πινακίδιον
pinakídion
G4093 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A small, flat board or tablet, especially one used for writing; in most contexts, refers to a wooden or wax-coated panel used for notes, correspondence, or record-keeping. May also denote a note, document, or written slip in some settings.
Semantic Range
small writing tablet, note-board, wax tablet, writing slip, writing table
Root / Etymology
From πίναξ (pinax, 'board, plate, tablet') with diminutive suffix -ιδιον, indicating a small or miniature form of the base word.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Predominantly used in Hellenistic and later Greek for the physical writing tablet, particularly ones made of wood or coated with wax, on which words were inscribed with a stylus. Such tablets were common in education, administration, and private correspondence. In the New Testament (Luke 1:63), πινακίδιον refers to the writing tablet on which Zechariah wrote the name of his child. Use of πινακίδιον in this context suggests standard Greco-Roman writing tools rather than distinctive Israelite practice. The term does not appear in pre-Koine/Attic sources; instead, πίναξ is predominant, denoting a range of board-like objects (including plates, tablets, and boards for painting). The diminutive highlights small size or private/personal use, distinguishing it from the broader or ceremonial meanings of πίναξ. English translations as 'writing table' or 'tablet' reflect the functional aspect but can obscure the daily, practical nature of such objects in the ancient world.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
diminutive of πίναξ; a tablet (for writing on):--writing table.
Root Family
πινακ- (pinakídion) — tablet, flat board, writing surface
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4093-01 |
πινακίδιον | pinakidion | N ACC N SG |
a writing tablet | a small writing tablet | a small writing tablet | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4093-01 |
Luke 1:63 | πινακίδιον | pinakidion | N ACC N SG |
a writing tablet | a small writing tablet | a small writing tablet |