4142. ploiarion

Lexical Summary

ploiarion: Little boat, small boat

Original Word: πλοιάριον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: ploiarion
Pronunciation: ploy-AR-ee-on
Phonetic Spelling: (ploy-ar'-ee-on)
KJV: boat, little (small) ship
NASB: small boats, boat, boats, little boat, small boat
Word Origin: [neuter of a presumed derivative of G4143 (πλοῖον - boat)]

1. a boat

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

boat, small ship.

Neuter of a presumed derivative of ploion; a boat -- boat, little (small) ship.

see GREEK ploion

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
dim. of ploion
Definition
a little boat
NASB Translation
boat (1), boats (1), little boat (1), small boat (1), small boats (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4142: πλοιάριον

πλοιάριον, πλοιαριου, τό (diminutive of πλοῖον, see γυναικάριον, at the end), a small vessel, a boat: Mark 3:9; Mark 4:36 Rec.; Luke 5:2 L marginal reading T Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading; John 6:(a), b Rec., (where L Tr marginal reading WH πλοῖα), L T Tr WH; . (Cf. B. D., under the word Ship (13).) (Aristophanes, Xenophon, Diodorus, others.)

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 4142 designates the “small boat” or “skiff” that appears a handful of times in the Gospels. Though diminutive in form, the term highlights strategic craft used along the Sea of Galilee (and, by implication, other bodies of water) for ferrying, fishing, or serving as tenders to larger vessels. These modest craft become backdrops for moments of revelation, provision and post-resurrection commissioning.

Occurrences in the New Testament

• Mark 3:9 – As crowds pressed upon Him, “He told His disciples to have a small boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him.”
• John 6:22-24 – The morning after the feeding of the five thousand, “other small boats” landed near the place of the miracle; the crowd realized that Jesus had not entered the disciples’ boat, prompting their pursuit of Him across the lake.
• John 6:23 – “Some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.”
• John 21:8 – Following the risen Lord’s appearance, “the other disciples came in the small boat, dragging the net full of fish.”

Historical Background of Small Boats on the Sea of Galilee

Archaeological finds such as the first-century “Galilee Boat” (unearthed in 1986) confirm that 26- to 30-foot wooden vessels—planked with cedar and oak and propelled by oars and a square sail—were common in Jesus’ day. Smaller craft (πλοιάρια) served as:

1. Auxiliary tenders to larger fishing boats, allowing crews to set or retrieve nets.
2. Shuttles to escort passengers from shore to deeper-draft vessels.
3. Independent fishing boats, especially in calmer inlets.

Because the lake could be crossed in under two hours at its widest point, such boats facilitated constant traffic between towns like Capernaum, Bethsaida, Tiberias and Magdala—towns at the heart of Jesus’ itinerant ministry.

Role in the Ministry of Jesus

1. Platform for Preaching (Mark 3:9): The skiff provided Jesus a natural amphitheater. Water carries sound, while distance protected Him from crush yet kept Him accessible.
2. Catalyst for Pursuit (John 6:22-24): When the crowds discovered multiple small boats but no Jesus, they embarked on a fresh search, illustrating the magnetism of His person and message.
3. Post-Resurrection Fellowship (John 21:8): The disciples’ small boat becomes the stage for the miraculous catch, echoing earlier calls (Luke 5) and affirming the continuity of their mission after the resurrection.

Symbolic and Theological Reflections

• Availability and Readiness: A humble craft, quickly prepared, enabled Christ to meet human need. Obedient readiness creates opportunities for divine encounter.
• Bridge Between Shore and Deep: The skiff mediates between land (daily life) and deep water (the unknown). Likewise, Jesus leads disciples from mundane routines to deeper revelation.
• Community of Labor: In John 21, multiple disciples share one small vessel; ministry is collaborative, not solitary.
• Providence in the Ordinary: Wooden planks, rope and oars—everyday materials—serve eternal purposes when yielded to the Master.

Practical Lessons for Believers

1. Keep a “small boat” ready—resources, time, or talents held in readiness for the Savior’s use.
2. Recognize that routine settings (commutes, workplaces, dinner tables) may become pulpit or mission field.
3. Pursue the Lord with the determination of the crowd in John 6: they crossed a lake to find Jesus; believers should cross comfort zones to abide in His presence.
4. Labor in unity: drag the nets together, as in John 21:8, trusting Christ for the harvest.

In each appearance of πλοιάριον the reader sees how God employs modest means to advance His kingdom, inviting disciples into faith, obedience and shared mission.

Forms and Transliterations

πλοιαρια πλοιάρια πλοιαριον πλοιάριον πλοιαριω πλοιαρίω πλοιαρίῳ ploiaria ploiária ploiario ploiariō ploiaríoi ploiaríōi ploiarion ploiárion

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 3:9 N-NNS
GRK: αὐτοῦ ἵνα πλοιάριον προσκαρτερῇ αὐτῷ
NAS: His disciples that a boat should stand ready
KJV: that a small ship should wait on
INT: of him that a boat might wait upon him

John 6:22 N-NNS
GRK: εἶδον ὅτι πλοιάριον ἄλλο οὐκ
NAS: other small boat there,
KJV: none other boat there, save
INT: having seen that boat other no

John 6:23 N-NNP
GRK: ἀλλὰ ἦλθεν πλοιάρια ἐκ Τιβεριάδος
INT: but other came boats from Tiberias

John 6:24 N-ANP
GRK: εἰς τὰ πλοιάρια καὶ ἦλθον
NAS: got into the small boats, and came
INT: into the boats and came

John 21:8 N-DNS
GRK: μαθηταὶ τῷ πλοιαρίῳ ἦλθον οὐ
NAS: came in the little boat, for they were not far
KJV: came in a little ship; (for
INT: disciples in the boat came not

Strong's Greek 4142
5 Occurrences

πλοιάρια — 2 Occ.
πλοιαρίῳ — 1 Occ.
πλοιάριον — 2 Occ.