πτερύγιον (pterugion)
pterugion
pinnacle
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun pterugion literally means "a little wing," derived from a root referring to feathers or wings. In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to describe the pinnacle or highest point of the Temple in Jerusalem. This specific usage appears only twice, in the accounts of Jesus’ temptation recorded in Matthew 4:5 and Luke 4:9.
The word evokes an image of a structure extending outward like a wing, likely referring to a turret, battlement, or parapet at the very top of the building. By placing Jesus on this "wing" of the Temple, the narrative highlights the extreme height and danger of the location, emphasizing the boldness of the challenge issued by the tempter.
Translators typically render pterugion as "pinnacle" to convey this sense of supreme elevation. The term captures both the physical extremity of the site and its symbolic status as the highest point of Jewish religious life, making it a fitting stage for a test of divine protection.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pterugion literally means "a little wing," yet in Scripture it points to the highest point of the Temple in Jerusalem. This image reminds us that God’s presence is not distant or hidden, but accessible at the very top of our spiritual lives. When Jesus stood on this pinnacle, He faced a test that required complete trust in His Father.
For your own faith journey, this word invites you to consider where you place your confidence. The tempter tried to use the height of the Temple to provoke doubt, but Jesus responded with reliance on God’s Word. Similarly, when life feels precarious or high-stakes, we are called not to test God recklessly, but to rest securely in His promises.
This passage shows that true strength comes from humility and obedience, not from seeking dramatic signs. Whether you face great challenges or quiet doubts, remember that God is with you at every level of your life, offering peace that surpasses understanding.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- pinnacle2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πτερύγιον2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 4:5
Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
This verse establishes the setting for Jesus’ temptation, highlighting the extreme height and danger of the location to emphasize the boldness of the challenge.
-
Luke 4:9
He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here,
Here the tempter explicitly links the pinnacle’s height to a demand for proof of divine sonship, testing Jesus’ trust in God’s protection.