προαύλιον (proaulion)
proaulion
entryway
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun proaulion refers to the outer courtyard or porch that stands in front of a main building. In the ancient world, this space served as a transitional zone between the public street and the private interior, often functioning as a place for servants to wait or for visitors to linger before being admitted further inside.
Its meaning is straightforward and concrete: it describes the physical structure itself, specifically the area preceding the inner court. The word combines elements suggesting "before" and "courtyard," pointing clearly to its location at the entrance of a residence or temple complex.
This term appears only once in the New Testament, in Mark 14:68. Here it identifies the specific spot where Peter’s denial of Jesus begins, as he steps out into the outer courtyard after being questioned by a servant girl. The setting is significant because it places the disciple outside the immediate circle of the Master, in a liminal space that mirrors his spiritual uncertainty and growing distance from Christ.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word proaulion describes an outer courtyard or entryway, a transitional space between the busy street and the private heart of a home. In Mark 14:68, this is where Peter steps out after denying Jesus. It was a place for servants to wait, but for Peter, it became a zone of isolation from his Master.
When we feel distant from God, we may find ourselves in our own spiritual proaulion. This space can feel like uncertainty or fear, separating us from the warmth of Christ’s presence. Yet even here, God sees us. The rooster crowed not to condemn Peter, but to wake him to grace.
Knowing this word reminds us that no matter how far we stray into the outer courts, we are never beyond reach. Jesus’ love waits for our return, inviting us back into the inner room of fellowship and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- porch,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προαύλιον,1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 14:68
But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” He went out on the porch, and the rooster crowed.
This verse uses proaulion to mark Peter’s physical movement away from Jesus, highlighting his growing spiritual distance at that critical moment.