προβᾰτ-ικός G4262
pertaining to sheep; specifically, the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem
This adjective means 'relating to sheep,' but in New Testament usage it specifically identifies the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. In John 5:2, the pool of Bethesda is located near the Sheep Gate, a city gate through which sheep were brought for Temple sacrifice. The name evokes the sacrificial system central to Jewish worship. John's geographic precision anchors Jesus' healing ministry in Jerusalem's topography while the gate's name subtly foreshadows His sacrificial mission.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The Sheep Gate near which the pool of Bethesda stood in John 5:2. This Jerusalem gate served as the entry point for sheep destined for Temple sacrifice. Multilingual glosses identify the gate ('sheep-gate', 'de-ovejas', 'des-brebis', 'Schaftor'). The location is theologically suggestive—Jesus performs healing near the gate associated with sacrificial lambs, foreshadowing His own role as the Lamb of God who takes away sin. 1×
AR["غَنَمِيَّةِ"]·ben["মেষদ্বারে"]·DE["Schaftor"]·EN["sheep-gate"]·FR["des-brebis"]·heb["שַׁעַר הַצֹּאן"]·HI["भेड़-फाटक"]·ID["pintu-gerbang-domba"]·IT["probatike"]·jav["gapura-mènda"]·KO["양-문"]·RU["Овечьих-[ворот]"]·ES["de-ovejas"]·SW["lango-la-kondoo"]·TR["Koyun-Kapısı'nda"]·urd["بھیڑ-دروازے-کے"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
προβᾰτ-ικός, ή, όν, of sheep or goats, π. χορός a chorus of goats, as in the Αἶγες of Eupolis, Refs; ἡ π. πύλη the sheep-gate, LXX; without πύλη, NT+2nd c.AD+