῖν ἑτέροις [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with participle, περιέστηκεν ἡ πρότερον σωφροσύνη νῦν ἀβουλία φαινομένη [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.III later, go round so as to avoid, shun, τὰς ἁμαρτίας [Refs 5th c.BC+] (though he censures this usage, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; τὸ μοναρχικόν[NT+2nd c.AD+]; π. μὴ.. to be afraid lest.., [Refs 1st c.AD+]; sneak round, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; circumvent, τοὺς λογιστάς Mitteis [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—so in passive, περιεσταμένης τῆς λογοθεσίας [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: 2Tim.2.16}