πύλη (G4439) — Greek Lexicon

πύλη

pýlē

G4439 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A large gate or gateway, especially one providing access to a significant location such as a city, temple, or palace. The term denotes both the doorway/entrance as an architectural feature and, by extension, the gateway area as a locale for meeting or gathering. In some contexts, it can carry a broader, metaphorical sense of access or entrance to a domain, opportunity, or state (including in spiritual or eschatological contexts).

Semantic Range

large gate, city gate, temple gate, palace entrance, passageway, portal, access (literal); opportunity, entrance into a realm or state (figurative, in extended contexts)

Root / Etymology

etymology uncertain. πύλη is not derived from an obvious Greek verb or noun and may have pre-Greek (non-Indo-European) origins, though its long-standing use makes it functionally native to classical and later Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πύλη referred to large gates, especially those in city walls (as distinct from smaller house doors, θύρα). The plural (πύλαι) is often used for monumental city gates and is a common feature of fortified or significant buildings. In the Septuagint, πύλη frequently translates Hebrew שַׁעַר (sha'ar), designating the main city gate—the place not only of passage but also of public life and legal affairs. In the New Testament, πύλη generally refers to gates of cities or sacred areas (e.g., temple gates, Acts 3:10), though occasionally is used in metaphoric or eschatological imagery (e.g., 'gates of Hades', Matthew 16:18). English translations sometimes render πύλη as "gate," but the Greek distinction from θύρα (smaller door/entrance) should be noted. No inherent symbolic or figurative usage is present in the root itself, but the term acquires such connotations through context, especially in later Jewish and Christian literature.

Translation Consistency

primary "gate" 10 occurrences

Most natural and common English equivalent for πύλη in literal and extended senses. 'Gate' is the simple, idiomatic noun used for city/temple/palace entrances and can be inflected (gate, gates) to cover plural forms; it also serves well in metaphorical uses as an entrance or access point. It matches the majority of existing renderings and provides consistent, natural wording across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a primary word; a gate, i.e. the leaf or wing of a folding entrance (literally or figuratively):--gate.

Root Family

πύλη (pýlē) — gate, gateway, entrance

Root πύλ- gate, gateway, entrance

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4439-03`	πύλη	pule	`N NOM F SG`	gate	gateway	gate	4
`G4439-05`	πύλης	pules	`N GEN F SG`	gate	of a gateway	gate	3
`G4439-02`	πύλας	pulas	`N ACC F PL`	gates	gates	gates	1
`G4439-04`	πύλην	pulen	`N ACC F SG`	gate	a gateway	gate	1
`G4439-01`	πύλαι	pulai	`N NOM F PL`	gates	gates	gates	1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4439-05`	Matthew 7:13	πύλης	pules	`N GEN F SG`	gate	of a gateway	gate
`G4439-03`	Matthew 7:13	πύλη	pule	`N NOM F SG`	the gate	gateway	gate
`G4439-03`	Matthew 7:14	πύλη	pule	`N NOM F SG`	gate	gateway	gate
`G4439-01`	Matthew 16:18	πύλαι	pulai	`N NOM F PL`	gates	gates	gates
`G4439-03`	Luke 7:12	πύλῃ	pule	`N DAT F SG`	gate	gateway	gate
`G4439-03`	Acts 3:10	Πύλῃ	pule	`N DAT F SG`	gate	gateway	gate
`G4439-02`	Acts 9:24	πύλας	pulas	`N ACC F PL`	gates	gates	gates
`G4439-04`	Acts 12:10	πύλην	pulen	`N ACC F SG`	gate	a gateway	gate
`G4439-05`	Acts 16:13	πύλης	pules	`N GEN F SG`	gate	of a gateway	gate
`G4439-05`	Hebrews 13:12	πύλης	pules	`N GEN F SG`	gate	of a gateway	gate

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