### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **naûs**, represented by `{{G3491}}`, is defined as a **ship** or boat of any size. Its root meaning relates to the idea "to float." This term is highly specific in its biblical usage, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single appearance of `{{G3491}}` is found in the dramatic account of a shipwreck. In [[Acts 27:41]], the vessel carrying the Apostle Paul runs aground in a place where two seas met. The verse explicitly states, "they ran the **ship** aground," leading to its destruction. The narrative uses this word to identify the central object of the event, which breaks apart under the "violence of the waves" [[Acts 27:41]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words appear in the same verse, providing a detailed description of the event:
* `{{G4408}}` **prōra**: This word means the **forepart** of a vessel. It specifies the part of the ship that "stuck fast, and remained unmoveable" when it ran aground [[Acts 27:41]].
* `{{G4403}}` **prýmna**: This term refers to the **stern** or **hinder part** of a ship. It is used to describe the section of the vessel that "was broken with the violence of the waves" in contrast to the bow [[Acts 27:41]].
* `{{G3303}}` **mén**: This is a particle used for affirmation, often to set up a contrast. In [[Acts 27:41]], it is attached to the word for forepart, indicating that the forepart **indeed** stuck fast, which is then contrasted with the fate of the hinder part.
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{G3491}}` is tied entirely to its narrative context in Acts.
* **A Vessel of Peril:** The word's sole use places it at the center of a life-threatening storm, highlighting the vulnerability of travel and human structures against the power of the sea.
* **The Scene of Destruction:** The **ship** serves as the stage for a climactic moment of destruction. Its physical breaking apart, described with specific terms for its "forepart" `{{G4408}}` and "hinder part" `{{G4403}}`, creates a vivid picture of the crisis.
* **A Concrete Narrative Element:** Unlike abstract theological terms, `{{G3491}}` functions as a concrete object. Its presence grounds the story in a real-world event, emphasizing the physical dangers faced by the apostles.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G3491}}` is a precise term for a **ship** whose biblical importance comes from its singular, dramatic appearance. Its use in [[Acts 27:41]] is not broad or theological but is instead focused and narrative, serving as the physical centerpiece of a story of peril, destruction, and eventual survival. The word demonstrates how scripture uses specific, tangible details to construct a powerful and memorable account.
TRV