φόρτος
phórtos
G5414
SILEX Entry
Definition
A load or burden, particularly that which is physically carried, such as cargo or freight; specifically used in maritime contexts to denote the cargo or load of a ship. More broadly, refers to any kind of transported goods or weight borne, with potential extension to figurative senses of burden or something heavy to bear, though concrete usage predominates in surviving texts.
Semantic Range
load, burden, cargo, lading, freight, something carried
Root / Etymology
From the root φερ- ('to bear, carry') with the nominal suffix -τος, forming a noun indicating that which is carried or something born. Cognate with other Greek words derived from φέρω.
Historical & Contextual Notes
φόρτος appears infrequently in Biblical Greek, notably in Acts 27:10, where it refers to the 'lading' or cargo of a ship, highlighting its maritime and commercial connotation. In wider Hellenistic and classical Greek, φόρτος designates any heavy load, burden, or cargo, commonly goods transported by land or sea. The word rarely develops significant figurative force in Koine; such usages, if present, are minor compared to the dominant physical, commercial context. Contrast with βάρος ('weight, burden'), which is often used in metaphorical and rhetorical senses, whereas φόρτος is more concrete. English Bible translations typically render the term as 'lading,' 'cargo,' or 'load,' conveying the physical sense but sometimes masking the specific maritime or commercial nuance present in ancient usage. Its semantic profile in the New Testament reflects the language of commerce and shipping of the first-century Mediterranean world.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from φέρω; something carried, i.e. the cargo of a ship:--lading.
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.