ἐκβολή

Pronunciation Guide: ek-bol-AY

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1546: ἐκβολή (ekbolē) refers to the act of throwing something overboard or casting out cargo from a ship, especially during dangerous storms to lighten the vessel and prevent shipwreck. In its only New Testament appearance, it describes the emergency jettisoning of cargo during Paul’s treacherous sea voyage to Rome. Beyond its literal nautical meaning, it symbolizes the willingness to sacrifice possessions for preservation of life.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Feminine noun
• Derived from the verb ἐκβάλλω (ekballō, “to cast out, throw out”)
• Compound word: ἐκ (ek, “out from”) + βάλλω (ballō, “to throw”)
• Origin: Classical Greek, primarily used in nautical contexts
• Primarily appears in narrative literature (Acts)
• Septuagint usage: Limited to maritime contexts

ἐκβολή Morphology:

• ἐκβολή (nominative singular) – a throwing out, jettisoning
• ἐκβολῆς (genitive singular) – of a throwing out
• ἐκβολῇ (dative singular) – with/by a throwing out
• ἐκβολήν (accusative singular) – the act of throwing out

Origin & History

The term ἐκβολή has deep roots in classical Greek maritime vocabulary, dating back to at least the 5th century BCE. Thucydides used it in his “History of the Peloponnesian War” when describing ships jettisoning cargo during storms. The word appears in Aristotle’s “Poetics” with a broader meaning of “casting out” or “rejection,” indicating its expanded semantic range beyond purely nautical contexts.

In the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible), ἐκβολή appears sparingly, primarily in contexts related to the sea. For instance, in the book of Jonah, similar terminology describes the sailors throwing cargo overboard during the storm—though the exact form ἐκβολή itself is not used there. In later patristic literature, church fathers like John Chrysostom employed the term metaphorically to describe spiritual purification as a “casting out” of sin, extending its nautical origins into theological discourse.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• The deliberate jettisoning of cargo from a ship during dangerous conditions
• The act of throwing something out or away for preservation purposes
• A strategic sacrifice made under duress to prevent greater loss
• The discarding of valuables to preserve life
• A nautical emergency procedure during threatening storms

ἐκβολή Translation Options:

• Jettisoning – Emphasizes the deliberate nature of throwing cargo overboard in emergency situations
• Casting out – Highlights the physical action of removing something from its place
• Throwing overboard – Most literal translation within its nautical context
• Sacrifice of cargo – Captures the motivational aspect behind the action
• Lightening the ship – Focuses on the purpose rather than the action itself

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἐκβολή appears only once in Acts 27:18, during the dramatic account of Paul’s storm-tossed journey to Rome. Luke writes, “The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo [ἐκβολὴν].” This singular usage is significant as it occurs within one of the most detailed and historically accurate ancient accounts of seafaring. The desperate action of throwing valuable cargo overboard illustrates the extreme danger faced by the passengers and crew—all earthly possessions became worthless compared to preserving human life.

The concept, though not the exact term, finds parallel in the story of Jonah, where sailors also throw cargo overboard during a violent storm. This creates an interesting theological parallel between Jonah’s attempted flight from God’s mission and Paul’s determined journey to fulfill his divine calling. In both narratives, the jettisoning of cargo represents a critical turning point where human calculations and values are reordered in the face of divine purposes.

• “The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison [ἐκβολὴν] the cargo.” Acts 27:18

Cultural Insights

The practice of ἐκβολή (jettisoning cargo) was a well-established emergency procedure in ancient Mediterranean seafaring. Ship captains followed a precise protocol during storms: first, they would secure the vessel by lowering sails and rigging; if conditions worsened, they would begin throwing overboard the least valuable items, gradually working up to more precious cargo if necessary. This difficult decision was governed by ancient maritime law, which distinguished between voluntary sacrifice of goods (ἐκβολή) and losses caused directly by the storm or shipwreck.

Roman maritime law, particularly the Lex Rhodia de Iactu (Rhodian Law of Jettison), established that when cargo was deliberately jettisoned to save a ship, the financial loss would be shared proportionally among all merchants whose goods were on board—not just those whose merchandise was thrown overboard. This legally-mandated shared sacrifice embodied a profound principle: preservation of life required communal solidarity. When Luke records the ἐκβολή in Acts 27, his educated readers would have immediately recognized not just the physical action but the entire legal and ethical framework surrounding such a momentous decision.

