ὑποζώννυμι (hupozōnnumi)
hupozōnnumi
to undergird
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb hupozōnnumi means to undergird or bind together laterally, specifically in the context of securing a ship against the force of waves and tempests. It describes the physical act of tightening cables or girths around a vessel’s hull to reinforce its structure during a storm. This technical nautical term appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:17.
In that passage, Paul is being transported by ship when a violent storm threatens to destroy it. The sailors respond by taking practical measures to save their cargo and the vessel itself, including the act of undergirding the ship. This detail highlights the desperate efforts made to keep the craft from breaking apart under the pressure of the sea.
The word combines hupo ("under") with zōnnumi ("to gird"), emphasizing support from below or within. Its singular occurrence underscores a moment of intense physical danger and human effort, contrasting with the divine promise of safety that ultimately preserves Paul and all on board.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hupozōnnumi describes a specific act of survival: undergirding a ship with cables to hold it together against violent waves. In Acts 27, sailors used this technique to keep Paul’s vessel from breaking apart during a storm. It is a picture of desperate, practical effort made in the face of overwhelming danger.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God often works through our own careful actions and preparation. While the ultimate safety comes from His promise, He also calls us to take reasonable steps to protect what is entrusted to us. You are not alone in your storms; even when you must secure your own life with every resource available, divine preservation remains the final hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- undergirding1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὑποζωννύντες1×
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 only New Testament instance where sailors actively reinforce a ship's hull to prevent it from breaking under storm pressure.