στέγη
stégē
G4721 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Covering or roof of a building, especially the structural element that encloses or protects the space beneath. In general Greek usage, denotes the uppermost covering of a house or other structure; can also carry more specific sense of a surface upon which one could stand or which might be removed or opened, as in narrative contexts. Extended uses arise in some metaphorical or literary texts to refer to shelter or protection.
Semantic Range
roof, covering of a house, shelter, household roof as a location or structure; occasionally, metaphorical shelter or protection
Root / Etymology
From the root στέγ- meaning 'to cover' or 'to shelter,' related to the verb στέγω ('to cover, to protect, to endure'). The noun describes that which provides the act of covering.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, στέγη generally refers to the roof or shelter of a house, not restricted to a particular type of construction (thatched, tiled, etc.). In the Septuagint and New Testament, στέγη nearly always means the literal roof of a domestic dwelling or other building, such as the context of Mark 2:4 where individuals open the roof to lower a paralytic. It is distinct from words like οἶκος (house) and δῶμα (upper chamber or building) but can be parallel in meaning to ὀροφή (a later Greek term for roof or ceiling). English translations as 'roof' accurately capture the physical meaning, but do not always convey the cultural aspect of rooftops as accessible spaces in ancient architecture (e.g., for drying grain, hosting guests, prayer). There is no direct evidence that it carried the modern sense of 'ceiling' in antiquity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
strengthened from a primary (a "thatch" or "deck" of a building); a roof:--roof.
Root Family
στέγη (stégē) — covering, roof, shelter
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4721-01 |
στέγην | stegen | N ACC F SG |
roof | roof covering | roof | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4721-01 |
Matthew 8:8 | στέγην | stegen | N ACC F SG |
roof | roof covering | roof |
G4721-01 |
Mark 2:4 | στέγην | stegen | N ACC F SG |
roof | roof covering | roof covering |
G4721-01 |
Luke 7:6 | στέγην | stegen | N ACC F SG |
roof | roof covering | roof |