Acts 27:17
Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
Original Language Analysis
ἣν
Which
G3739
ἣν
Which
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
1 of 19
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἄραντες
when they had taken up
G142
ἄραντες
when they had taken up
Strong's:
G142
Word #:
2 of 19
to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e., weigh
βοηθείαις
helps
G996
βοηθείαις
helps
Strong's:
G996
Word #:
3 of 19
aid; specially, a rope or chain for frapping a vessel
ἐχρῶντο
they used
G5530
ἐχρῶντο
they used
Strong's:
G5530
Word #:
4 of 19
to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, "graze" (touch slightly), light upon, etc.), i.e., (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act tow
ὑποζωννύντες
undergirding
G5269
ὑποζωννύντες
undergirding
Strong's:
G5269
Word #:
5 of 19
to gird under, i.e., frap (a vessel with cables across the keel, sides and deck)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
φοβούμενοί
fearing
G5399
φοβούμενοί
fearing
Strong's:
G5399
Word #:
8 of 19
to frighten, i.e., (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e., revere
μὴ
lest
G3361
μὴ
lest
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
10 of 19
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
11 of 19
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Σύρτιν
the quicksands
G4950
Σύρτιν
the quicksands
Strong's:
G4950
Word #:
13 of 19
a shoal (from the sand drawn thither by the waves), i.e., the syrtis major or great bay on the north coast of africa
ἐκπέσωσιν
they should fall
G1601
ἐκπέσωσιν
they should fall
Strong's:
G1601
Word #:
14 of 19
to drop away; specially, be driven out of one's course; figuratively, to lose, become inefficient
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σκεῦος
sail
G4632
σκεῦος
sail
Strong's:
G4632
Word #:
17 of 19
a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively (specially, a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband))
Cross References
Acts 27:29Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.Acts 27:26Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.Acts 27:41And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
Historical Context
The Syrtis Major and Syrtis Minor (modern Gulf of Sidra and Gulf of Gabes off Libya/Tunisia) were graveyard shallows feared throughout antiquity. Ships driven into them grounded on shifting sands and were pounded apart by waves. Ancient vessels' wooden hulls, joined by mortise-and-tenon, needed reinforcement during extreme stress. The crew's seamanship, though ultimately insufficient, showed professional competence.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you balance diligent human effort with dependence on divine grace during trials?
- When have you worked desperately to avoid disaster, only to realize salvation required God's intervention?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
They used helps, undergirding the ship—The 'helps' (βοηθείαις, boētheiais) were cables passed under the hull to prevent timbers from separating under wave stress, called 'frapping.' Fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands—the Syrtis (Σύρτιν, Syrtin), two shallow sandbars off Libya's coast where ships grounded and broke apart. Their terror was justified; many vessels perished there. Strake sail (χαλάσαντες τὸ σκεῦος, chalasantes to skeuos, 'lowering the gear')—they reduced sail or dragged sea anchors to slow the southwestward drift. Frantic human effort—undergirding, lowering sail—achieved nothing without God's promise (27:24). Yet God honors faithful stewardship even when success depends on grace.