πέλαγος (pelagos)
pelagos
sea
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun pelagos refers to the open sea, specifically the deep waters far from shore where ships navigate. Unlike words for coastal waters or harbors, this term emphasizes the vast, unbounded expanse of the ocean. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in the Gospel of Matthew (18:6 and 25:6) and Acts 27:5, highlighting its dramatic potential.
Its usage often carries a sense of danger or isolation. When Jesus speaks of millstones being thrown into the pelagos, he invokes the terrifying depth of the open ocean as a place of finality. Similarly, in Acts, the ship’s journey through the pelagos underscores the peril faced by Paul and his companions. The word distinguishes the wild, central sea from the safer, familiar shores.
Etymologically, its roots are uncertain, but its meaning remains clear: it is the domain of deep water, distinct from land or shallow coasts. Translators consistently render it as "sea" or "deep," preserving its image of vastness and depth. This lexical choice helps readers visualize the setting not as a generic body of water, but as a specific, formidable environment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word pelagos points to the open sea, far from the safety of the shore. It is not the calm water near the beach, but the vast, deep expanse where ships navigate and storms can rise without warning. This distinction helps us understand that some situations in life feel beyond our control, much like the wild ocean.
In Matthew 18:6, Jesus uses this image of sinking into the pelagos to show how serious it is to lead others away from faith. The depth of the sea represents a finality and danger that we should avoid causing for those who are vulnerable. It reminds us that our actions have weight in the spiritual realm.
Similarly, Acts 27:5 describes Paul’s journey across this same open water. Here, the pelagos is not just a backdrop but a real challenge faced by travelers. We can find comfort in knowing that even when we are out in the deep waters of uncertainty, God’s presence accompanies us through the journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- then1×
- depth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πέλαγος1×
- πελάγει1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 18:6
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea.
This verse uses pelagos to describe a place of finality and danger, emphasizing the severity of causing a believer to stumble.
-
Acts 27:5
When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
Here the word marks the transition into open waters, highlighting the peril and isolation faced by Paul and his companions during their voyage.