3989. pelagos

Lexicon

pelagos: Sea, open sea, deep

Original Word: πέλαγος
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: pelagos
Pronunciation: peh'-lah-gos
Phonetic Spelling: (pel'-ag-os)
Definition: Sea, open sea, deep
Meaning: the sea, the deep.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

depth, sea.

Of uncertain affinity; deep or open sea, i.e. The main -- depth, sea.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
the deep, the deep sea
NASB Translation
depth (1), sea (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3989: πέλαγος

πέλαγος, πελαγους, τό (by some (e. g. Lob. Pathol. Proleg., p. 805) connected with παξ, i. e. the 'flat' expanse (cf. Latinaequor); but by Curtius, § 367, et al. (cf. Vanicek, p. 515) with πλήσσω, i. e. the 'beating' waves (cf. our 'plash')), from Homer down;

a. properly, the sea i. e. the high sea, the deep (where ships sail; accordingly but a part of the sea, θάλασσα, Aristotle, Probl. sect. 23 quaest. 3 (p. 931{b}, 14f) ἐν τῷ λιμενι ὀλίγη ἐστιν ἡ θάλασσα, ἐν δέ τῷ πελάγει βαθεῖα. Hence) τό πέλαγος τῆς θαλάσσης,aequor maris (A. V. the depth of the sea; cf. Trench, § xiii.), Matthew 18:6 (so too Apollonius Rhodius, 2, 608; πέλαγος αἰγαιας ἁλός, Euripides, Tro. 88; Hesychius πέλαγος ... βυθός, πλάτος θαλάσσης. Cf. Winers Grammar, 611 (568); (Trench, as above)).

b. universally, the sea: τό πέλαγος τό κατά τήν Κιλικίαν, Acts 27:5 (see examples from Greek authors in Passow, under the word πέλαγος, 1; (Liddell and Scott, under I.)).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the Greek root word πέλαγος, which is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root plāk-, meaning "to be flat" or "to spread out."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for πέλαγος, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew words that describe large bodies of water or the sea, such as יָם (yam, Strong's H3220), which is commonly used in the Old Testament to refer to the sea or large bodies of water. This term also conveys the idea of vastness and depth, similar to the Greek πέλαγος.

Usage: The word πέλαγος is used in the New Testament to describe the sea, often highlighting its vast and expansive nature. It appears in contexts where the immensity and depth of the sea are significant to the narrative or metaphorical meaning.

Context: πέλαγος is a Greek term used in the New Testament to denote the open sea, distinct from the more confined or coastal waters. It is used to convey the idea of the sea's vastness and depth, often in a metaphorical sense to illustrate the boundless nature of God's creation or the overwhelming challenges faced by individuals.

In the New Testament, πέλαγος appears in passages that emphasize the grandeur and sometimes the peril of the sea. For example, in Matthew 18:6 (BSB), Jesus uses the imagery of the sea to illustrate the severity of causing a believer to stumble: "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea (πέλαγος)." Here, the term underscores the seriousness of the offense by invoking the image of the deep, unfathomable sea.

The use of πέλαγος in the New Testament reflects the ancient understanding of the sea as a place of mystery and danger, as well as a symbol of the vastness of God's creation. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the challenges and trials of life, as well as the infinite nature of divine grace and judgment.

Forms and Transliterations

επελέκησαν πελαγει πελάγει πελαγος πέλαγος πέλας πελεκάνα πελεκάνι πελεκητά πελεκητοίς πελεκητών pelagei pelágei pelagos pélagos

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 18:6 N-DNS
GRK: ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης
NAS: and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
KJV: in the depth of the sea.
INT: in the depth of the sea

Acts 27:5 N-ANS
GRK: τό τε πέλαγος τὸ κατὰ
NAS: When we had sailed through the sea along the coast
KJV: when we had sailed over the sea of
INT: the and moreover along

Strong's Greek 3989
2 Occurrences

πελάγει — 1 Occ.
πέλαγος — 1 Occ.