βολή
bolḗ
G1000 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A throw or cast, specifically referring to the act of throwing (as a measure of distance, i.e., the extent to which something is thrown). The term denotes both the action and the result—the span or distance that an object covers when thrown. In broader usage, may refer to a missile, the throw itself, or the trajectory created by throwing.
Semantic Range
a throw, a cast, the act of throwing, a measure of the extent/distance thrown, trajectory, missile
Root / Etymology
Derived from the verb βάλλω (to throw, to cast). βολή is a verbal noun formed on the root βαλ-, signifying the result or measure of the action of throwing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
βολή appears rarely in the New Testament (once: Acts 27:28), but is more widely attested in classical and Hellenistic Greek. In antiquity, such terms were often used non-technically to indicate an approximate distance (e.g., 'a stone's throw', 'a javelin's throw'). Its use as a unit of measurement reflects Greek tendencies to describe space in terms of practical action (how far a javelin or other object could be thrown), rather than fixed linear segments. In Septuagint and Koine, this practical, illustrative sense predominates. English translations often render βολή as 'cast' or 'throw,' which may obscure the specific connotation of extent or spatial measurement inherent in the original. Related terms (e.g., ῥίψις, ἀπόρριψις) may emphasize different nuances of throwing, but βολή focuses on the arc or measure resulting from the throw, not simply the act.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from βάλλω; a throw (as a measure of distance):--cast.
Root Family
βολή (bolē) — throw, cast, act of throwing, distance thrown
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1000-01 |
βολήν | bolen | N ACC F SG |
throw | a throw | throw | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1000-01 |
Luke 22:41 | βολήν | bolen | N ACC F SG |
throw | a throw | throw |