πλευρά
the side of the body
Definition
The Greek word πλευρά (pleyra) primarily refers to the side of the human body, specifically the rib area or flank. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively in the context of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection, describing the wound in his side from the soldier's spear (John 19:34). The same term is then used by the resurrected Jesus when he shows his disciples the marks in his hands and his side as proof of his identity (John 20:20, 25, 27). In a non-physical, metaphorical sense in Acts 12:7, it describes the side of a prison cell where an angel strikes Peter to awaken him.
Biblical Usage
This word appears five times in the New Testament, all within narrative passages in the Gospels of John and Acts. Its usage is highly specific: four times in John's Gospel to emphasize the physical reality of Jesus's crucified and resurrected body, and once in Acts in a miraculous prison-deliverance scene. The pattern highlights a tangible, physical location—whether of a wound or a prison wall—central to a miraculous event.
Etymology
πλευρά is a native Greek noun of uncertain deeper origin, though it is possibly related to the verb πλέω (pleō, 'to sail'), perhaps originally referring to the 'side' of a ship. It entered Koine Greek with the settled meaning of 'side,' particularly of the body (the ribs or flank).
Semantic Range
πλευρά is theologically significant as it anchors the physicality of Jesus's death and resurrection. The pierced side in John 19:34 fulfills prophecy (cf. Zechariah 12:10) and confirms his death, while the showing of the side to Thomas (John 20:27) provides tangible evidence for the bodily resurrection, combating docetic heresy. It underscores the incarnation—that the Word truly became flesh, suffered, died, and was raised bodily.
In the ancient world, a wound in the side was typically fatal. The spear thrust into Jesus's side (John 19:34) served a practical Roman purpose—to confirm death—but also carried symbolic weight, as blood and water were sometimes seen as representing life and purification. Showing one's wounds was a common method of personal identification.
μέρος (meros, G3313) — a general term for 'part' or 'portion,' not specific to the body. πλευρόν (pleuron, G3577) — a less common variant with the same meaning, used in the Septuagint.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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