πίναξ (pinax)
pinax
platter
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun pinax refers to a flat, rigid surface made of wood or similar material. In everyday ancient life, it described a board, a tablet for writing, or a shallow dish used for serving food. The word appears in the Gospels specifically when describing meals, highlighting the physical reality of sharing bread and fish.
Its usage in Matthew 14:8-11, Mark 6:25, and Luke 11:39 grounds the text in tangible domestic scenes. In the accounts of John the Baptist’s execution, Herodias’s daughter requests his head on a pinax, emphasizing the grim finality of the act through a common household object. Similarly, Jesus’ critique of Pharisees in Luke 11:39 mentions cleaning the outside of the cup and the pinax, using these items to illustrate concerns with outward appearance rather than inner purity.
Translators typically render this word as "plate," "dish," or "platter." This choice preserves the sense of a simple, functional vessel. The term does not carry heavy theological symbolism on its own; instead, it serves as a concrete detail that makes the biblical narratives vivid and immediate for the reader.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pinax describes a simple wooden board or shallow dish used for serving food in ancient households. In the Gospels, this everyday object grounds the biblical narratives in tangible reality. Whether it holds bread at a shared meal or serves as the grim vessel for John the Baptist’s head, the platter reminds us that Scripture engages with our physical world. Faith is not abstract; it plays out in real spaces and uses ordinary items to convey profound truths.
Jesus used this common household item to challenge the religious leaders of His day. He pointed out how they focused on cleaning the outside of the cup and platter while neglecting their inner character. This image invites us to examine where we place our attention. Are we concerned only with outward appearances, or are we cultivating integrity that matches what others see?
These details help us connect with the people in the Bible as real individuals facing real situations. The platter is a bridge between the ancient world and our own lives, showing that God cares about the specifics of human experience. We can trust that He meets us in our daily routines and uses ordinary moments to reveal His heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a platter4×
- dish1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πίνακι4×
- πίνακος1×
Key Verses
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Luke 11:39
The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
Jesus uses the platter to illustrate the disconnect between outward religious performance and inner moral corruption.
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Matthew 14:8
She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”
The request for John’s head on a platter highlights the cold, bureaucratic nature of Herodias’s vengeance using a mundane object.
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Mark 6:25
She came in immediately with haste to the king and requested, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.”
The young woman’s urgent request emphasizes the immediacy and brutality of the event through the specific vessel chosen.