τετράγων-ος G5068
square, four-sided; having four equal angles and sides
This adjective means square or four-sided with equal dimensions. In Revelation 21:16, it describes the New Jerusalem: 'the city lies foursquare, its length and width and height are equal.' The geometric perfection symbolizes completeness and stability. Classical usage could describe squared timbers, square formations of troops, or square numbers in mathematics. The consistent cross-linguistic rendering ('four-square,' 'cuadrada,' 'viereckig') preserves the geometric precision. This is architectural perfection reflecting divine order.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Appears in Rev 21:16 describing the New Jerusalem's shape: the city is 'foursquare,' with length, width, and height equal. The geometric perfection symbolizes completeness, stability, and divine order. Classical background includes military formations and architecture, but here the emphasis is cosmic geometry—God's city is perfectly proportioned. Cross-linguistic evidence consistently renders the four-sided, equal-dimensioned character of the holy city. 1×
AR["مُرَبَّعَةٌ"]·ben["চতুর্ভুজাকার"]·DE["viereckig"]·EN["four-square"]·FR["viereckig"]·heb["מְרֻבָּעַת"]·HI["चौकोर"]·ID["empat-persegi"]·IT["tetragōnos"]·jav["segi-sekawan"]·KO["네모나게"]·PT["quadrada"]·RU["четырёхугольный"]·ES["cuadrada"]·SW["mraba"]·TR["kare"]·urd["چوکور"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G3956 1. all (collective plural) (616×)H3967 1. cardinal numeral hundred (550×)H1419a 1. great, large (general quality) (486×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)G1520 1. cardinal number one (339×)H6240 1. ten (cardinal number) (334×)H6242 1. twenty (cardinal number) (315×)H2568 1. cardinal number five (309×)H0702 1. four (cardinal number) (277×)G3956 2. every, each (distributive) (227×)H8337 1. six (cardinal number) (215×)G3956 3. all things, everything (substantive) (211×)G3956 4. (187×)H6235 1. ten (177×)G3173 1. great in size or extent (176×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
τετράγων-ος [ᾰ], ον, with four angles, but usually square, Refs 5th c.BC+; δοκοὶ τ. squared, Refs 5th c.BC+; ξύλα τ. Refs 4th c.BC+; τ. ἐργασία, of the Hermes-statues, Refs 5th c.BC+; κύκλος τετράγωνος ταῖς ἐπιφανείαις a ring with four surfaces, the breadth of the outer and inner equal to the depth of the two sides, Refs 1st c.BC+ __2 τὸ τ. a square, Refs 5th c.BC+, and frequently in Geometry…