προβατικός (probatikos)
probatikos
Sheep Gate
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective probatikos means "pertaining to sheep." In the New Testament, it appears only once, modifying the word for gate in John 5:2. This specific reference identifies the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, a location where Jesus healed a disabled man at the Pool of Bethesda.
The term derives from probaton, the standard Greek word for sheep. Its usage here is straightforward and descriptive, serving primarily as a geographical marker rather than carrying deep theological symbolism in this context. The gate’s name likely reflected its function or proximity to areas where sheep were kept or prepared for temple sacrifices.
Because this is the sole occurrence of probatikos in Scripture, it does not develop a broader semantic range. Translators consistently render it as "sheep" when describing the gate, preserving the clear connection to the animal without adding interpretive layers. The word highlights the practical details of Jerusalem’s layout that the Gospel writer deemed important for locating the event.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word probatikos appears only once in Scripture, marking the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. This gate was likely used for bringing sheep into the city to be prepared for temple sacrifices. It connects our daily lives with the ancient rhythms of worship and provision.
Jesus chose this specific location near the pool of Bethesda to heal a man who had waited years for relief. By acting here, He showed that God meets us in ordinary places. The gate reminds us that Christ is the true sacrifice, fulfilling what the sheep represented.
This single mention invites us to see how Jesus enters our brokenness. Just as the gate led to the temple, Jesus leads us to the Father. We can trust that He knows our needs and brings healing in His time.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Sheep Gate1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προβατικῇ1×
Key Verses
-
John 5:2
Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, “Bethesda”, having five porches.
This verse identifies the Sheep Gate as the setting where Jesus healed a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years, linking the place of sacrifice with the power of restoration.