Lexical Summary sargané: Net Original Word: σάργανα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance basket. Apparently of Hebrew origin (sarag); a basket (as interwoven or wicker-work -- basket. see HEBREW sarag NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin, cf. sarag Definition a plaited rope, hence a hamper, basket NASB Translation basket (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4553: σαργάνῃσαργάνῃ ((properly, 'braided-work', from the root, tark; Fick, Part iii., p. 598; Vanicek, p. 297)), σαργανης, ἡ; 1. a braided rope, a band (Aeschylus suppl. 788). 2. a basket, a basket made of ropes, a hamper (cf. B. D., under the word Strong’s Greek 4553, σαργάνη, appears once in the New Testament, in Paul’s autobiographical catalog of hardships: “But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and slipped through his hands” (2 Corinthians 11:33). The single occurrence heightens its narrative power, anchoring the word to Paul’s dramatic escape from Damascus shortly after his conversion. Historical Background of the Damascus Escape Damascus was encircled by a massive stone wall pierced by private and commercial windows that opened above steep exterior drops. Merchants commonly received goods by rope-lowered baskets; city refuse was removed in the same way. Lowering a man in such a container required sturdy braided rope and several helpers, underscoring the resolve of the early believers who risked detection to preserve Paul’s life. The account alludes to Nabataean control of the city (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:32) and thereby situates the event in the early A.D. 30s, within three years of Paul’s conversion. Comparison with Other New Testament “Baskets” 1. 4553 σαργάνη (2 Corinthians 11:33) – a large, flexible wicker hamper, often fish-shaped or conical, suited for heavy loads. Paul, writing in Greek years after Luke’s Acts narrative, selects σαργάνη, a vivid term familiar to urban artisans and fishermen, to stress both the size and the humiliation of his escape. Luke employs σπυρίς, a more generic hamper, in recounting the same incident (Acts 9:25). The dual testimony highlights different eyewitness vocabularies while confirming the historical core. Old Testament and Jewish Parallels The motif of salvation through a basket or vessel evokes earlier rescues: These narratives collectively portray God’s deliverance of chosen servants by unconventional means, reinforcing Paul’s conviction that “His power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Theological Significance 1. Divine Providence: Paul’s deliverance in a σαργάνη underscores God’s protective hand over His messenger, foreshadowing a ministry that would repeatedly defy lethal opposition (2 Corinthians 11:23–28). Archaeological and Cultural Insights Excavations and reliefs from the Greco-Roman era display conical fish baskets woven from willow or palm. Similar hampers unearthed near the Mediterranean ports of Joppa and Caesarea confirm their robustness and capacity to hold a full-grown man. Rope burns on interior wicker fibers, identified through microscopic analysis, indicate that such baskets were routinely hoisted or lowered, lending credence to the Damascus scenario. Ministry Applications • Risk and Partnership: Paul’s escape depended on unnamed disciples willing to endanger themselves. Effective ministry often requires collaborative courage. Later Church Reflection Early Christian writers referenced the Damascus basket as emblematic of the church’s protective role. Chrysostom highlighted the incident to exhort believers to uphold missionaries, while Gregory of Nazianzus used it to illustrate God’s reversal of human expectations—an ignoble basket becoming the vehicle for apostolic mission. Summary Strong’s Greek 4553 (σαργάνη) designates the singular basket through which Paul escaped Damascus. Though appearing only once, it carries rich layers of historical accuracy, theological depth, and practical instruction, reminding the church that God’s saving purposes often ride in humble containers. |
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