ὀργυιά
a fathom, about five or six feet
Definition
The Greek word ὀργυιά (orgyia) refers to a unit of measurement known as a 'fathom,' which is the approximate distance between the tips of a man's outstretched arms. In the ancient world, this was a standard measure for depth, equivalent to about six Greek feet or roughly 1.85 meters (six modern feet). Its sole biblical occurrence is in Acts 27:28, where sailors on Paul's ship use it to measure the depth of the sea during a storm. There are no other distinct meanings or senses of the word in biblical literature; it consistently denotes this specific linear measurement.
Biblical Usage
ὀργυιά is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:28, within the narrative of Paul's perilous sea voyage to Rome. In this context, sailors are taking soundings to determine the water's depth as their ship approaches land during a storm. The usage is purely practical and descriptive, serving to convey the precise, desperate actions taken to avoid shipwreck. No other New Testament books employ this term, and its usage pattern is strictly as a technical nautical measurement.
Etymology
The word ὀργυιά is derived from the Greek verb ὀρέγω (orego), meaning 'to stretch out' or 'to reach,' which reflects the action of extending one's arms to measure the fathom. It is a native Greek term for this unit of length, directly related to the human body as a measuring standard. Cognates or related forms in other languages are not prominent, as it was a culturally specific measurement.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Greco-Roman world, measurements were often based on the human body, making them variable but practical. A fathom (orgyia) was a common maritime measurement used by sailors and fishermen to gauge water depth, especially when navigating near shores or in shallow waters. This differs from modern, standardized metric or imperial systems, highlighting the hands-on, experiential nature of ancient seafaring. The use in Acts 27:28 authentically reflects the nautical practices of the time, adding vivid detail to the historical account.
πῆχυς (pēchus, G4083) — a cubit, a shorter unit of length based on the forearm; used for various measurements in construction and daily life.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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