1001. bolizó

Lexicon

bolizó: To heave the lead, to take soundings

Original Word: βολίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: bolizó
Pronunciation: bo-LEE-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (bol-id'-zo)
Definition: To heave the lead, to take soundings
Meaning: I cast the line (for sounding), I sound.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

to take soundings

From bolis; to heave the lead -- sound.

see GREEK bolis

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from bolis
Definition
to heave the lead
NASB Translation
took soundings (1), took...sounding (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1001: βολίζω

βολίζω: 1 aorist ἐβολισα; (βολίς a missile, dart; a line and plummet with which mariners sound the depth of the sea, a sounding-lead); to heave the lead, take soundings: Acts 27:28. (Besides only in Eustathius; (middle intransitive, to sink in water, Geoponica, 6, 17).)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the Greek noun βολίς (bolís), meaning "a missile" or "a dart," which is derived from the verb βάλλω (ballō), meaning "to throw" or "to cast."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Hebrew equivalent for the Greek verb βολίζω, as it is a specific term related to Greek nautical practices. However, the concept of measuring or assessing, in a broader sense, can be related to Hebrew terms such as מָדַד (madad, Strong's H4058), which means "to measure." This term is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, though not specifically in a nautical sense.

Usage: The term βολίζω is used in the context of navigation and maritime activities, specifically referring to the practice of taking soundings to determine the depth of water beneath a vessel.

Context: The Greek verb βολίζω appears in the New Testament in the context of maritime navigation. It is specifically found in Acts 27:28, where the crew of the ship carrying the Apostle Paul to Rome takes soundings to measure the depth of the sea as they approach land. This action was crucial for ensuring the safety of the vessel and its passengers, as it helped to avoid running aground on unseen underwater hazards.

In Acts 27:28, the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) translates the passage as follows: "They took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms. Going a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms." This passage illustrates the practical application of βολίζω in ancient seafaring, highlighting the importance of this practice in navigation and the preservation of life at sea.

The use of βολίζω in the New Testament reflects the broader cultural and historical context of the ancient Mediterranean world, where maritime travel was a common and often perilous undertaking. The ability to accurately measure water depth was a vital skill for sailors, enabling them to navigate safely through unfamiliar or treacherous waters.

Forms and Transliterations

βολισαντες βολίσαντες bolisantes bolísantes

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 27:28 V-APA-NMP
GRK: καὶ βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς
NAS: They took soundings and found
KJV: And sounded, and found [it] twenty
INT: and having sounded they found fathoms

Acts 27:28 V-APA-NMP
GRK: καὶ πάλιν βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς
NAS: They took soundings and found
KJV: a little further, they sounded again,
INT: and again having sounded they found fathoms

Strong's Greek 1001
2 Occurrences

βολίσαντες — 2 Occ.