πίναξ
pínax
G4094 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A flat surface or object, primarily a board or tablet, customarily made of wood, metal, or other materials. In Greek usage, πίναξ can denote a writing tablet, a board for painting or inscription, or, by extension, a plate or platter for serving food. The specific sense depends on context—ranging from writing and artistic media to dining vessels.
Semantic Range
board, tablet for writing or painting, inscribed plaque, memorial tablet, serving plate, platter, dish
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root πιν- (related to 'tablet, board'). Cognate with Latin 'pinea' (board) and Greek πλάξ (plax, 'flat surface'), but πίναξ is distinct, emphasizing the function as a prepared, usually flat, surface.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, πίναξ most frequently refers to a writing, drawing, or painting tablet, sometimes wooden, wax-coated, or painted. By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the meaning broadened: inscriptions, memorial plaques, and dining plates or serving platters (especially in banquet contexts). In the New Testament (e.g., Matt 14:8, 11; Mark 6:25, 28), πίναξ specifically means a platter or dish for serving food—typically a flat, broad vessel used at banquets. This tableware sense is contextually limited but vivid, most famously appearing in the accounts of John the Baptizer's death, where his head is presented 'on a platter.' In the Septuagint and other Greek sources, it can still denote 'tablet' for writing or display. English translations often use 'platter' or 'charger,' but these restrict the word's broader semantic range, as historically πίναξ included both artistic/writing tablets and serving plates. Not to be confused with πλάξ ('tablet, slab'), although the terms are etymologically related.
Translation Consistency
“Board” is a natural, general English noun covering the primary senses of πίναξ (a flat board or tablet for writing/painting) and can reasonably extend to serving boards/platters. It is broader than the narrower ‘platter’ (used in some sources) and more idiomatic than the technical ‘tablet’ or ‘plaque,’ allowing consistent, natural renderings across contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently a form of πλάξ; a plate:--charger, platter.
Root Family
πίναξ (pinax) — flat board, tablet, plate, platter
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4094-01 |
πίνακι | pinaki | N DAT M SG |
a platter | to a tablet | a platter | 4 |
G4094-02 |
πίνακος | pinakos | N GEN M SG |
platter | of a flat board | platter | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4094-01 |
Matthew 14:8 | πίνακι | pinaki | N DAT M SG |
a platter | to a tablet | a platter |
G4094-01 |
Matthew 14:11 | πίνακι | pinaki | N DAT M SG |
platter | to a tablet | a platter |
G4094-01 |
Mark 6:25 | πίνακι | pinaki | N DAT M SG |
a platter | to a tablet | a platter |
G4094-01 |
Mark 6:28 | πίνακι | pinaki | N DAT M SG |
a platter | to a tablet | platter |
G4094-02 |
Luke 11:39 | πίνακος | pinakos | N GEN M SG |
platter | of a flat board | platter |