Understanding ἀποφορτίζομαι (apophortizomai) Strong’s G670: Maritime Cargo Unloading and Spiritual Unburdening in Ancient Mediterranean Trade

Pronunciation Guide: ah-po-for-TEE-zoh-my

Basic Definition

Strong’s G670: To unload or discharge cargo from a ship. This technical maritime term describes the specific act of removing or unloading cargo from a vessel, implying a deliberate and complete process of unburdening. In biblical context, it carries both literal and metaphorical significance related to releasing burdens.

Etymology and Morphology

• Compound verb formed from ἀπό (from, away from) + φορτίζω (to load or burden)
• Middle/passive voice verb
• Maritime and commercial vocabulary
• Primary usage in narrative sections
• Hapax legomenon in New Testament
• Common in Hellenistic maritime documents

ἀποφορτίζομαι Morphology:

• ἀποφορτίζομαι (present middle/passive indicative) – I am unloading
• ἀποφορτιζόμενος (present middle/passive participle) – unloading
• ἀπεφορτίζετο (imperfect middle/passive indicative) – was unloading

Origin & History

The term ἀποφορτίζομαι emerged from the bustling maritime trade of the ancient Mediterranean world. Its earliest attestations appear in Hellenistic Greek commercial documents, particularly in shipping manifests and port records from Alexandria and other major trading centers. The historian Polybius (2nd century BCE) uses the term in his Histories (1.52.6) when describing naval operations.

In the Hellenistic period, this word became standardized in maritime commercial vocabulary, appearing frequently in papyri receipts from Egyptian ports. The term maintained remarkable semantic stability, consistently referring to the specific action of cargo discharge, unlike many Greek words that underwent significant semantic drift.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• The physical act of removing cargo from a ship’s hold
• The process of transferring goods from vessel to shore
• The commercial transaction of delivering transported goods
• The metaphorical unburdening or releasing of a load

ἀποφορτίζομαι Translation Options:

• “to unload” – Emphasizes the physical action, most appropriate for maritime contexts
• “to discharge cargo” – Highlights the commercial and legal aspects of the transaction
• “to deliver goods” – Focuses on the completion of a trading journey
• “to unburden” – Captures potential metaphorical applications

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀποφορτίζομαι appears only once in Acts 21:3, where Luke records Paul’s journey to Tyre: “When we had sighted Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload [ἀποφορτίζομαι] its cargo.” The precise technical term reflects Luke’s attention to nautical detail and authenticates his firsthand account of Paul’s voyages.

Though a hapax legomenon in the New Testament, the word appears in various Hellenistic maritime documents, particularly in the context of:

• Acts 21:3 – “for there the ship was to unload [ἀποφορτίζομαι] its cargo”

Cultural Insights

The use of ἀποφορτίζομαι provides a fascinating window into ancient Mediterranean maritime commerce. Tyre, where Paul’s ship unloaded, was one of the most important ports in the ancient world, famous for its purple dye industry and strategic location. The unloading process would have involved a complex system of workers, merchants, and customs officials, typically taking several days to complete.

The technical precision of this term suggests Luke’s familiarity with maritime practices, lending credibility to his status as an eyewitness. Ships would typically follow established trade routes, unloading cargo at major ports like Tyre, which had sophisticated harbor facilities including warehouses (ἀποθῆκαι) and customs houses (τελώνια).

Theological Significance

While ἀποφορτίζομαι appears only once in Scripture and in a purely literal sense, its imagery resonates with broader biblical themes of unburdening and release. Just as ships needed to unload their physical cargo, believers are called to cast their burdens upon the Lord (Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7).

The commercial context of the word also connects to the Messiah’s teaching about trading and stewardship, reminding us that our spiritual lives, like ancient commerce, involve processes of receiving and releasing, always under divine providence.

Personal Application

When we encounter ἀποφορτίζομαι in Acts 21:3, we’re reminded that our spiritual journey, like Paul’s physical voyage, involves seasons of unburdening. Just as ships needed to unload their cargo to continue their journey effectively, we too must regularly examine what we’re carrying and be willing to release those burdens that hinder our progress in faith.

This maritime term invites us to consider: What spiritual cargo are we carrying that needs to be unloaded? Are we trying to navigate life’s waters while overladen with worries, sins, or responsibilities that God never intended us to bear?

Related Words

• φορτίζω (fortizō) – to load or burden; used of imposing religious obligations – See G5412
• γόμος (gomos) – ship’s cargo or freight; metaphorically of spiritual goods – See G1117
• βάρος (baros) – weight, burden; used of spiritual and moral obligations – See G922
• φορτίον (phortion) – burden, load; used of Christ’s “light burden” – See G5413

Did you Know?

• Archaeological evidence from ancient Tyre shows sophisticated cargo handling systems including crane mechanisms and warehouse facilities that would have been used in the ἀποφορτίζομαι process described in Acts.
• Modern Greek still uses this word in shipping contexts, maintaining its meaning across more than two millennia of maritime commerce.
• The middle/passive voice of ἀποφορτίζομαι suggests the ship’s crew’s personal involvement in the unloading process, reflecting ancient maritime practices where sailors were often responsible for both sailing and cargo handling.

Remember This

ἀποφορτίζομαι reminds us that every journey of faith, like every ancient voyage, requires moments of deliberate unburdening for safe and effective progress.