ἀποφορτίζομαι

I unload, discharge

Definition

The verb ἀποφορτίζομαι means 'to unload' or 'to discharge a cargo.' In its sole New Testament occurrence in Acts 21:3, it describes the practical action of a ship unloading its freight. The term carries a straightforward, commercial sense of removing goods from a vessel. There are no other biblical passages where the meaning differs, as it is used only once in this specific, literal context.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 21:3. It describes a specific moment in Paul's voyage to Jerusalem, where the ship on which he was traveling 'unloaded its cargo' at the port of Tyre. The usage is purely narrative and logistical, detailing the ship's itinerary and stop for practical business, with no figurative or theological application in the text.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀπό (apo, meaning 'from' or 'away from') and the verb φορτίζω (phortizō, meaning 'to load' or 'to burden'). The compound thus literally means 'to load from,' i.e., to remove a load. The root φορτίζω is related to φόρτος (phortos, 'a burden' or 'cargo').

Semantic Range

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, maritime trade was vital. Unloading a ship (ἀποφορτίζομαι) was a routine but significant economic activity at port cities like Tyre, a major commercial hub. This action underscores the practical, travelogue nature of much of the narrative in Acts, reflecting the real-world logistics of sea travel in the 1st century.

ἐκφορτίζομαι (ekphortizomai, G670 alternate form) — a variant spelling with the same meaning. κατατίθημι (katatithēmi, G2698) — can mean 'to lay down' or 'deposit,' but is broader and not specifically maritime. βαστάζω (bastazō, G941) — means 'to bear' or 'carry' a burden, but not specifically to unload it.

Word Details

Scripture References