διθάλασσος
dithálassos
G1337 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Having two seas; situated between or at the confluence of two seas, or a place where two bodies of water meet. The word primarily signifies a geographic location characterized by proximity to or being surrounded by two seas or arms of the sea. In extended usage, it can describe a narrow or strait where two maritime currents converge.
Semantic Range
between two seas, where two seas meet, a place with sea on both sides, a channel or strait with two outlets
Root / Etymology
From δίς ('twice, double') and θάλασσα ('sea'), indicating something involving or pertaining to two seas.
Historical & Contextual Notes
διθάλασσος is a rare and specialized term, attested in Koine Greek and employed primarily as a descriptive geographic term. Its only New Testament occurrence is in Acts 27:41, describing the location where Paul's ship ran aground: "a place where two seas met." The word does not appear in classical Greek or in the Septuagint, suggesting post-classical or technical usage. The standard English translation, 'where two seas meet' or 'at a place between two seas,' is generally accurate but may obscure the geographic and hydrological specificity intended by the term—it likely refers to a place where opposing currents or channels come together, creating navigational hazards. There is no indication that the word carried figurative or metaphorical meanings in antiquity. Its formation is transparent and compositional in Koine Greek, paralleling other geographic compounds (e.g., διάπλοος, 'through-sea passage').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from δίς and θάλασσα; having two seas, i.e. a sound with a double outlet:--where two seas meet.
Root Family
διθάλασσος (dithalassos) — double, twofold; sea, body of water; between two seas
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1337-01 |
διθάλασσον | dithalasson | ADJ.A ACC M SG |
where two seas met | between-two-seas | where two seas met | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1337-01 |
Acts 27:41 | διθάλασσον | dithalasson | ADJ.A ACC M SG |
where two seas met | between-two-seas | where two seas met |