πτηνόν
ptēnón
G4421 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
ptēnón refers to a flying creature, primarily a bird, with emphasis on the characteristic of being able to fly. In broader usage, the word can denote any winged animal or creature that moves by flight. While typically referring to birds, it can sometimes include other flying beings in figurative or poetic contexts. In scriptural usage, chiefly denotes birds as a distinct class of animals, frequently in contrast to land-dwelling or aquatic creatures.
Semantic Range
bird, flying creature, winged animal, fowl (generic for birds), sometimes used poetically for any being that flies
Root / Etymology
Contracted form of πετεινός (peteinos), itself from πέτομαι (petomai, 'to fly'). The morpheme πτην- relates to the concept of flying or being winged.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and later Greek, πτηνόν was often used interchangeably with πετεινόν, both referring to birds or any flying animal. The term is commonly employed in the Septuagint to render Hebrew עוֹף (ʿof, 'flying creature') in the classification of animals (see Genesis 1:20-21). The word emphasizes the activity or mode of life—flying—rather than the taxonomy of 'bird' as understood in modern zoology, encompassing any creature that flies. In the New Testament, the term is rare and typically occurs in quotations from or allusions to scriptural creation accounts. Standard English translations render πτηνόν as 'bird,' but this may not fully capture the breadth of the term, which includes all flying beings and may on occasion have a broader or more poetic sense than the zoological category 'bird.' The contrast with land animals (θηρίον) and aquatic animals (ἰχθύς) in creation contexts highlights the functional aspect of the word.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
contraction for πετεινόν; a bird:--bird.
Root Family
πτηνόν (ptēnon) — to fly, to be winged, flying creature, bird
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4421-01 |
πτηνῶν | ptenon | ADJ.S GEN N PL |
of birds | of flying creatures | of flying creatures | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4421-01 |
1 Corinthians 15:39 | πτηνῶν | ptenon | ADJ.S GEN N PL |
of birds | of flying creatures | of flying creatures |