πυλών
pylṓn
G4440 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A monumental gateway, entrance, or porch forming the principal point of entry into a city, temple, palace, or large building; by extension, the gateway structure and its adjacent spaces, often emphasizing architectural grandeur and public significance. In some contexts, denotes the porch or vestibule area beyond or before the primary gate proper, where gathering or official activity might occur.
Semantic Range
monumental gateway, main entrance to a city or large building, porch, vestibule, entrance hall, gateway complex
Root / Etymology
From πύλη (gate, gateway) with the augmentative or architectural suffix -ών, indicating a structure related to or forming a gateway. The suffix elevates the term from a simple 'gate' to a grander or more architecturally significant 'gateway' or 'entranceway.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, πυλών originally referred to a monumental gateway or portal, often of temples, palaces, or important civic buildings (e.g., the gateway entrance to the temple precinct). In the Septuagint, it translates Hebrew terms for large city or temple gates (e.g., שַׁעַר), and can refer to the entrance complex, sometimes including associated chambers or halls where civic or judicial activities took place. In New Testament usage, exact reference is sometimes architectural (main entrance to a city: Acts 14:13), and sometimes metonymic (entry to a house or large estate: Luke 16:20). In some contexts, πυλών denotes not the physical gate-leaf but the entire gateway structure with its vestibule, possibly a sheltered passage or porch. English translations as 'gate' or 'porch' can obscure the sense of an imposing architectural feature, distinct from a simple door (θύρα) or ordinary passage. The word is less common than πύλη and typically marks grandeur, formality, or public accessibility.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πύλη; a gate-way, door-way of a building or city; by implication, a portal or vestibule:--gate, porch.
Root Family
πυλών (pylōn) — gate, gateway, portal
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4440-03 |
πυλῶνες | pulones | N NOM M PL |
gates | monumental gateways | 6 |
G4440-01 |
πυλῶνα | pulona | N ACC M SG |
gate | monumental gateway | 4 |
G4440-02 |
πυλῶνας | pulonas | N ACC M PL |
gates | monumental gateways | 3 |
G4440-06 |
πυλῶσιν | pulosin | N DAT M PL |
gates | to the monumental gateways | 2 |
G4440-05 |
πυλῶνος | pulonos | N GEN M SG |
gate | of the monumental gateway | 2 |
G4440-04 |
πυλώνων | pulonon | N GEN M PL |
gates | of the monumental gateways | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
18 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4440-01 |
Matthew 26:71 | πυλῶνα | pulona | N ACC M SG |
monumental gateway | |
G4440-01 |
Luke 16:20 | πυλῶνα | pulona | N ACC M SG |
gate | monumental gateway |
G4440-01 |
Acts 10:17 | πυλῶνα | pulona | N ACC M SG |
gate | monumental gateway |
G4440-05 |
Acts 12:13 | πυλῶνος | pulonos | N GEN M SG |
gate | of the monumental gateway |
G4440-01 |
Acts 12:14 | πυλῶνα | pulona | N ACC M SG |
gate | monumental gateway |
G4440-05 |
Acts 12:14 | πυλῶνος | pulonos | N GEN M SG |
gate | of the monumental gateway |
G4440-02 |
Acts 14:13 | πυλῶνας | pulonas | N ACC M PL |
gates | monumental gateways |
G4440-02 |
Revelation 21:12 | πυλῶνας | pulonas | N ACC M PL |
gates | monumental gateways |
G4440-06 |
Revelation 21:12 | πυλῶσιν | pulosin | N DAT M PL |
gates | to the monumental gateways |
G4440-03 |
Revelation 21:13 | πυλῶνες | pulones | N NOM M PL |
gates | monumental gateways |