The Greek word apophortízomai, represented by G670, means to unlade. Its base definition is to unload, derived from ἀπό (from) and the middle voice of φορτίζω (to load). This term is highly specific, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse within the New Testament, highlighting its specialized use.
The single biblical occurrence of G670 is found in a logistical description of Paul's journey to Jerusalem. In Acts 21:3, the narrative details the voyage: after discovering Cyprus and leaving it behind, the ship sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre. The specific reason for this stop is explicitly stated: "for there the ship was to unlade her burden" Acts 21:3. This use grounds the apostolic journey in the practical realities of first-century maritime travel and commerce.
Several related Greek words from the same passage provide a fuller context for the act of unlading:
- G1117 gómos: Defined as a load, cargo, or wares, this is the burden that the ship needed to unlade Acts 21:3. The same word is used for the merchandise of the fallen city of Babylon Revelation 18:11-12.
- G2609 katágō: This word means to lead down or, specially, to moor a vessel. It describes the action of having landed the ship at Tyre, which was the necessary precursor to unlading the cargo Acts 21:3. It is also used when the disciples brought their ships to land Luke 5:11.
- G4143 ploîon: Meaning a sailer or vessel, this is the ship that carried the burden Acts 21:3. This term is used frequently in accounts of Jesus and the disciples crossing the sea (Matthew 8:24, Luke 8:22).
While not a heavily theological term, the significance of G670 lies in its narrative function.
- Narrative Realism: The act of unlading the ship's cargo adds a layer of concrete detail to the travel account in Acts, anchoring the missionary journey in the ordinary world of commerce and logistics.
- Plot Device: The need to unlade the burden is the specific reason the ship docks at Tyre, setting the stage for the subsequent events of Paul's journey toward Jerusalem Acts 21:3.
- Context of Commerce: By describing the unloading of a ship's burden G1117, the verse places the apostles' activities squarely within the major trade routes and commercial ports of the Roman Empire.
In summary, G670 is a precise and rare term used for a very specific action: unlading a ship. Its sole appearance in scripture is not symbolic but literal, serving to provide a crucial logistical detail in the narrative of Acts. It demonstrates how even non-theological, practical words are vital for constructing a believable and historically grounded biblical account of the early church's movements.
TRV