Quick Definition
πλησίον Adv near, nearby, a neighbor
Strong's Definition
neuter of a derivative of pelas (near); (adverbially) close by; as noun, a neighbor, i.e. fellow (as man, countryman, Christian or friend)
KJV Usage: near, neighbour
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
prep. (with gen.) | παραπλήσιον · παραπλησίως
83.27 · Spacial Positions · At, Beside, Near, Far
quite near, nearby a position quite close to another position, with the possible implication of being contiguous
11.89 · Groups and Classes of Persons and Members of Such Groups and Classes · Socio-Political
neighbor, brother a person who lives close beside others and who thus by implication is a part of a so-called in-group, that is, the group with which an individual identifies both ethnically and culturally It may be that of the three terms γείτων, περίοικος, and πλησίον[b], the last is somewhat broader in meaning. At least πλησίον is used in LUK 10:27 in a somewhat extended sense of ‘fellow man,’ while ἀδελφός[e] probably suggests a more intimate or close relationship.
The translation of πλησίον[b] as a singular in LUK 10:27 may pose a problem in understanding, since the singular may be understood in a specific rather than in a generic sense, that is to say, ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ might immediately give rise to the question ‘which neighbor?’ Therefore, one must often translate LUK 10:27 as ‘you must love your neighbors as you love yourselves’ or ‘you must love other people as you love yourselves.’
MAT 5:43 · MAT 19:19 · MAT 22:39 · MRK 12:31 · MRK 12:33 · LUK 10:27 · LUK 10:29 · LUK 10:36 · ACT 7:27 · ROM 13:9 · ROM 13:10 · ROM 15:2 · GAL 5:14 · EPH 4:25 · JAS 2:8 · JAS 4:12
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
πλησίον, (neut. of the adj. πλησίος, -a, -ov), adv., fr. Hom. down, near: with a gen. of place [ef. W. § 54, 6], Jn. iv. 5; with the article, ὁ πλησίον se. dv [ef. B. § 125, 10; W. 24] (Sept. very often for 1,; sometimes for nny), prop. Lat. proximus (so Vulg. in the N.T.), a neighbor ; i. 6. a. friend: Mt. v. 43. b. any other person, and where two are concerned the other (thy fellow-man, thy neighbor) i. e., acc. to the O. T. and Jewish conception, a member of the Hebrew race and commonwealth: Acts vii. 27; and Ree. in Heb. viii. 11; ace. to the teaching of Christ, any other man irrespective of race or religion with whom we live or whom we chance to meet (which idea is clearly brought out in the parable Lk. x. 25-37): Mt. xix. 19; xxii. 39; Mk. xii. 31, 33; Lk. x. 27; Ro. xiii. 9, 10; [xv. 2]; Gal. v. 14; Eph. iv. 25; Jas. ii. 8 and L T Tr WH in iv. 12 ; πλησίον εἶναί τινος, to be near one [one’s neighbor], i.e. in a pass. sense, worthy to be regarded as a friend and companion, Lk. x. 29; actively, to perform the offices of a friend and companion, ibid. 36; [on the om. of the art. in the last two exx. see B. § 129, 11; W.§19 fin.].
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
πλησίον plēsion 17x
can function as an improper prep., near, near by, Jn. 4:5; ὁ πλησίον, a neighbor, Mt. 19:19; Rom. 15:2; a friendly neighbor, Mt. 5:43
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
πλησίος, -α, -ον
(< πέλας, near),
near, close by, neighbouring. As adv., πλησίον = πέλας, near: c. gen., Jo 4:5; c. art., ὁ π., one's neighbour [in LXX chiefly for רֵעַ]: Lk 10:29, 36, Ac 7:27, Ro 13:10 15:2, Eph 4:25, Ja 4:12; ἀγαπήσεις τὸν π. σου ὡς σεαυτόν (Le 19:18, LXX), Mt 5:43 19:19 22:39, Mk 12:31, 33, Lk 10:27, Ro 13:9, Ga 5:14, Ja 2:8 (on the various senses of ὁ π. in OT, NT, v. DB, iii, 511; DCC, ii, 240 f.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
πλησίον, as adverb = ‘“‘near”’ (Jn 4°): P Oxy III. 4945) (A.D. 156) πλησίον Tod τάφου μου, 20. VIII. 1165% (vi/A.D.) κτήματι πλησίον τοῦ Mippukos, ‘‘an estate near Murmux.’’ For the adj. πλησίος cf. OG/S 736° (ii/i B.c.) (= Fayim Towns p- 48) παρὰ τῶν πλησίων ἱερῶν.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
πλησίον (plēsion) — near/neighbor. πλήσι-ος, α, ον, Boeotian dialect πλᾱτίος [Refs]: (πέλας, πελάζω):— near, close to, with genitive, πλησίοι ἀλλήλων variant in [Refs 8th c.BC+]
2. with dative, πλησίοι ἀλλήλοισι [Refs 8th c.BC+]
3. absolutely, near, neighbouring, πλησίαι αἵ γ᾽ ἥσθην [Refs 8th c.BC+]: substantive, neighbour, ἰδὼν ἐς π. ἄλλον [Refs 8th c.BC+]
II. adverb πλησίον, Aeolic dialect πλάσιον [ᾱ] [Refs 7th c.BC+]; Doric dialect πλᾱτίον: ={πέλας}, near, hard by, with genitive, τὰ μὲν κατέθεντ᾽ ἐπὶ γαίῃ π. ἀλλήλων [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κεῖται στενωποῦ π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. with the Article, ὁ πλησίον (i.e. ὤν) one's neighbour, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; Doric dialect, ὁ πλατίον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ π. παράδεισος, αἱ π. κῶμαι, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. superlative -αίτατος [Refs] adverb -αιτέρω[Refs 5th c.BC+]; -αίτερον [Refs 5th c.BC+]: superlative -αίτατα[Refs]: later comparative -έστερος[Refs 6th c.AD+]. adverb -έστερον[LXX+4th c.AD+]—The adjective is poetry and Ionic dialect; in Attic dialect Prose only the adverb is found.