Lexical Summary tetrapous: Four-footed, quadruped Original Word: τετράπους Strong's Exhaustive Concordance four-footed animalFrom tessares and pous; a quadruped -- fourfooted beast. see GREEK tessares see GREEK pous NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tessares and pous Definition four-footed NASB Translation four-footed animals (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5074: τετράπουςτετράπους, τετράπουν, genitive τετράποδος (from τέτρα, which see, and πούς a foot), from Herodotus and Thucydides down, four-footed: neuter plural namely, beasts, Acts 10:12; Acts 11:6; Romans 1:23. (The Sept. for בְּהֵמָה.) Topical Lexicon Definition and Basic Meaning Strong’s Greek 5074 designates a “four-footed creature,” any land animal that walks on all fours. In Scripture the term functions both literally, describing living creatures, and theologically, standing for the entire created order below humanity. Occurrences in the New Testament The noun appears only three times: Acts 10:12; Acts 11:6; Romans 1:23. In each setting it frames a pivotal theological moment—Peter’s vision opening the gospel to the Gentiles and Paul’s indictment of pagan idolatry. Old Testament Background Genesis 1:24-25 records God’s deliberate creation of “livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals,” declaring them good. Subsequent Mosaic legislation distinguished “clean” from “unclean” quadrupeds (Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14), a boundary marker that shaped Israel’s identity. Sacrificial worship frequently employed four-footed animals (Exodus 29:38-42), highlighting their role in atonement and covenant fellowship. Peter’s Vision and the Inclusion of the Gentiles (Acts 10–11) “In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air” (Acts 10:12). The sheet’s mixture of creatures—clean and unclean—symbolized the worldwide scope of redemption. When Peter was commanded, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat,” his protest revealed entrenched ceremonial boundaries. The heavenly reply, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean,” prepared Peter to enter the house of Cornelius, announcing the gospel without distinction (Acts 10:34-35). The repeated account in Acts 11:6 confirms the Spirit-led abolition of dietary barriers and, by extension, ethnic barriers in Christ. Idolatry and the Degradation of Worship (Romans 1:23) Paul writes that fallen humanity “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and four-footed animals and reptiles” (Romans 1:23). Quadrupeds represent the lower tiers of creation to which idolatry demotes divine glory. The descent—man, birds, four-footed animals, reptiles—portrays an ever-deepening corruption. Here the word underscores how sin reverses God’s intended hierarchy: instead of ruling over the animal kingdom (Genesis 1:26), sinners bow before it. Christological Fulfillment and Ethical Implications By His perfect obedience and sacrificial death, Jesus fulfilled and superseded ceremonial food laws (Mark 7:19; Hebrews 9:9-14). Consequently, four-footed animals no longer divide God’s people but serve as symbols of the gospel’s unrestricted reach. At the same time, Romans 1 warns believers to guard their worship, lest created blessings become idols. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Gospel Mission: Acts 10 encourages breaking cultural taboos that hinder evangelism, while remaining anchored in apostolic doctrine. Summary Strong’s Greek 5074, though rare, frames two watershed truths: God’s welcome of all nations through the gospel and humanity’s tragic fall into idolatry. Properly grasped, it directs believers to celebrate the Creator, steward His creatures wisely, and proclaim the salvation that lifts every repentant sinner—Jew or Gentile—into the family of God. Forms and Transliterations τετραποδα τετράποδα τετράποδι τετραποδων τετραπόδων τετράποσι τετράποσιν τετράπουν tetrapoda tetrápoda tetrapodon tetrapodōn tetrapódon tetrapódōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 10:12 Adj-NNPGRK: πάντα τὰ τετράποδα καὶ ἑρπετὰ NAS: and there were in it all [kinds of] four-footed animals and crawling creatures KJV: all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, INT: all the quadrupeds and creeping things Acts 11:6 Adj-ANP Romans 1:23 Adj-GNP Strong's Greek 5074 |
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