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πρύμνα

prýmna

G4403 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The stern, rear, or hinder part of a ship. In Greek nautical terminology, πρύμνα specifically designates the back section or aft-most part of a sea vessel, typically from where steering was executed or where certain controls were located. By extension, the term can describe any object or location at the back end or rear extremity, though in the New Testament and Septuagint, its use is almost entirely restricted to ships.

Semantic Range

stern (of a ship), rear part of a boat or vessel, hinder part (in maritime contexts)

Root / Etymology

From the root πρῠμν- which denotes 'hindmost' or 'at the rear'; related to the comparative πρῷρα (prow, or bow) which refers to the front of a ship. Likely of pre-Greek, non-Indo-European origin, as the word has no clear Indo-European cognates.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, πρύμνα consistently refers to the stern of a ship or boat—the area opposite the bow (πρῷρα). The term is common in maritime contexts, both in literary and technical sources. In the New Testament, it appears in Acts 27:29 and 27:41-41, always in the context of a maritime journey and always denoting the rear of the vessel. English translations often render πρύμνα as 'stern' or less precisely as 'the hinder part,' but these may lose the specificity of seafaring terminology. Unlike other nautical terms that could generalize to the rear of any object or structure, πρύμνα almost always has a maritime reference when used in Koine sources. The term is not attested in metaphorical or non-nautical figurative senses in extant Koine literature. In comparison, πρῷρα denotes the 'bow' or 'front.' In Homer and Classical texts, πρύμνα likewise appears exclusively in ship-related descriptions, signifying continuity of meaning into the Koine period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of (hindmost); the stern of a ship:--hinder part, stern.

Root Family

πρύμνα (prýmna) — hindmost, rear, stern (of a ship)

Root πρῠμν- hindmost, at the rear, stern (of a ship)

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4403-03 πρύμνης prumnes N GEN F SG the stern of the stern the stern 1
G4403-02 πρύμνῃ prumne N DAT F SG stern in the stern stern 1
G4403-01 πρύμνα prumna N NOM F SG stern stern of a ship stern 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4403-02 Mark 4:38 πρύμνῃ prumne N DAT F SG stern in the stern stern
G4403-03 Acts 27:29 πρύμνης prumnes N GEN F SG the stern of the stern the stern
G4403-01 Acts 27:41 πρύμνα prumna N NOM F SG stern stern of a ship stern
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