Bible Dictionary
Pinnacle
The pinnacle of the temple was a high, elevated part of the temple complex to which the devil took Jesus during His temptation. Satan urged Him to throw Himself down, but Jesus refused to test God.
Definition
The pinnacle of the temple was a high, elevated part of the temple complex. The precise location is uncertain; it may have been part of the temple roof or a high point in adjacent buildings overlooking a deep ravine.
Biblical Usage
During Jesus’ temptation, the devil took Him to the pinnacle and urged Him to throw Himself down. Jesus refused the temptation to test God.
Historical Background
One proposed location was the roof of the southern cloisters at the southeastern corner of the temple court, which stood far above the Kidron valley. Another view places it on an adjacent high structure. The supplied material does not settle the identification.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A little wing, (Matt. 4:5; Luke 4:9). On the southern side of the temple court was a range of porches or cloisters forming three arcades. At the south-eastern corner the roof of this cloister was some 300 feet above the Kidron valley. The pinnacle, some parapet or wing-like projection, was above this roof, and hence at a great height, probably 350 feet or more above the valley.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(of the temple), (Matthew 4:5; Luke 4:9) The Greek word ought to be rendered not a pinnacle, but the pinnacle. The only part of the temple which answered to the modern sense of pinnacle was the golden spikes erected on the roof to prevent birds from settling there. Perhaps the word means the battlement ordered by law to be added to every roof. (According to Alford it was the roof of Herod’s royal portico of the temple,“which overhung the ravine of Kedron from a dizzy height”—600 or 700 feet.-ED.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>pin'-a-k'-l (pterugion (Mt 4:5; Lu 4:9, the Revised Version margin "wing")) "The pinnacle of the temple" is named as the place to which the devil took Jesus, and there tempted Him to cast Himself down. It is not known what precise elevated spot is meant, whether a part of the roof of the temple itself, or some high point in the adjacent buildings overlooking the deep ravine. It was more probably the latter.</p>