Fathom
“The stretch of outstretched arms”
Summary
A nautical measure of approximately six feet, used in Acts to record the depth soundings during Paul's shipwreck voyage.
☩The Measurement
A fathom (Greek orguia) literally means the length of the outstretched arms, measuring from fingertip to fingertip across the breast. It was regarded as equal to four cubits or about six feet. The Roman-Attic foot yields approximately seventy inches for the fathom, slightly under our present-day measure.
☩Use in Paul's Voyage
During the storm that drove Paul's ship toward Malta, the sailors suspected they were approaching land. By successive soundings they obtained depths of twenty and fifteen fathoms, confirming their fears. They then cast four anchors from the stern and wished for day, the decreasing depth warning of dangerous shallows ahead.
Related Verses1 mention
Acts· 1 verse
References
- 1.James Hastings (ed.), "Fathom," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Fathom," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Fathom," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).