σκᾰφ-η G4627
ship's boat, skiff; a small boat carried by or towed behind a larger ship
This nautical term denotes a ship's boat or skiff—the small auxiliary boat carried by or towed behind larger vessels for various purposes. Classical usage included light boats, cargo vessels, and even children's cradles (from the similar shape). Luke uses it exclusively in Acts 27 during Paul's shipwreck narrative to describe the lifeboat the sailors attempted to use.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Refers to the ship's boat during Paul's voyage and shipwreck. Acts 27:16 describes running under the shelter of an island: 'we were able with difficulty to secure the ship's boat.' Acts 27:30 recounts the sailors' attempt to escape: 'as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea.' Acts 27:32 reports Paul's intervention: 'the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it fall away.' The Spanish 'bote,' French 'barque,' and German forms are all nautical terminology. The sailors' attempt to save themselves in the skiff would have doomed everyone—Paul's wisdom ensured all remained aboard the larger ship and survived. 3×
AR["القَارِبَ", "القَارِبِ"]·ben["নৌকাকে", "নৌকার"]·DE["σκάφην", "σκάφης"]·EN["ship’s-boat"]·FR["barque"]·heb["הַסִּירָה", "סִירָה"]·HI["नावकी", "नावकी;", "नावको"]·ID["sekoci", "sekoci,", "sekoci;"]·IT["barca"]·jav["sekoci", "sekoci,", "sekoci;"]·KO["구명정-의", "구명정을"]·PT["bote", "bote,", "bote;"]·RU["лодки", "лодкой", "лодку"]·ES["bote"]·SW["mashua"]·TR["filikanın", "filikayı"]·urd["کشتی"]
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σκᾰφ-η, ἡ: __I trough, tub, basin, or bowl Refs 8th c.BC+; kneading-trough or baker's tray, Refs 4th c.BC+; wash-tub, bath, Refs 5th c.BC+; bowl or tray on which offerings were carried by metoeci at the Panathenaea, etc., Refs; compare σκαφηφόρος: proverbial, τὰ σῦκα σῦκα, τὴν σκάφην σκάφην λέγει Refs 1st c.AD+ __I.2 light boat, skiff, Refs 5th c.BC+ (with a pun on signification Refs 3rd c.BC+;…