3712. orguia

Lexicon

orguia: Fathom

Original Word: ὀργυιά
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: orguia
Pronunciation: or-goo-ee-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (org-wee-ah')
Definition: Fathom
Meaning: a fathom, about five or six feet.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

a fathom.

From oregomai; a stretch of the arms, i.e. A fathom -- fathom.

see GREEK oregomai

HELPS Word-studies

3712 orgyiá ("from oregō, 'to stretch out,' " J. Thayer) – properly, outstretched – originally the distance between the tips of the left and right hands when outstretched; a fathom, the unit of measure (roughly) five to six feet long.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from oregó
Definition
a fathom (the length of the outstretched arms)
NASB Translation
fathoms (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3712: ὀργυιά

ὀργυιά, ὀργυιάς, ἡ (ὀρέγω to stretch out), the distance across the breast front the tip of one middle finger to the tip of the other when the arms are outstretched; five or six feet, a fathom: Acts 27:28. (Homer, Herodotus, Xenophon, others.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ὀρέγω (oregō), meaning "to stretch out" or "to reach."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ὀργυιά, as the concept of a fathom as a specific unit of measurement is more closely associated with Greek and Roman maritime practices. However, similar concepts of measurement and depth can be found in Hebrew texts, though they are not directly linked to a specific Hebrew word corresponding to ὀργυιά.

Usage: The term ὀργυιά is used in the New Testament to describe a specific measurement of depth, particularly in nautical contexts.

Context: The Greek term ὀργυιά, translated as "fathom" in English, is a unit of measurement that was commonly used in ancient maritime activities. It is equivalent to the span of a person's outstretched arms, roughly six feet or two meters. This measurement was crucial for sailors in determining the depth of water, especially when navigating treacherous or unfamiliar waters.

In the New Testament, ὀργυιά is mentioned in the context of Paul's voyage to Rome. In Acts 27:28, the sailors measure the depth of the sea using a sounding line and find it to be twenty fathoms, then fifteen fathoms as they approach land. This passage highlights the practical use of the fathom in ensuring safe passage and avoiding shipwreck.

The use of ὀργυιά in the New Testament reflects the broader Greco-Roman world where such measurements were standard in seafaring. The fathom was an essential tool for ancient mariners, providing a means to gauge the depth of water and navigate safely. This term underscores the historical and cultural context of the biblical narrative, illustrating the everyday practices of the time.

Forms and Transliterations

οργυιας οργυιάς ὀργυιὰς orguias orgyiàs

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 27:28 N-AFP
GRK: βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς εἴκοσι βραχὺ
NAS: [it to be] twenty fathoms; and a little
KJV: [it] twenty fathoms: and
INT: having sounded they found fathoms twenty a little

Acts 27:28 N-AFP
GRK: βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς δεκαπέντε
NAS: and found [it to be] fifteen fathoms.
KJV: found [it] fifteen fathoms.
INT: having sounded they found fathoms fifteen

Strong's Greek 3712
2 Occurrences

ὀργυιὰς — 2 Occ.