45. agkura

Lexicon

agkura: Anchor

Original Word: ἄγκυρα
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: agkura
Pronunciation: ANG-koo-rah
Phonetic Spelling: (ang'-koo-rah)
Definition: Anchor
Meaning: an anchor.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

anchor.

From the same as agkale; an "anchor" (as crooked) -- anchor.

see GREEK agkale

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as agkalé
Definition
an anchor
NASB Translation
anchor (1), anchors (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 45: ἄγκυρα

ἄγκυρα, (ας, ἡ (see ἀγκάλη), an anchor — (ancient anchors resembled modern in form: were of iron, provided with a stock, and with two teeth-like extremities often but by no means always without flukes; see Roschach in Daremberg and Saglio's Dict. des Antiq. (1873), p. 267; Guhl and Koner, p. 258): ῥίπτειν to cast (Latinjacere), Acts 27:29; ἐκτείνειν, Acts 27:30; περιαίρειν, Acts 27:40. Figuratively, any stay or safeguard: as hope, Hebrews 6:19; Euripides, Hec. 78 (80); Heliodorus vii., p. 352 (350).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἀγκύρω (ankuroō), meaning "to anchor" or "to secure."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for the Greek word ἄγκυρα, the concept of hope and security can be related to several Hebrew terms that convey similar meanings, such as:

- מִקְוֶה (miqveh) • hope, expectation (Strong's Hebrew 4723)
- תִּקְוָה (tiqvah) • hope, expectation (Strong's Hebrew 8615)

These Hebrew terms, like ἄγκυρα, emphasize the theme of hope and trust in God's promises, providing a foundation for stability and security in the believer's life.

Usage: The term ἄγκυρα is used metaphorically in the New Testament to signify stability, security, and hope. It appears in contexts related to maritime activities and is used to illustrate spiritual truths.

Context: The Greek word ἄγκυρα (ankura) appears in the New Testament in the context of maritime imagery, symbolizing hope and steadfastness. In the ancient world, an anchor was a crucial tool for sailors, providing stability and security to ships amidst turbulent waters. This imagery is employed in the New Testament to convey spiritual truths about the believer's hope and security in God.

In Acts 27:29-30, 40, the term is used in a literal sense during the account of Paul's shipwreck. The sailors, fearing they might run aground on the rocks, cast four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. This passage highlights the practical use of anchors in navigation and safety during sea voyages.

Hebrews 6:19 employs the term metaphorically: "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain." Here, the anchor symbolizes the believer's hope in God's promises, providing spiritual stability and assurance. The imagery suggests that just as an anchor holds a ship steady, so does hope in Christ hold the believer firm amidst life's uncertainties.

The use of ἄγκυρα in these passages underscores the importance of hope and faith as stabilizing forces in the Christian life. It reflects the early Christian understanding of hope as not merely wishful thinking but as a confident expectation rooted in the faithfulness of God.

Forms and Transliterations

αγκυραν άγκυραν ἄγκυραν αγκυρας αγκύρας ἀγκύρας αγκώνα αγκώνας αγκώνες αγκωνίσκοι αγκωνίσκους αγκώνος ankuran ankuras ankyran ánkyran ankyras ankýras

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 27:29 N-AFP
GRK: πρύμνης ῥίψαντες ἀγκύρας τέσσαρας ηὔχοντο
NAS: four anchors from the stern
KJV: four anchors out of
INT: stern having cast anchors four they prayed

Acts 27:30 N-AFP
GRK: ἐκ πρῴρης ἀγκύρας μελλόντων ἐκτείνειν
NAS: to lay out anchors from the bow,
KJV: have cast anchors out of
INT: from [the] bow anchors being about to cast out

Acts 27:40 N-AFP
GRK: καὶ τὰς ἀγκύρας περιελόντες εἴων
NAS: And casting off the anchors, they left
KJV: when they had taken up the anchors, they committed
INT: and the anchors having cut away they left

Hebrews 6:19 N-AFS
GRK: ἣν ὡς ἄγκυραν ἔχομεν τῆς
NAS: hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
KJV: as an anchor of the soul,
INT: which as an anchor we have of the

Strong's Greek 45
4 Occurrences

ἄγκυραν — 1 Occ.
ἀγκύρας — 3 Occ.