### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **skeuḗ**, represented by `{{G4631}}`, refers to the **tackling** or spare furniture of a vessel. Based on its root, it denotes equipment or gear. The word is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{G4631}}` occurs in the midst of a perilous sea voyage. In the narrative of Acts, the ship carrying Paul is caught in a violent storm. To lighten the vessel and increase their chances of survival, the crew takes a desperate measure on the third day of the storm: they "cast out with our own hands the **tackling** of the ship" [[Acts 27:19]]. The term here specifically means the spare gear or apparatus of the ship, which was deemed expendable in the crisis.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context help define the situation surrounding `{{G4631}}`:
* `{{G4496}}` **rhíptō** (to fling; cast out): This is the action performed upon the tackling. It signifies a quick, forceful toss, as seen when the crew desperately **cast out** the ship's gear [[Acts 27:19]] or when people were "scattered abroad" like sheep without a shepherd [[Matthew 9:36]].
* `{{G4143}}` **ploîon** (vessel; ship): This is the object to which the tackling belongs. The **ship** is the setting for this event and is frequently a place of significant action, from Jesus calming a storm [[Matthew 8:24]] to the disciples worshipping him on board [[Matthew 14:33]].
* `{{G849}}` **autócheir** (with own hands): This word emphasizes the personal and direct involvement of the crew in jettisoning the gear, stating they cast it out **with our own hands** [[Acts 27:19]].
* `{{G5154}}` **trítos** (third): This ordinal number marks the progression of the crisis, indicating that the casting out of the tackling happened on the **third** day of the storm [[Acts 27:19]]. The word is often used to mark significant timing, such as Christ rising on the **third** day [[1 Corinthians 15:4]].
### Theological Significance
While `{{G4631}}` itself is a functional term, its singular context imbues it with thematic weight.
* **Sacrifice for Survival:** The act of casting out the **tackling** is a deliberate sacrifice of valuable material goods to preserve human life. This reflects a broader biblical principle where the physical is relinquished for something more important, as when Paul later states that all life would be saved but the ship would be lost [[Acts 27:22]].
* **Human Action in Crisis:** The use of `{{G849}}` ("with our own hands") highlights the role of human effort in the midst of a divinely overseen event. Though their ultimate salvation is assured, the crew must still take practical, difficult actions [[Acts 27:31]].
* **The Nature of Possessions:** The **tackling** represents necessary equipment that becomes a burdensome liability in a storm. This illustrates the transient and situational value of worldly goods, which must be cast away when they hinder survival.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G4631}}` is a highly specific term for a ship's **tackling**. Its importance comes not from frequent use but from its singular, dramatic appearance in Scripture. Occurring in the narrative of the storm in [[Acts 27:19]], it functions as a key object in a scene of desperation and sacrifice. The act of casting it out highlights themes of prioritizing life over possessions and the role of human action within a life-threatening trial at sea.
TRV