σπῐλάς G4694
Hidden underwater rocks or reefs dangerous to ships; metaphorically, concealed spiritual dangers
Greek maritime vocabulary distinguished between visible rocks and these treacherous hidden reefs lurking beneath the surface, over which waves dash. Classical texts frequently warn of these shipwreck hazards. Jude employs this vivid nautical image to describe false teachers who infiltrate Christian communities—outwardly participating in fellowship meals while secretly endangering the faithful. The translations uniformly preserve the reef imagery (hidden-reefs, escollos, écueils), recognizing the metaphor's power.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Submerged rocks or reefs hidden beneath the water's surface, posing unseen danger to ships. In Jude 12, this maritime hazard becomes a powerful metaphor for false teachers who pose as genuine believers at fellowship meals ('love feasts') while actually threatening the community's spiritual safety. The image suggests danger that appears benign on the surface but harbors destructive potential beneath, like rocks concealed by waves. 1×
amh["ዐለቶች"]·AR["صخور-خفية"]·ben["দাগ"]·ces["útesy"]·dan["skjulte-skær;"]·DE["Klippen"]·ell["σπιλάδες·"]·EN["hidden-reefs"]·FR["écueils;"]·guj["ખડકો;"]·hat["wòch-kache"]·hau["tabo"]·heb["סלעים-נסתרים"]·HI["चट्टानें"]·hun["sziklazátonyok"]·ID["batu-karang-tersembunyi"]·IT["scogli"]·jav["watu-karang"]·JA["暗礁"]·KO["암초들이며"]·mar["डाग;"]·mya["ကျောက်ဆောင်များ"]·nld["verborgen-klippen"]·nor["skjær"]·pnb["داغ"]·pol["skalami"]·PT["rochedos-ocultos"]·ron["stânci-ascunse;"]·RU["пятна"]·ES["escollos"]·SW["miamba"]·swe["skamfläckar"]·tam["கரைப்பாறைகள்"]·tel["మరకలు"]·tgl["batong-nakatago"]·TH["หินโสโครก"]·TR["bataklar;"]·ukr["плями"]·urd["چٹانیں"]·VI["đá-ngầm"]·yor["àpáta-ewu;"]·yue["礁石"]·ZH["礁石"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σπῐλάς, άδος, ἡ, __A rock over which the sea dashes (opposed to ὕφαλοι πέτραι in Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐφ᾽ ὑψηλαῖς σπιλάδεσσι Refs 5th c.BC+; πλαγκταὶ σ. Refs 3rd c.BC+; ῥεῖθρον ἀπὸ σ. Refs 3rd c.BC+: generally, slab, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὧδ᾽ ὑπὸ τὸ σπιλάδος μέλαθρον, i.e. under this tombstone, Refs; hollow rock, cave, Refs 4th c.BC+ __A.II as adjective, stony, or perhaps marly, i.e. γῆ, Refs 4th c.BC+