Lexical Summary plateia: Street, broad street, public square Original Word: πλατεῖα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance street. Feminine of platus; a wide "plat" or "place", i.e. Open square -- street. see GREEK platus NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of platus Definition a wide road, street. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4113: πλατεῖαπλατεῖα, πλατείας, ἡ (feminine of the adjective πλατύς, namely, ὁδός (cf. Winers Grammar, 590 (549))), a broad way, a street: Matthew 6:5; Matthew 12:19; Luke 10:10; Luke 13:26; Luke 14:21; Acts 5:15; Revelation 11:8; Revelation 21:21; Revelation 22:2. (Euripides, Plutarch, others; in the Sept. chiefly for רְחֹב.) Topical Lexicon Root and Conceptual Background The term denotes the broad, open street or main thoroughfare of a town or city. In the Greco-Roman world such streets were civic arteries framed by colonnades, shops, public fountains, and temples, facilitating commerce, civic gatherings, and proclamation. The openness of the πλατεῖα made it the natural arena for public life—both secular and sacred—and, therefore, an ideal setting for the drama of redemption to unfold in Scripture. Old Testament Precursors Hebrew parallels such as rechov (“broad place,” Genesis 19:2; 2 Samuel 21:12) and merchav (“open space,” Psalm 118:5) anticipate the theological use of the public square. There the righteous could gather for justice (Job 29:7) or praise (Psalm 144:14), while the wicked might lurk for blood (Proverbs 1:11). The themes of openness, accessibility, and moral testing embedded in Israel’s “broad places” prepare the reader for New Testament usage. New Testament Distribution Nine occurrences concentrate in the Gospels, Acts, and Revelation: • Matthew 6:5; 12:19 A progression emerges—from the streets of first-century Palestine, through apostolic evangelism, to the consummated streets of the New Jerusalem. Public Life and Ministry on the Street 1. Platform of Hypocrisy or Humility (Matthew 6:5; 12:19) The street can amplify self-promotion. “They love to pray standing…on the street corners to be seen by men” (Matthew 6:5). In contrast, the prophesied Servant “will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets” (Matthew 12:19). The same venue exposes false piety and models true meekness. 2. Sphere of Gospel Witness (Luke 10:10; 14:21) When a town rejected the Seventy-Two, they were to “go into the streets and declare” God’s warning (Luke 10:10). Conversely, in the parable of the great banquet the master commands, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys… and bring in the poor” (Luke 14:21). The broad street thus becomes both a place of judgment and an avenue of grace. 3. Measure of Relational Authenticity (Luke 13:26) Superficial familiarity—“You taught in our streets”—proves insufficient for entry into the kingdom. Public exposure to Jesus’ teaching must be matched by personal repentance. 4. Stage for Apostolic Power (Acts 5:15) Early believers “brought the sick into the streets… so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them” (Acts 5:15). The street, open to all, showcases the risen Christ’s authority mediated through His apostles. Revelation’s Vision of the Street Made New Judgment: The slain witnesses lie “in the street of the great city” (Revelation 11:8). The very public space used for testimony becomes the scene of apparent defeat—soon reversed by resurrection (11:11). Glory: “The main street of the city was pure gold” (Revelation 21:21), and the river of life flows “down the middle of the main street” (Revelation 22:2). What began as a place for commerce and conflict is purified into an everlasting boulevard of fellowship, nourishment, and worship. The openness that once exposed sin now invites unrestricted access to God. Historical and Cultural Setting Roman planners designed two chief axes—the decumanus maximus (east-west) and cardo maximus (north-south)—intersecting at the forum. Colonnaded sidewalks (stoai) protected walkers from sun and rain. Vendors, philosophers, magistrates, and heralds filled these spaces. When Scripture places Jesus, the apostles, or eschatological figures in the πλατεῖα, it situates them at the city’s communicative heart, where messages traveled fastest and encounters were unavoidable. Ministry Implications • Visibility without vanity: Public witness is ordained, yet motives must be examined (Matthew 6:5). Summary Strong’s Greek 4113 threads a theological tapestry from the common streets of earthly cities to the resplendent avenue of the New Jerusalem. It calls believers to faithful, humble engagement in the public square, confident that the Lord who once taught in dusty thoroughfares will ultimately pave His eternal city with transparent gold. Forms and Transliterations πλατεια πλατεία πλατεῖα πλατείαι πλατειαις πλατείαις πλατείαν πλατειας πλατείας πλατειων πλατειών πλατειῶν plateia plateîa plateiais plateíais plateias plateías plateion plateiôn plateiōn plateiō̂nLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 6:5 N-GFPGRK: γωνίαις τῶν πλατειῶν ἑστῶτες προσεύχεσθαι KJV: the corners of the streets, that INT: corners of the streets standing to pray Matthew 12:19 N-DFP Luke 10:10 N-AFP Luke 13:26 N-DFP Luke 14:21 N-AFP Acts 5:15 N-AFP Revelation 11:8 N-GFS Revelation 21:21 N-NFS Revelation 22:2 N-GFS Strong's Greek 4113 |
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