Lexical Summary kubernétés: Pilot, Helmsman, Captain, Steersman Original Word: κυβερνήτης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pilot, captainFrom the same as kubernesis; helmsman, i.e. (by implication) captain -- (ship) master. see GREEK kubernesis NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as kubernésis Definition a steersman, pilot NASB Translation pilot (1), shipmaster (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2942: κυβερνήτηςκυβερνήτης, κυβερνητου, ὁ (κυβερνάω (`to steer'; see the preceding word)); from Homer down; steersman, helmsman, sailing-master; (A. V. master, ship-master): Acts 27:11; Revelation 18:17. (Ezekiel 27:8, 27f.) STRONGS NT 2942a: κυκλεύωκυκλεύω: 1 aorist ἐκύκλευσα; to go round (Strabo and other later writers); to encircle, encompass, surround: τήν παρεμβολήν, Revelation 20:9 (where R G Tr ἐκύκλωσαν); (τινα, John 10:24 Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading; (see WH's Appendix, p. 171)). The κυβερνήτης was recognized as the professional pilot or helmsman of a sea-going vessel. In antiquity, large merchant ships commonly carried three principal officers: the owner (or master), the captain (nauklēros), and the pilot. While the captain commanded the crew, the pilot was responsible for steering the ship through hazardous waters, reading winds and currents, and determining a safe course. Ancient writers such as Homer and Aristotle often portrayed the pilot as the indispensable guardian of life and cargo, and inscriptions from Mediterranean ports confirm the high esteem and compensation granted to these specialists. Biblical Occurrences 1. Acts 27:11 presents the pilot in a routine but revealing setting. Having warned of impending danger, Paul is overruled when “the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship rather than by what Paul said”. The narrative juxtaposes spiritual discernment with professional competence. While the centurion’s trust in maritime expertise is understandable, Luke’s record subtly warns that secular wisdom, when unchecked by divine counsel, can lead to avoidable peril (compare Acts 27:21-26). Theological Themes Stewardship and Accountability Both passages highlight stewardship. The Acts account reminds readers that technical skill carries moral responsibility; the pilot’s misjudgment endangers all aboard. Revelation widens the lens: maritime professionals who profited from Babylon must now face the consequences of participation in an unjust economy. Scripture thereby affirms that economic and professional sectors do not operate outside God’s moral order. Human Expertise versus Divine Guidance Acts emphasizes the limits of human expertise. The centurion’s confidence in the pilot contrasts with Paul’s confidence in God’s promise (Acts 27:23-25). The eventual shipwreck vindicates Paul’s spiritual insight without diminishing the value of maritime skills; rather, it insists upon the supremacy of divine revelation when the two appear to conflict. Eschatological Certainty Revelation 18:17-19 demonstrates that no institution—however sophisticated—can steer itself clear of God’s final judgment. Pilots, whose vocation is to avoid wreckage, must watch helplessly while Babylon sinks. The scene anticipates the consummation of history when every earthly security proves insufficient apart from Christ. Ministry Significance Leadership Imagery New Testament writers elsewhere employ nautical metaphors for Christian leadership. James 3:4 speaks of a ship “driven by strong winds” yet guided by a small rudder, illustrating how spiritual leaders shape congregational direction. In 1 Corinthians 12:28 the related term κυβερνήσεις (“administrations”) designates Spirit-empowered oversight within the church. The figure of the pilot therefore enriches biblical teaching on wise, Spirit-directed governance. Pastoral Application Christ as the True Pilot Early Christian homilies occasionally likened Jesus Christ to the κυβερνήτης who guides the church through turbulent seas (compare Mark 4:39). While human pilots may falter, Christ never loses the helm. Hebrews 6:19-20 describes hope as “an anchor for the soul,” fastened where Jesus, our forerunner, has entered within the veil. The anchor metaphor complements the pilot image: both assure believers of safe arrival at God’s appointed harbor. Patristic Echoes Clement of Rome (First Epistle, ch. 59) exhorts the Corinthian church to “let us fix our eyes on the helmsman of our souls,” reflecting an early reception of the nautical motif for divine guidance. Tertullian contrasts the church’s stability with the world’s shipwrecks, again invoking the pilot theme to celebrate God’s providential oversight. Practical Counsel for Modern Disciples 1. Prayerfully evaluate professional advice in light of Scripture, especially when moral stakes are high. Conclusion Strong’s Greek 2942 spotlights the helmsman who physically steers ships and, by extension, invites reflection on spiritual and moral navigation. The Scriptural record honors professional competence while insisting that ultimate security lies in heeding divine revelation. Whether guiding a first-century grain vessel or charting the course of a twenty-first-century congregation, the lesson endures: vessels remain safe when the Pilot is trusted and his directions obeyed. Englishman's Concordance Acts 27:11 N-DMSGRK: ἑκατοντάρχης τῷ κυβερνήτῃ καὶ τῷ NAS: persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship KJV: believed the master and INT: [the] centurion by the pilot and the Revelation 18:17 N-NMS Strong's Greek 2942 |
    |