Breaking Barriers: τετράπους (Strong’s G5074: tetrapous) Reveals God’s Universal Welcome

Strong’s G5074: A compound adjective turned noun meaning “four-footed,” derived from τετρα- (four) and πούς (foot). Used in Peter’s vision to represent clean and unclean animals, symbolizing God’s inclusion of Gentiles in His covenant and the breaking down of ceremonial barriers.

U- Unveiling the Word

τετράπους carries profound theological significance in the New Testament, particularly in the context of Peter’s vision in Acts. This compound word, literally meaning “four-footed,” appears at a pivotal moment when God was breaking down the barriers between Jews and Gentiles. In its primary sense, it refers to quadrupedal animals, but in the context of Peter’s vision, it becomes a powerful symbol of God’s universal welcome. The early church recognized this term as marking a crucial shift in understanding God’s plan for all nations. Today, it continues to remind believers that the Gospel transcends cultural, ethnic, and religious boundaries, calling us to embrace all whom God declares clean.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: τετράπους, tetrapous, /te-TRA-poos/
• Detailed pronunciation: teh-TRAH-poos (emphasis on TRAH)
• Part of Speech: Adjective used as a Noun

Etymology:

• τετρα- (tetra-) – prefix meaning “four”
• πούς (pous) – root word meaning “foot”
• -ς (-s) – nominative singular ending

D – Defining Meanings

• Four-footed animal
• Quadruped
• Four-legged creature

For compound words:
τετρα- (tetra-) indicates the number four, while πούς (pous) specifies feet as the counted feature, creating a term for creatures with four feet.

Translation Options:

• “Four-footed animals” – Most precise and descriptive translation
• “Quadrupeds” – Technical equivalent
• “Four-legged beasts” – More colloquial option

E – Exploring Similar Words

• δίπους (dipous) /DI-poos/ – two-footed, referring to humans. See G1342
• πολύπους (polupous) /po-LY-poos/ – many-footed, referring to insects. See G4183
• πούς (pous) /poos/ – foot, the root word. See G4228

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a Noun:

• Case: Nominative/Accusative
• Number: Singular/Plural
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Third

The word declines as follows:

• Nominative singular: τετράπους
• Genitive singular: τετράποδος
• Dative singular: τετράποδι
• Accusative singular: τετράπουν

Cross-references:

• τετραποδίζω (tetrapodizō) – to walk on four feet

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes τετράπους’s role in Acts as a categorical term for animals in Peter’s vision, noting its significance in the narrative of Gentile inclusion. Thayer’s explores its technical usage in classical Greek for classifying animals. LSJ provides extensive documentation of its scientific use in ancient zoological texts. Vine’s highlights its theological significance in breaking down Jewish-Gentile barriers. Strong’s details its compound structure and literal meaning. Moulton and Milligan demonstrate its common usage in everyday Koine Greek. The synthesis reveals both its practical function in categorizing animals and its crucial role in theological developments regarding clean and unclean distinctions.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“Wherein were all manner of [fourfooted beasts] [τετράπους] of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.” Acts 10:12

Additional References:
Acts 11:6
Romans 1:23

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

τετράπους appears at a crucial moment in Acts when God was revealing His plan for Gentile inclusion in the covenant. Through Peter’s vision, this simple term for four-footed animals became a powerful symbol of God’s universal welcome. The good news of King Jesus breaks down barriers between clean and unclean, showing that His salvation extends to all peoples. This word reminds us that no one is excluded from God’s grace based on cultural or ethnic distinctions, as His kingdom welcomes all who come to Him in faith.

D – Did You Know?

1. The term became important in early Christian debates about food laws and Gentile inclusion.
2. Ancient zoologists used this word as a primary classification for mammals.
3. It appears in early church writings discussing the symbolic meaning of Peter’s vision.

Strong’s G5074: A compound adjective turned noun meaning “four-footed,” derived from τετρα- (four) and πούς (foot). Used in Peter’s vision to represent clean and unclean animals, symbolizing God’s inclusion of Gentiles in His covenant and the breaking down of ceremonial barriers.

Part of speech: Adjective used as a Noun

Tags: animals, vision, Peter, Gentiles, inclusion, clean, unclean, zoology, feet, classification, breaking barriers, universal salvation​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​