Lexical Summary gomos: Load, Cargo Original Word: γόμος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cargo, freight, merchandiseFrom gemo; a load (as filling), i.e. (specially) a cargo, or (by extension) wares -- burden, merchandise. see GREEK gemo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom gemó Definition a ship's freight, cargo NASB Translation cargo (1), cargoes (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1117: γόμοςγόμος, γομου, ὁ (γέμω); a. the lading or freight of a ship, cargo, merchandise conveyed in a ship: Acts 21:3 (Herodotus 1, 194; (Aeschylus), Demosthenes, others; (in the Sept. the load of a beast of burden, Exodus 23:5; 2 Kings 5:17)). b. any merchandise: Revelation 18:11f. Strong’s Greek 1117 points to γόμος, a noun describing a load, freight, merchandise, or cargo—material goods transported for economic gain. The word always appears in maritime or commercial settings, highlighting the movement of wealth and the transitory nature of earthly possessions. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Acts 21:3 situates γόμος in the narrative of Paul’s third missionary journey: “We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo.” The term frames the apostle’s arrival in a bustling port city whose livelihood depended on maritime trade. Historical Background In the first-century Mediterranean world, sea lanes tied together Rome, Asia Minor, and the Levant. Ports such as Tyre, Alexandria, and Ephesus thrived on γόμος shipped in grain vessels, merchant galleys, and Alexandrian freighters. The presence of sizeable Christian communities in those ports (Acts 11:19; Ephesians 1:1) means believers daily witnessed the loading and unloading of γόμος. Luke’s reference in Acts 21:3 is therefore more than travelogue; it situates Paul among the commercial arteries of the empire. Theological Significance 1. Transience of Worldly Wealth. Revelation 18 sets γόμος in an eschatological lament. The same freight that symbolized prosperity in Acts becomes the emblem of judgment. When Babylon falls, her γόμος lies abandoned—reminding readers that “the form of this world is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31). Ministry and Practical Application • Stewardship. Modern believers navigate an economy no less complex than ancient trade routes. The fate of Babylon warns against measuring success by portfolios and possessions. Connections to Old Testament Imagery Isaiah 23 presents Tyre—the “merchant of the nations”—whose downfall foreshadows Revelation 18. Ezekiel 27 lists the wares of doomed Tyre in language reminiscent of Babylon’s γόμος. Thus, the prophets and John share a consistent divine critique of arrogant commerce divorced from righteousness. Eschatological Implications Babylon’s abandoned γόμος signals the climax of divine judgment upon a system exalting luxury above holiness. The mourning merchants portray a world stripped of its idols, preparing the stage for “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1) where value is measured in the radiance of God’s glory, not in freight manifests. Summary Γόμος surfaces sparingly yet vividly, threading together missionary travel, prophetic warning, and pastoral exhortation. It reminds the Church that earthly cargo is fleeting, divine purposes are strategic, and eternal riches await those who hold possessions lightly while clinging tightly to Christ. Englishman's Concordance Acts 21:3 N-AMSGRK: ἀποφορτιζόμενον τὸν γόμον NAS: the ship was to unload its cargo. KJV: was to unlade her burden. INT: unloading the cargo Revelation 18:11 N-AMS Revelation 18:12 N-AMS |
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