### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **sargánē**, represented by `{{G4553}}`, refers to a **basket**, specifically one that is interwoven or made of wicker-work. Apparently of Hebrew origin, this term is exceptionally rare in scripture, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its sole biblical appearance, `{{G4553}}` is the key object in the Apostle Paul's dramatic escape. He recounts being let down in a **basket** through a window and by the city wall, allowing him to **escape** the hands of those who sought to capture him [[2 Corinthians 11:33]]. The **basket** is the literal vehicle of his deliverance in this specific and memorable narrative.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help construct the scene of this escape:
* `{{G5465}}` **chaláō**: This word means to **let down** or lower. It describes the action taken with the basket to facilitate Paul's flight [[2 Corinthians 11:33]].
* `{{G2376}}` **thyrís**: Defined as an aperture or **window**, this term specifies the exit point from which Paul was lowered [[2 Corinthians 11:33]].
* `{{G5038}}` **teîchos**: This word for **wall** signifies the large barrier that was bypassed using the basket, a detail mentioned in both accounts of the escape ([[2 Corinthians 11:33]], [[Acts 9:25]]).
* `{{G1628}}` **ekpheúgō**: Meaning to flee out or **escape**, this verb states the ultimate purpose and successful outcome of being lowered in the basket [[2 Corinthians 11:33]].
### Theological Significance
The narrative weight of `{{G4553}}` is tied directly to its function in the story of Paul's escape. It serves as a clear example of practical deliverance.
* **An Instrument of Escape:** The **basket** is presented as a crucial physical tool. It is the simple, man-made object used to navigate a perilous situation and secure Paul's safety from his enemies' **hands** [[2 Corinthians 11:33]].
* **A Humble Means of Safety:** The use of a common **basket** for an apostle's escape highlights a method that is practical and without heroic spectacle, emphasizing reliance on ordinary means.
* **Providential Aid:** The event shows how practical tools and the help of others, who **let down** the basket, were used to overcome a seemingly insurmountable **wall** and ensure a key figure could continue his work.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G4553}}` **sargánē** is a highly specific term whose entire biblical meaning is contained within a single, vivid event. It is remembered not for its theological complexity but as the humble, functional object used in Paul's escape. The verse where it is found illustrates how a simple wicker-work **basket** became the means of deliverance, demonstrating that ordinary items can play a crucial role in the unfolding of biblical events.
TRV