Theological Significance

The singular use of ἐκβολή in Scripture carries profound theological weight beyond its nautical context. It illustrates the biblical principle that preservation of life takes precedence over material possessions. When the sailors jettisoned cargo to lighten the ship, they enacted a truth that resonates throughout Scripture: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” The willing sacrifice of valuable goods to preserve life mirrors יהוה (Yahweh)’s economic values—human life always outweighs material wealth.

Paul’s shipwreck narrative, featuring this dramatic ἐκβολή, also serves as a powerful metaphor for the believer’s journey. Just as the storm-tossed sailors had to cast away valuable cargo to survive, followers of the Messiah must sometimes relinquish cherished possessions, relationships, or ambitions that threaten their spiritual survival. The Messiah Himself taught this principle when He instructed the rich young ruler to sell his possessions. The jettisoning of cargo becomes a tangible picture of the difficult but necessary process of prioritizing eternal values over temporal ones—casting aside whatever hinders us from reaching our divine destination.

Personal Application

When life’s storms rage around us, we often face our own moments of ἐκβολή—times when we must decide what to hold onto and what to release. The sailors in Acts didn’t throw overboard their most precious cargo first; they started with what was expendable and worked their way up as the storm persisted. Similarly, we should regularly evaluate what “cargo” we’re carrying that might be endangering our spiritual journey. What relationships, habits, pursuits, or possessions—though perhaps valuable in calmer seasons—have become liabilities in the current storm?

Consider conducting a personal “ἐκβολή inventory” by prayerfully asking: “What am I clinging to that I need to jettison for my spiritual survival?” Perhaps it’s an unhealthy relationship, a time-consuming but spiritually empty pursuit, or material possessions that demand too much of your attention. Like those ancient sailors, making the difficult decision to cast these overboard might be the very act that preserves your life and keeps you on course toward your divine destination. Remember that what appears to be loss in the moment often proves to be the wisest sacrifice in light of eternity.

Related Words

• ἐκβάλλω (ekballō) – To cast out, throw out, expel; the verb form from which ἐκβολή derives. Used frequently of casting out demons or removing something unwanted. Pronunciation: ek-BAL-lo See G1544
• βάλλω (ballō) – To throw, cast, place; the root verb within ἐκβολή. The fundamental action of throwing or placing something. Pronunciation: BAL-lo See G906
• ῥίπτω (rhiptō) – To throw, cast, toss away; similar to ἐκβολή but without the specific nautical connotation. Often used for more forceful throwing actions. Pronunciation: HRIP-to See G4496
• ἀποτίθημι (apotithēmi) – To put away, lay aside; conceptually similar but gentler than the forceful action of ἐκβολή. Often used metaphorically for putting away sins or bad habits. Pronunciation: a-po-TI-the-mi See G659
• κουφίζω (kouphizō) – To lighten, make lighter; the intended result of ἐκβολή in its nautical context. Focuses on the outcome rather than the action itself. Pronunciation: koo-FID-zo See G2893

Did you Know?

• Did you know that professional divers and marine archaeologists have discovered numerous ancient Mediterranean shipwrecks containing jettisoned cargo (ἐκβολή) near dangerous coastlines? These underwater artifacts—often perfectly preserved amphorae that once contained wine, olive oil, or grain—create a maritime map of ancient shipping routes and the perilous areas where storms frequently forced captains to lighten their ships to survive. Each of these archaeological sites tells a story similar to Paul’s experience in Acts 27, providing tangible evidence of the desperate measures ancient sailors took during storms.
• Did you know that in modern maritime law, the principle behind ἐκβολή still exists in what is called “general average”? When cargo must be sacrificed to save a vessel, all parties involved in the voyage share the financial loss proportionally—a direct descendant of the ancient Rhodian Law that would have governed the jettison described in Acts 27. This 2,000-year continuity in maritime legal principles demonstrates the enduring wisdom behind the concept of shared sacrifice for common preservation.
• Did you know that nautical terminology like ἐκβολή entered Jewish religious thought through the influence of Mediterranean culture? The imagery of “casting away” sins became particularly prominent in the Tashlich ceremony performed during Rosh Hashanah, where Jews symbolically cast bread crumbs into flowing water to represent the removal of sins. When Luke—a Greek-educated physician—recorded the ἐκβολή in Acts 27, he was employing terminology that bridged Greek maritime practice and Jewish spiritual concepts of purification and redemption.

Remember This

ἐκβολή teaches us that sometimes what appears to be great loss—the deliberate sacrificing of valuable cargo—may be the very action that preserves what is truly irreplaceable: human life and divine purpose.