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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 K5DVN7asWEhrCSjYMdiCb6IltiGcyesSmqpvAT/SCBmlR7YmL2zXHLSOIi+JJj/i
 MlBoB2s03wel8s9lkIpNzQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-015080.txt : 20030723
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-015080.hdr.sgml : 20030723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030723140757
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-015080
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030714
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030723

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GREIF INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000043920
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAPERBOARD CONTAINERS & BOXES [2650]
		IRS NUMBER:				314388903
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		425 WINTER ROAD
		CITY:			DELAWARE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7405496000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		425 WINTER ROAD
		CITY:			DELAWARE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43015

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREIF BROTHERS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREIF BROTHERS COOPERAGE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19690820

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEMPSEY NAOMI C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219092

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00566
		FILM NUMBER:		03797996

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		782 WEST ORANGE ROAD
		CITY:			DELAWARE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7405486077

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		782 WEST ORANGE ROAD
		CITY:			DELAWARE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43015
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd13858.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-14</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000043920</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREIF INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GEF,GEF.B</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219092</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEMPSEY NAOMI C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-14</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>5375904</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">The reporting person died on July 14, 2003.  At the time of her death, all of the reporting person&apos;s shares of Class B Common Stock of Greif, Inc. was owned by the Naomi C. Dempsey Trust (the &quot;NCD Trust&quot;).  During her lifetime, the reporting person was the trustee of, and retained the right to revoke, the NCD Trust.  Therefore, the reporting person reported these shares as being directly owned by her.  At Ms. Dempsey&apos;s death, Michael H. Dempsey automatically became the successor trustee of the NCD Trust.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>The reporting person is deceased, and no executor has been, or will be, appointed for her estate.  Therefore, no person has authority to sign this Form 4.</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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