στέγ-η G4721
a roof; the covering or top of a building, providing shelter and enclosure
The Greek term for a roof, the top covering of a house or building. In the NT it appears in statements about unworthiness: the centurion declares himself unworthy that Jesus should come 'under his roof' (Matt 8:8, Luke 7:6), and friends lower a paralytic through a roof to reach Jesus (Mark 2:4). The roof represents the household's boundary and protection; to enter under someone's roof is to enter their domestic space and accept their hospitality. Classical usage includes both the roof structure itself and, by extension, the house or dwelling it covers.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Simple uniformity: English 'roof', Spanish 'techo', French 'toit', German 'Dach'. The centurion's humility expresses itself spatially: 'I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof'—recognizing a boundary of holiness and status. Mark's account of the paralytic being lowered through the roof shows both ancient architecture (flat, accessible roofs) and desperate faith willing to tear through a house-top to reach Jesus. 3×
AR["سَقفي", "سَقفِ", "سَقْفَ"]·ben["ছাদ", "ছাদে"]·DE["Dach", "στέγην"]·EN["roof"]·FR["toit"]·heb["גַּג", "גָּג"]·HI["छत", "छत-के"]·ID["atap", "itu"]·IT["stegen"]·jav["payon"]·KO["지붕", "지붕을"]·PT["telhado", "teto"]·RU["кров", "крышу"]·ES["techo"]·SW["dari", "paa"]·TR["damı", "çatımın"]·urd["چھت", "چھت-کو"]
Related Senses
H1129 1. Qal: build, construct (316×)H2691a 1. court, courtyard, enclosure (142×)G4864 1. synagogue, place of Jewish assembly (56×)G5438 1. prison, place of confinement (41×)H4013 1. fortress, stronghold (37×)H0875 1. well, cistern (dug water source) (35×)H0352b 1. pillar or jamb of gateway (32×)H2474 1. window, opening in wall (32×)H1406 1. roof / rooftop (31×)H4609b 1. steps, stairs, stairway (31×)H1129 2. Nifal: be built, be established (30×)H0361 1. portico, porch (architectural structure) (27×)H1129 3. Qal participle: builder (27×)H1219 1. fortified, inaccessible (25×)H4581 1. fortress, stronghold (25×)H3805 1. capital of a pillar (24×)H4350 1. stand, base, pedestal (24×)H0759 1. palace, royal residence (21×)H4692 1. siege, besiegement (20×)G3618 1. build or construct physically (19×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
στέγ-η, Doric dialectand Aeolic dialect στέγα, ἡ, roof, NT+5th c.BC+; παρέχειν τινὶ σ. give one shelter, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 ceiling, Refs 7th c.BC+ __II roofed place, chamber, room, Refs 5th c.BC+; covered vestibule, Refs; ἕρκειος σ., of a tent, Refs 5th c.BC+; a hare's seat or form, Refs; ἐκ κατώρυχος σ., of the grave, Refs __II.2 storey of a house, Refs 3rd c.BC+; ἡ ἀνωτάτη σ. Refs 1st c.BC+;…