### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **sanís**, represented by `{{G4548}}`, refers to a **plank** or **board**. It is a word of uncertain affinity and appears only **1 time** in the Bible, in a single verse, making its specific context highly significant.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{G4548}}` is found in the narrative of Paul's shipwreck in Acts. After their ship is destroyed by a storm, the survivors are instructed on how to reach the shore. In this moment of crisis, some cling to **boards** and other broken pieces from the vessel to make it to safety. The verse states that "the rest, some on **boards**, and some on broken pieces of the ship... escaped all safe to land" [[Acts 27:44]]. The plank, therefore, is depicted as a life-preserving instrument.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its biblical context illuminate the role of the **board**:
* `{{G4143}}` **ploîon** (ship): This is the vessel from which the boards originated. The destruction of the ship necessitated reliance on its individual components for survival [[Acts 27:44]].
* `{{G1295}}` **diasṓzō** (to save thoroughly, escape safe): This word describes the outcome for those who used the boards. It emphasizes a complete rescue, where everyone was brought safely to land, underscoring the effectiveness of the planks as a means of deliverance [[Acts 27:44]].
* `{{G1093}}` **gē** (land): This was the destination and place of safety. The boards served as the physical means to get from the perilous sea to the solid ground [[Acts 27:44]].
### Theological Significance
Though its use is literal, the context of `{{G4548}}` carries significant theological weight.
* **Instrument of Salvation:** The **board** functions as a tangible object used to bring about physical salvation. In the chaos of the shipwreck, this simple plank is a means by which people escape `{{G1295}}` death and reach land `{{G1093}}`, demonstrating how God can use ordinary means for preservation.
* **Deliverance Through Fragments:** The survivors were saved not by the intact ship `{{G4143}}`, but by its broken pieces. The **board** represents a fragment, suggesting that deliverance can come from what is broken or leftover after a structure of human confidence has been lost.
* **Fulfillment of God's Promise:** The event shows everyone escaping "all safe" to land [[Acts 27:44]]. The **board** is part of the practical fulfillment that ensures the survival of every person, highlighting a divine providence that works through humble and even damaged materials to see His purpose through.
### Summary
In summary, **sanís** `{{G4548}}` is more than just a plank of wood. While its definition is simple, its single appearance in scripture places it at the center of a dramatic story of deliverance. It serves as a powerful illustration of how God uses simple, broken fragments from a wreck to bring about a complete and thorough salvation, ensuring that all who are promised safety are brought to solid ground.
TRV