Greek word · G4420

πτέρυξ

pteryx

wing

Wing of a bird. By extension a wing-like extremity, such as the 'pinnacle' (pterygion) of the temple in Matthew 4:5. In the Bible, a frequent picture of protection and refuge.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

πτέρυξ, -υγος, ἡ

(πέτομαι), [in LXX chiefly for כָּנָף ;]

a wing: of birds, Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34, Revelation 12:14; of creatures seen in a vision, Revelation 4:8 9:9.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 23:37

Range of meaning

Wing of a bird. By extension a wing-like extremity, such as the 'pinnacle' (pterygion) of the temple in Matthew 4:5. In the Bible, a frequent picture of protection and refuge.

Against the English

'Wings' is accurate. What English readers may miss is how strongly 'under his wings' was tied to God himself.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint Ruth 2:12: Ruth has come 'to take refuge under his (the LORD's) wings' (hupo tas pterygas autou). Psalm 91:4 (LXX 90:4), 'under his wings you will hope'. Also Psalms 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4. Isaiah 31:5: 'Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem.' Later rabbinic texts call becoming a convert coming 'under the wings of the Shekhinah' (God's dwelling presence), but that phrasing is attested after the NT period.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 23:37 πτέρυγας, wings,

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

    Here: Wings are one of Scripture's main pictures of God's protection: 'under his wings you will find refuge' (Psalm 91:4; Ruth 2:12). Jesus takes up an image the Bible normally uses for God.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 13:34 πτέρυγας, wings,

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

    Here: Wings. In Israel's prayers, refuge 'under the shadow of your wings' was refuge in God himself (Psalms 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 91:4; Ruth 2:12).

Revelation · 3

  1. Revelation 4:8 πτέρυγας wings

    And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

    Here: Wings. They show the creatures can move swiftly. In Isaiah 6:2 the wings also cover the face and feet out of reverence.

  2. Revelation 9:9 πτερύγων wings

    They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.

  3. Revelation 12:14 πτέρυγες wings

    But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

    Here: In the Scriptures, wings stand for rescue and shelter: God bearing Israel 'on eagles' wings' (Exod 19:4), and refuge 'under the shadow of your wings' (Ps 17:8; 91:4).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.