πλόος

a voyage

Definition

πλόος refers specifically to a sea voyage or sailing journey. In the New Testament, it consistently describes the act of sailing or the voyage itself, particularly in the context of Paul's missionary travels by ship. The word appears exclusively in Acts, where it denotes both completed voyages (Acts 21:7, referring to the conclusion of a voyage from Tyre to Ptolemais) and planned or anticipated sea journeys (Acts 27:9-10, where Paul advises against setting sail due to dangerous seasonal conditions). It captures the entire undertaking of a sea passage, not merely the physical act of sailing.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only in the book of Acts (Acts 21:7; 27:9; 27:10), exclusively within narratives of Paul's sea travels. It is employed in practical, logistical contexts to mark the progression, completion, or advisability of maritime journeys during his missionary work and final voyage to Rome. The usage highlights the importance and peril of sea travel in the ancient world for spreading the gospel.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek verb πλέω (pleō, G4126), meaning 'to sail' or 'to float.' πλόος is a noun form indicating the action or result of sailing—a voyage. It is related to other nautical terms in Greek, emphasizing its root connection to maritime travel.

Semantic Range

While πλόος itself is a mundane travel term, its usage in Acts is theologically significant. The voyages it describes are not mere travelogues but integral to the fulfillment of God's mission. In Acts, sea journeys are the means by which the gospel is carried 'to the end of the earth' (Acts 1:8). Paul's perilous voyages, including the shipwreck in Acts 27, demonstrate divine providence and protection in advancing the Gospel, showing that even routine or dangerous travel serves God's sovereign plan for witness.

In the 1st-century Roman world, sea voyages were the primary means of long-distance travel and commerce, but they were also notoriously dangerous, especially outside the summer sailing season (as noted in Acts 27:9). A 'voyage' (πλόος) implied significant planning, cost, and risk. Understanding this context amplifies the narrative tension in Acts and the weight of Paul's warnings about sailing.

πορεία (poreia, G4197) — a journey or wayfaring, a more general term for travel by any means, not specifically by sea. πλοῖον (ploion, G4143) — a ship or vessel, the physical means of the voyage, whereas πλόος is the journey itself.

Word Details

Scripture References