ναῦς (naus)
naus
ship
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun naus refers to a ship, specifically one of considerable size or seaworthiness. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Acts 27:41, where it describes the vessel that carried Paul to Rome. This single occurrence highlights its use for substantial maritime craft rather than small boats.
While other Greek terms like ploion are more common in the Gospels and Epistles, naus carries a distinct weight of scale. It derives from roots related to floating or sailing, emphasizing the vessel's capacity to navigate open waters. Its rarity in the New Testament suggests it was reserved for moments when the size and significance of the ship mattered to the narrative.
Translators typically render naus as "ship" without distinction, but its exclusive appearance in Acts underscores the importance of the journey itself. The word anchors the reader’s attention on the physical reality of the voyage, reminding us that faith often travels through turbulent seas in vessels built for endurance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word naus refers to a substantial ship, one built for serious voyages across open waters rather than simple fishing boats. In Acts 27:41, it describes the vessel carrying Paul to Rome when it ran aground at a place where two seas met. This specific term highlights the scale of the journey and the physical reality of the trial.
When life feels like a storm-tossed sea, this word reminds us that we are not in small, fragile craft. We are in vessels built for endurance, carried by God’s providence even when the waves seem overwhelming. The narrative does not end in destruction but in survival, showing that faith travels through turbulent times.
May you find comfort in knowing that your journey is held securely, regardless of the size of the storms around you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- vessel;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ναῦν·1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 27:41
But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.
This occurrence matters because naus specifically denotes the large vessel running aground, emphasizing the physical magnitude of the shipwreck and Paul's safe arrival despite the violent waves.