Brief Overview of ποδήρης (Strong’s G4158: podērēs)

Strong’s G4158: A compound adjective used as a noun, meaning “reaching to the feet” or “ankle-length,” specifically referring to a long robe worn by people of high rank or religious significance. In the New Testament, it describes Christ’s majestic garment in Revelation, symbolizing His high priestly role.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ποδήρης describes a long garment reaching to the feet, particularly associated with dignity and religious office. As a compound word combining “foot” and “fitting,” it specifically denotes the full-length robes worn by priests and persons of authority. In the New Testament, it appears in John’s vision of Christ, connecting His appearance to both royal and priestly imagery. The early church saw this as significant in understanding Christ’s dual role as King and High Priest. Today, it continues to inform our understanding of Christ’s authority and mediatorial role.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ποδήρης, podērēs, /pod-ay’-race/
• Detailed Pronunciation: p (plosive) + o (short vowel) + day (syllable) + race (final syllable)
• Part of Speech: Adjective used as noun

Etymology:

• Root 1: πούς (pous) – “foot”
• Root 2: ἄρω (arō) – “to fit/join”
• Suffix: -ης (-ēs) adjectival ending
• Function: Creates a compound meaning “fitting to the feet”

D – Defining Meanings

• Reaching to the feet
• Ankle-length
• Full-length (of garments)
• High priestly robe

For compound words:
πούς (foot) + ἄρω (to fit) combines to describe something that extends all the way to the feet

Translation Options:

• Full-length robe – Best captures the garment’s length
• Ankle-length garment – More specific description
• Long flowing robe – Emphasizes the majestic nature

E – Exploring Similar Words

• στολή (stolē) /stol-ay’/ – refers to a long robe in general – See G4749
• ἱμάτιον (himation) /him-at’-ee-on/ – refers to an outer garment – See G2440
• χιτών (chitōn) /khee-tone’/ – refers to a tunic/undergarment – See G5509

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine/Feminine
• Declension: 3rd declension

Examples:

• Nominative: ποδήρης
• Genitive: ποδήρους
• Dative: ποδήρει
• Accusative: ποδήρη

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its priestly associations. Thayer’s notes its use in describing official garments. LSJ traces its usage in classical literature. Vine’s highlights its significance in Revelation. Strong’s emphasizes its compound nature. LEH discusses its use in describing priestly garments in the Septuagint. Moulton and Milligan note its technical use in describing ceremonial dress.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Revelation 1:13: “and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe [ποδήρη] reaching to the feet, and with a golden sash around his chest.”

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Ποδήρης beautifully illustrates Christ’s supreme dignity and high priestly role. This word proclaims the good news that Jesus serves as both our majestic King and perfect High Priest, mediating between God and humanity with full authority and grace.

D – Did You Know?

1. Ποδήρης appears only once in the New Testament
2. It was commonly used to describe the high priest’s garments in the Septuagint
3. The word influenced ecclesiastical vestment terminology

Strong’s G4158: A compound adjective used as a noun, meaning “reaching to the feet” or “ankle-length,” specifically referring to a long robe worn by people of high rank or religious significance. In the New Testament, it describes Christ’s majestic garment in Revelation, symbolizing His high priestly role.

Part of speech: Adjective used as noun

Tags: robe, priestly garments, high priest, Christ’s priesthood, Revelation, ceremonial dress, royal clothing, Biblical Greek, New Testament terminology, temple worship, priestly attire, Christology​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​