παράσημος (parasēmos)
parasēmos
figurehead
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective parasēmos literally means "marked beside" or "annotated," derived from roots indicating a sign placed alongside something else. In classical and later usage, it described items that were marked as spurious or counterfeit, such as coins with false markings. However, in the specific context of Acts 28:11, it takes on a distinct nautical meaning.
Here, it refers to the "figurehead" of a ship—the carved image often placed at the prow. The source text notes that the vessel in question bore the twin gods Castor and Pollux as its figurehead. This concrete detail anchors the word in visual reality, describing not an abstract concept but a physical emblem identifying the ship’s origin or patron.
Though rare in Scripture, appearing only once, the term highlights how language shifts meaning based on context. While it generally suggests something marked as false or notable, its use here points to a decorative and symbolic marker on a vessel, grounding the biblical narrative in the tangible details of ancient maritime life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word parasēmos appears only once in Scripture, offering a rare glimpse into the material world of the first century. In Acts 28:11, Luke describes the ship that carried Paul to Rome as having the figurehead "The Twin Brothers." This specific detail anchors the narrative in tangible reality, reminding us that God’s plans unfold through real people, real ships, and real historical markers.
While the term originally meant a mark indicating something was false or spurious, here it denotes a decorative emblem identifying the vessel’s origin. It serves as a quiet reminder that our faith is not abstract but lived out in concrete circumstances. Whether we are on a familiar shore or an unfamiliar island, God remains present in the details of our journey.
This single word invites us to notice how God uses ordinary objects to tell extraordinary stories. The carved twins on the prow did not save Paul, but they marked the ship that brought him safely to Rome. In our own lives, we may find comfort in knowing that God is attentive to the small things, guiding us through every season with care and precision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with a figurehead of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παρασήμῳ1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 28:11
After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was “The Twin Brothers.”
This occurrence identifies the ship's figurehead as 'The Twin Brothers,' grounding the narrative in the specific historical context of Roman maritime culture.