4109. plax

Lexicon

plax: Tablet, plate

Original Word: πλάξ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: plax
Pronunciation: plaks
Phonetic Spelling: (plax)
Definition: Tablet, plate
Meaning: a tablet, flat surface.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

table, tablet

From plasso; a moulding-board, i.e. Flat surface ("plate", or tablet, literally or figuratively) -- table.

see GREEK plasso

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
anything flat and broad, hence a flat stone
NASB Translation
tables (1), tablets (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4109: πλάξ

πλάξ, πλακος, ἡ ((akin to πλάτος, etc.; Fick 4:161)), a flat thing, broad tablet, plane, level surface (as of the sea) (cf. our plate) (Pindar, Tragg., others; the Sept. for לוּחַ): αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης (see διαθήκη, 2, p. 136b), Hebrews 9:4; οὐκ ἐν πλαξί λιθίναις (tables of stone, such as those on which the law of Moses was written), ἀλλ' ἐν πλαξί καρδίας σαρκίναις, 2 Corinthians 3:3.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root word πλάσσω (plasso), meaning "to form" or "to mold."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H3871 לֻחַ (luach): Refers to a tablet or a board, often used in the context of the stone tablets of the law given to Moses.
• H3870 לָחַשׁ (lachash): While not a direct equivalent, this term can refer to a whisper or incantation, highlighting the idea of inscribed or spoken words, though it is less directly related to the concept of a physical tablet.

Usage: The term πλάξ is used in the New Testament to describe tablets, specifically those on which the commandments or laws are inscribed. It is a term that conveys the idea of permanence and authority, as the inscriptions on such tablets were meant to endure.

Context: The Greek word πλάξ appears in the New Testament in contexts that emphasize the enduring and authoritative nature of God's commandments. In 2 Corinthians 3:3, the Apostle Paul uses the term to draw a contrast between the old covenant, written on tablets of stone, and the new covenant, written on the hearts of believers by the Spirit of God. This metaphor highlights the transition from the external adherence to the law to an internal transformation brought about by the Holy Spirit. The use of πλάξ in this passage underscores the permanence and divine origin of the commandments, while also pointing to the superior and more intimate nature of the new covenant.

2 Corinthians 3:3 (BSB): "It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

The imagery of πλάξ as stone tablets is deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition, where the Ten Commandments were given to Moses on stone tablets. This historical and religious context enriches the understanding of the term, as it evokes the solemnity and unchanging nature of divine law. In the New Testament, the use of πλάξ serves to bridge the old and new covenants, illustrating the continuity and fulfillment of God's promises through Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

πλάκας πλακες πλάκες πλακός πλακών πλαξί πλαξιν πλαξὶν plakes plákes plaxin plaxìn

Englishman's Concordance

2 Corinthians 3:3 N-DFP
GRK: οὐκ ἐν πλαξὶν λιθίναις ἀλλ'
NAS: God, not on tablets of stone
KJV: not in tables of stone, but
INT: not on tablets of stone but

2 Corinthians 3:3 N-DFP
GRK: ἀλλ' ἐν πλαξὶν καρδίαις σαρκίναις
NAS: of stone but on tablets of human
KJV: in fleshy tables of the heart.
INT: but on tablets of hearts human

Hebrews 9:4 N-NFP
GRK: καὶ αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης
NAS: which budded, and the tables of the covenant;
KJV: and the tables of the covenant;
INT: and the tablets of the covenant

Strong's Greek 4109
3 Occurrences

πλάκες — 1 Occ.
πλαξὶν — 2 Occ.