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σανίς

sanís

G4548 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A flat piece of wood used as a structural element or for enclosing a space; primarily refers to a plank, board, or beam. In some contexts, denotes a wooden panel or partition, including structural planks for construction (such as tabernacle boards in the Septuagint), movable platforms, or panels of a door or wainscoting.

Semantic Range

plank, board, beam, panel, partition, wainscot

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain; possible relation to the earlier Greek σαίνω (sainō, 'to flatten'), but this is speculative. Sometimes linked with later Latin tabula ("board, tablet"), though not directly cognate.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Septuagint, σανίς commonly renders Hebrew קֶרֶשׁ (qeresh), the planks used in tabernacle construction (especially Exodus). In classical Greek, usage was rare but included reference to wooden planks or boards, often for enclosure, doors, or division within spaces. By the Hellenistic and New Testament period, the word maintained its basic meaning as 'plank' or 'board,' with little metaphorical extension. English Bible translations often simply render it as 'board' or 'plank,' but the specific sense could range from load-bearing structural elements to partitions depending on the context; this nuance is often not preserved in translation. The term is distinct from δοκάριον (beam) and πίναξ (flat board, sometimes for writing), emphasizing practical utility in construction rather than writing or artistic use.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; a plank:--board.

Root Family

σανίς (sanis) — plank, board, beam, panel, partition

Root σανι- to flatten, to make level, to form a plank

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4548-01 σανίσιν sanisin N DAT F PL planks to planks planks 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4548-01 Acts 27:44 σανίσιν sanisin N DAT F PL planks to planks planks
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