ναῦς

a ship, vessel

Definition

The Greek word ναῦς refers specifically to a seafaring ship or vessel, distinct from smaller boats. In the New Testament, it consistently denotes a larger sailing ship used for maritime transport and travel across open waters. Its sole biblical occurrence in Acts 27:41 describes the ship carrying the apostle Paul, which ran aground and was broken apart by the waves during a storm. This usage aligns with classical Greek, where ναῦς often indicated a warship or substantial merchant vessel, emphasizing its capacity for significant journeys.

Biblical Usage

Ναῦς is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:41, within the narrative of Paul's perilous sea voyage to Rome. The context is a detailed account of a shipwreck, highlighting the vessel's role in long-distance travel and the dangers of ancient seafaring. This singular usage in Acts reflects the word's specific application to a large, ocean-going ship, as opposed to the more common πλοῖον (ploion, G4143) used for various types of boats and ships elsewhere in the Gospels and Acts.

Etymology

Ναῦς is a classical Greek noun of ancient Indo-European origin, related to the Latin 'navis' (ship) and the English 'nautical.' It is the root of words like ναύτης (nautēs, G3492), meaning 'sailor.' In Greek, it traditionally denoted a ship, often with connotations of size and seaworthiness, and was used for both military and commercial vessels.

Semantic Range

In the 1st-century Roman world, a ναῦς represented a major investment and the primary means of long-distance trade and travel across the Mediterranean. Such ships were wooden, powered by sails, and vulnerable to storms, making voyages dangerous and seasonal. The ship in Acts 27 was likely a large merchant vessel carrying grain, illustrating the interconnectedness of the empire and the very real physical risks undertaken by early Christian missionaries like Paul.

πλοῖον (ploion, G4143) — a more general term for a boat or ship of any size, used frequently in the NT for fishing boats and other vessels. σκάφη (skaphē, G4627) — a smaller boat or skiff, like the dinghy mentioned in Acts 27:16, 30.

Word Details

Scripture References