Lexical Summary orguia: Fathom Original Word: ὀργυιά Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a fathom. From oregomai; a stretch of the arms, i.e. A fathom -- fathom. see GREEK oregomai HELPS Word-studies 3712 orgyiá ("from oregō, 'to stretch out,' " J. Thayer) – properly, outstretched – originally the distance between the tips of the left and right hands when outstretched; a fathom, the unit of measure (roughly) five to six feet long. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom oregó Definition a fathom (the length of the outstretched arms) NASB Translation fathoms (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3712: ὀργυιάὀργυιά, ὀργυιάς, ἡ (ὀρέγω to stretch out), the distance across the breast front the tip of one middle finger to the tip of the other when the arms are outstretched; five or six feet, a fathom: Acts 27:28. (Homer, Herodotus, Xenophon, others.) Topical Lexicon Definition and MeasurementA fathom (Greek ὀργυιά, Strong’s 3712) was the seafaring measure spanning the distance between the tips of the fingers when a man’s arms are fully outstretched, roughly six feet (about 1.8 m). In the nautical world of the Mediterranean this unit provided a quick, reliable gauge of water depth without resorting to complex instruments, allowing sailors to judge how close they were to shore or hidden shoals. Biblical Context in Acts 27 Luke records two consecutive soundings on Paul’s voyage to Rome: “And they took soundings and found twenty fathoms. And after sailing a little farther they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms” (Acts 27:28). The sudden change from about 120 ft to 90 ft signaled that the ship was rapidly nearing land, prompting the crew to drop anchors and prepare for impending ground-fall (Acts 27:29). The passage underscores three points: 1. Luke’s eye for technical detail. His precision in naming the unit, the sequence of soundings, and the resulting actions reflects the skill of a careful historian. Maritime Practice in the First Century Sounding with a weighted line marked with knots at intervals of one fathom was standard throughout the Roman world. The practice: • Enabled night sailing, since depth could be gauged by feel. The inclusion of the term strengthens the historical fabric of Acts, revealing a voyage description fully compatible with Roman nautical manuals and archaeological finds, such as lead sounding weights recovered from ancient shipwrecks. Importance for the Reliability of Scripture Because the fathom was not a religious term but a technical measurement, its accurate use in Acts 27 is a strong incidental confirmation of Luke’s firsthand knowledge—or faithful preservation of eyewitness testimony—regarding Mediterranean seamanship. The passage matches the seabed profile off the coast of Malta, where depths indeed rise sharply toward the island. Modern hydrographic charts show a break from roughly twenty to fifteen fathoms inside a short distance, giving external corroboration to the biblical account. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Scripture intersects real life. God’s Word speaks in the ordinary language of sailors and merchants, grounding its message in verifiable events. Lessons for the Contemporary Believer • Measure your circumstances realistically while resting in the Lord’s promises. Select References Acts 27:17, 27–29, 39–44; Psalm 107:23–30; Jonah 1:4–16; Luke 1:3; 2 Corinthians 11:25. Forms and Transliterations οργυιας οργυιάς ὀργυιὰς orguias orgyiàsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 27:28 N-AFPGRK: βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς εἴκοσι βραχὺ NAS: [it to be] twenty fathoms; and a little KJV: [it] twenty fathoms: and INT: having sounded they found fathoms twenty a little Acts 27:28 N-AFP |
    |