σύρτις (surtis)
surtis
Syrtis
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun surtis refers to the Syrtes, two notorious sandbanks and shallow waters off the Libyan coast in North Africa. Ancient mariners knew these areas as dangerous traps where ships could easily run aground on shifting sands, making them a symbol of peril for anyone crossing the Mediterranean.
In the New Testament, this specific term appears only once, in Acts 27:17. The text describes Paul’s ship drifting away from the danger of Syrtis Major after leaving Crete. This single mention grounds the narrative in real geography, reminding readers that the apostle’s journey involved genuine physical hazards and narrow escapes.
The word highlights the tangible risks faced by early travelers. By naming a specific geographic threat, the account emphasizes the reality of Paul’s voyage rather than treating it as a purely spiritual metaphor. The survival of the ship past these treacherous waters underscores the protection described in the narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word surtis points to the Syrtes, dangerous sandbanks off the coast of Libya that ancient sailors feared most. In Acts 27, Paul’s ship narrowly avoids these treacherous waters while drifting toward Rome. This detail grounds the biblical narrative in real physical danger, showing that faith does not remove risk but sustains us through it.
When life feels like it is drifting without control, this account offers comfort. The crew took practical steps—lowering a sea anchor—to survive the storm. Similarly, we are called to do what we can while trusting God with the outcome. His protection remains steady even when circumstances seem out of our hands.
History remembers these sands as a trap for ships, yet here they become a backdrop for divine preservation. You may face your own shifting sands today. Rest in the knowledge that the same Lord who guarded Paul’s journey is present in yours.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sandbars of Syrtis1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Σύρτιν1×
Key Verses
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Acts 27:17
After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along.
This verse captures the crew's practical response to immediate danger by lowering a sea anchor, showing how faith and action work together in crisis.