Brief Overview of πτέρυξ (Strong’s G4420: pterux)

Strong’s G4420: A feminine noun meaning “wing,” derived from πτερόν (feather, wing). Used literally of birds’ wings and metaphorically in biblical imagery of divine protection and spiritual beings. Particularly significant in Jesus’s lament over Jerusalem and apocalyptic visions.

U- Unveiling the Word

πτέρυξ carries rich theological significance beyond its literal meaning of “wing.” In its New Testament usage, it appears in contexts expressing both divine protection and supernatural beings. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus uses the image of a hen gathering chicks under her wings to express His desired protection over Jerusalem, drawing on the Old Testament imagery of God’s sheltering wings (Psalm 91:4). In Revelation, the word describes the multiple wings of the living creatures, emphasizing their supernatural nature and constant worship. Early church fathers extensively used this imagery to describe both divine protection and angelic worship. Today, it continues to convey powerful messages about God’s protective care and the reality of supernatural worship.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πτέρυξ, pterux, /pter-ooks/
• Detailed pronunciation: PTER-ooks (with ‘p’ pronounced)
• Part of Speech: Noun (feminine)

Etymology:

• Root: πτερόν (pteron) – “feather, wing”
• Suffix: -υξ (-ux) – nominal ending
• Related to Proto-Indo-European *pet- (to fly)
• Basic term for wing in both literal and metaphorical usage

D – Defining Meanings

• Wing of a bird
• Metaphorical covering or protection
• Wing of a supernatural being

For compound words: Not a compound word

Translation Options:

• “Wing” – Most common and versatile translation
• “Protection” – When used metaphorically for divine shelter
• “Pinion” – More poetic translation, especially in protective contexts

E – Exploring Similar Words

• πτερύγιον (pterugion) /pte-roo-gee-on/ – “little wing, extremity” – See G4419
• σκέπη (skepe) /skep-ay/ – “shelter, covering” – See G4649
• πέτομαι (petomai) /pet-om-ahee/ – “to fly” – See G4072

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a feminine noun of the third declension, πτέρυξ exhibits:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular and Plural
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: Third

Examples of morphological changes:

• Nominative: ἡ πτέρυξ (the wing)
• Genitive: τῆς πτέρυγος (of the wing)
• Dative: τῇ πτέρυγι (to/with the wing)
• Accusative: τὴν πτέρυγα (the wing)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes both literal and metaphorical uses, particularly in protective contexts. Thayer’s notes its connection to Old Testament imagery of divine protection. LSJ documents its widespread use in classical literature. Vine’s highlights its theological significance in both protection and worship contexts. Strong’s connects it to the concept of spreading out. Moulton and Milligan cite examples from papyri describing both birds and architectural features. LEH discusses its frequent appearance in the Septuagint’s poetic sections.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings [πτέρυγας], and ye would not!”

Additional References:
Luke 13:34, Revelation 4:8, Revelation 9:9, Revelation 12:14

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

πτέρυξ beautifully illustrates God’s protective love and care for His people. From Jesus’s maternal imagery of gathering Jerusalem’s children to the apocalyptic visions of heavenly beings, this word points to divine protection and supernatural worship. It proclaims the good news that in Christ, we find shelter under God’s wings, protected and nurtured by His unfailing love.

D – Did You Know?

1. Ancient Near Eastern art often depicted deities with protective wings spread over their people.
2. The image of wings in Revelation connects to the cherubim of the Old Testament temple.
3. Early Christian art frequently used wing imagery to represent divine protection.

Strong’s G4420: A feminine noun meaning “wing,” derived from πτερόν (feather, wing). Used literally of birds’ wings and metaphorically in biblical imagery of divine protection and spiritual beings. Particularly significant in Jesus’s lament over Jerusalem and apocalyptic visions.

Part of speech: Noun (feminine)

Tags: wings, divine protection, cherubim, supernatural beings, shelter, heavenly creatures, bird imagery, divine care, apocalyptic imagery, angelic beings, maternal imagery, worship