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πυλών

pylṓn

G4440 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A monumental gateway, entrance, or porch forming the principal point of entry into a city, temple, palace, or large building; by extension, the gateway structure and its adjacent spaces, often emphasizing architectural grandeur and public significance. In some contexts, denotes the porch or vestibule area beyond or before the primary gate proper, where gathering or official activity might occur.

Semantic Range

monumental gateway, main entrance to a city or large building, porch, vestibule, entrance hall, gateway complex

Root / Etymology

From πύλη (gate, gateway) with the augmentative or architectural suffix -ών, indicating a structure related to or forming a gateway. The suffix elevates the term from a simple 'gate' to a grander or more architecturally significant 'gateway' or 'entranceway.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πυλών originally referred to a monumental gateway or portal, often of temples, palaces, or important civic buildings (e.g., the gateway entrance to the temple precinct). In the Septuagint, it translates Hebrew terms for large city or temple gates (e.g., שַׁעַר), and can refer to the entrance complex, sometimes including associated chambers or halls where civic or judicial activities took place. In New Testament usage, exact reference is sometimes architectural (main entrance to a city: Acts 14:13), and sometimes metonymic (entry to a house or large estate: Luke 16:20). In some contexts, πυλών denotes not the physical gate-leaf but the entire gateway structure with its vestibule, possibly a sheltered passage or porch. English translations as 'gate' or 'porch' can obscure the sense of an imposing architectural feature, distinct from a simple door (θύρα) or ordinary passage. The word is less common than πύλη and typically marks grandeur, formality, or public accessibility.

Translation Consistency

primary "gateway" 18 occurrences

'Gateway' is a natural, simple noun that captures the primary sense of πυλών as the principal, often monumental, entrance to a city, temple, palace, or large building. It covers both the literal gate and the broader porch/vestibule or entrance complex implied by the SILEX range, and reads naturally across contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πύλη; a gate-way, door-way of a building or city; by implication, a portal or vestibule:--gate, porch.

Root Family

πυλών (pylōn) — gate, gateway, portal

Root πυλ- gate, gateway, portal

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4440-03 πυλῶνες pulones N NOM M PL gates monumental gateways monumental gateways 6
G4440-01 πυλῶνα pulona N ACC M SG gate monumental gateway monumental gateway 4
G4440-02 πυλῶνας pulonas N ACC M PL gates monumental gateways monumental gateways 3
G4440-06 πυλῶσιν pulosin N DAT M PL gates to the monumental gateways monumental gateways 2
G4440-05 πυλῶνος pulonos N GEN M SG gate of the monumental gateway gateway 2
G4440-04 πυλώνων pulonon N GEN M PL gates of the monumental gateways monumental gateways 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4440-01 Matthew 26:71 πυλῶνα pulona N ACC M SG gateway monumental gateway monumental gateway
G4440-01 Luke 16:20 πυλῶνα pulona N ACC M SG gate monumental gateway monumental gateway
G4440-01 Acts 10:17 πυλῶνα pulona N ACC M SG gate monumental gateway monumental gateway
G4440-05 Acts 12:13 πυλῶνος pulonos N GEN M SG gate of the monumental gateway gateway
G4440-01 Acts 12:14 πυλῶνα pulona N ACC M SG gate monumental gateway monumental gateway
G4440-05 Acts 12:14 πυλῶνος pulonos N GEN M SG gate of the monumental gateway gateway
G4440-02 Acts 14:13 πυλῶνας pulonas N ACC M PL gates monumental gateways monumental gateways
G4440-02 Revelation 21:12 πυλῶνας pulonas N ACC M PL gates monumental gateways monumental gateways
G4440-06 Revelation 21:12 πυλῶσιν pulosin N DAT M PL gates to the monumental gateways monumental gateways
G4440-03 Revelation 21:13 πυλῶνες pulones N NOM M PL gates monumental gateways monumental gateways
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