ναύκληρος
naúklēros
G3490 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A ship-owner; more specifically, the proprietor of a sea-going vessel who holds primary business and legal responsibility for its operation and cargo. In some contexts, refers to the master or principal director of a ship's voyage, distinct from the ship's pilot (navigator) or captain (commander of crew). The term encompasses both ownership and managerial authority over commercial vessels, particularly those engaged in overseas trade in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Semantic Range
owner of a ship, ship proprietor, commercial shipping manager, principal agent for maritime cargo, captain (in the sense of proprietor, not necessarily navigator)
Root / Etymology
From ναῦς (ship) + κλῆρος (lot, share, inheritance); thus, originally meaning 'holder of a share in a ship', i.e., a co-owner or sole proprietor. Cognate with Latin navicularius. Reflects Greek compound-noun formation denoting possession or stewardship.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek usage, ναύκληρος primarily designates the owner or commercial manager of a merchant ship, distinct from the ship's pilot (κυβερνήτης) or the captain officer (πλοίαρχος). In Hellenistic and Roman maritime contexts, ναύκληρος often refers to individuals running shipping businesses, sometimes as investors or contractors for government or military transport. In Acts 27:11 (NT), ναύκληρος is paired with κυβερνήτης, showing a distinction between managerial/legal authority (ναύκληρος) and operational command (κυβερνήτης). English translations typically render the word as 'owner of the ship'; however, the term can also imply broader commercial responsibilities than modern 'ship owner' might suggest. The word is rarely found in the Septuagint but is attested in Greek papyri and commercial documents from the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ναῦς and κλῆρος ("clerk"); a captain:--owner of a ship.
Root Family
ναύκληρος (nauklēros) — ship, share, owner, manager
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3490-01 |
ναυκλήρῳ | nauklero | N DAT M SG |
owner | to a ship-owner | owner | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3490-01 |
Acts 27:11 | ναυκλήρῳ | nauklero | N DAT M SG |
owner | to a ship-owner | owner |