Brief Overview of Πιλᾶτος (Strong’s G4091: Pilatos)
Strong’s G4091: A proper noun naming Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who presided over Jesus’s trial and crucifixion. In biblical contexts, represents the intersection of Roman political authority with divine purpose, playing a pivotal role in salvation history.
U- Unveiling the Word
Πιλᾶτος (Pilatos) identifies the Roman prefect who governed Judea during Jesus’s ministry and crucifixion. In the New Testament, he appears as both historical figure and theological symbol, representing human authority confronted with divine truth. The early church saw in his actions the fulfillment of prophecy and the paradox of worldly power encountering God’s sovereign plan. Today, his name continues to represent the tension between political expediency and moral truth.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: Πιλᾶτος, Pilatos, pee-lah’-tos
- Detailed pronunciation: pee (as in “pea”) + lah (as in “law”) + tos (as in “toss”)
- Part of Speech: Proper Noun
Etymology:
Latin name Pilatus, possibly related to pilum (javelin) or pileatus (wearing the pileus, a felt cap worn by freed slaves)
D – Defining Meanings
- Pontius Pilate
- Roman governor of Judea
- Judge at Jesus’s trial
- Roman prefect
- Historical figure
Translation Options:
- Pilate – standard English translation
- Pontius Pilate – full formal name
- Pilatus – Latin form
E – Exploring Similar Words
- ἡγεμών (hēgemōn) [hayg-em-ohn’] – governor, his title
- κριτής (kritēs) [kree-tace’] – judge, his role
- ἄρχων (archōn) [ar’-khone] – ruler, general term
R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology
Noun Features:
- Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
- Number: Singular
- Gender: Masculine
- Second Declension
Example forms:
Nominative: Πιλᾶτος
Genitive: Πιλάτου
Dative: Πιλάτῳ
Accusative: Πιλᾶτον
Cross-references:
No direct derivatives in NT
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG emphasizes his historical role. Thayer’s notes his significance in passion narratives. LSJ documents historical references. Vine’s connects him to prophetic fulfillment. Strong’s highlights his role in Jesus’s trial. Moulton and Milligan note contemporary references.
T – Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance:
“And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate [Πιλᾶτος] the governor.” (Matthew 27:2)
Additional References:
Matthew 27:13,17,22,24,58,62,65
Mark 15:1-15
Luke 23:1-24
John 18:28-19:38
Acts 3:13
Acts 4:27
Acts 13:28
1 Timothy 6:13
A – Analyzing Classical Usage
| Author: Work | Text |
|---|---|
| Josephus: Antiquities | “Pilate [Πιλᾶτος], being sent by Tiberius as procurator to Judea.” |
| Tacitus: Annals | “Christ suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Pilate [Πιλᾶτος].” |
| Philo: Embassy | “Pilate [Πιλᾶτος] was of an inflexible and severe disposition.” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
Πιλᾶτος powerfully illustrates how human authority intersects with divine purpose. The good news of King Jesus transcends political power, showing how God uses even reluctant actors in His redemptive plan. This name reminds us that all earthly authority ultimately serves God’s sovereign purposes.
D – Did You Know?
- First Roman governor to put Christian statements in official records.
- Early church creeds specifically included his name.
- Archaeological evidence confirms his historical existence.
Strong’s G4091: A proper noun naming the Roman governor who presided over Jesus’s trial and crucifixion. Represents the intersection of human authority and divine purpose in salvation history, becoming a permanent part of Christian confession.
Part of speech: Proper Noun
Tags: #Pilate #RomanGovernor #trial #crucifixion #authority #Gospels #Jesus #history #NewTestament #BiblicalGreek #Theology #passion
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
