Topical Bible: Ships: Often Impelled by Oars

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the ancient world, ships were a vital means of transportation and trade, and they are frequently mentioned in the Bible. These vessels were often propelled by oars, a method that allowed for greater control and maneuverability, especially in the calm or unpredictable waters of the Mediterranean Sea and other bodies of water mentioned in Scripture.

Biblical References and Context

The use of oars is explicitly mentioned in several passages, highlighting their importance in navigation and commerce. In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet describes the grandeur of Tyre, a prominent maritime city, using the imagery of a ship: "The oarsmen have brought you into great waters. The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas" (Ezekiel 27:26). This passage underscores the reliance on oarsmen to guide ships through the vast and often treacherous waters.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul’s journeys frequently involved travel by ship. In Acts 27, during Paul's voyage to Rome, the ship encounters a violent storm. The narrative describes the crew's efforts to manage the ship, which would have included the use of oars to stabilize and steer the vessel amidst the tempest.

Cultural and Historical Significance

In the ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world, ships were essential for trade, military endeavors, and cultural exchange. The design of these ships often included a combination of sails and oars. While sails were used to harness the wind, oars provided a reliable means of propulsion when the wind was insufficient or when precise navigation was required.

The construction of these ships varied, but they typically featured a long, narrow hull to accommodate multiple rows of oarsmen. This design allowed for speed and agility, crucial for both commercial and military purposes. The Phoenicians, renowned for their seafaring skills, were particularly adept at building and navigating such vessels, contributing to their dominance in Mediterranean trade.

Symbolism and Theological Insights

Ships propelled by oars can also be seen as a metaphor for human effort and cooperation. Just as oarsmen must work in unison to propel a ship forward, believers are called to work together in unity for the advancement of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God. The imagery of a ship navigating through stormy seas can also symbolize the Christian journey, with its trials and tribulations, requiring faith and perseverance.

Moreover, the reliance on both oars and sails can be likened to the balance between human effort and divine guidance. While human effort is necessary, it is ultimately the "wind" of the Holy Spirit that directs and empowers the believer's journey.

Conclusion

The biblical depiction of ships, particularly those propelled by oars, provides rich insights into the historical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of ancient maritime practices. These vessels not only facilitated the spread of commerce and culture but also serve as enduring symbols of the Christian life and mission.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jonah 1:13
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea worked, and was tempestuous against them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 6:19
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the ship: and they were afraid.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Preparations for the Invasion of Greece.
... the oars by which they were impelled required almost ... from time to time, in transport
ships, as fast ... only real safeguard of wealth was, often, the concealment ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter iv preparations for the.htm

Our Watchword
... May our spirits be impelled by a divine energy towards ... his nostrils, and yet that
is too often the condition ... They waited many years till their ships had well ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/our watchword.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... it a kind of natural breakwater, behind which ships could find ... and exact representation
a certain caustic humour, which impelled them often to substitute ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

The Life of S. Hilarion.
... ruin, showing that it was a legion that impelled them. ... because they are so large
that they often swallow oxen ... sea to burst its bounds, and left ships hanging on ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the life of s hilarion.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... in a net, with blows from broken oars, with fragments ... with the sheer weight of his
ships and battalions. ... were restored to order, and, as was often customary in ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... sword, the purple robes,"the tawny oxen, the hollow ships, the tapering oars,"the
wine ... aloof from the pressure and turmoil around us, often felt as ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm