Greek word · G1117

γόμος

gomos

cargo

From γέμω, 'to be full'. It means a load or burden: the pack of a beast of burden, and especially the freight of a ship.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 30, 2026

What it means

γόμος, -ου, ὁ

(γέμω), [in LXX: Exodus 23:5, 2 Kings 5:17 (מַשָּׂא) * ;]

a ship's freight, cargo: Acts 21:3, Revelation 18:11, 12.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: From γέμω, 'to be full'. It means a load or burden: the pack of a beast of burden, and especially the freight of a ship.
Against the English: The KJV and WEB render it 'merchandise', which is general. BSB 'cargo' and YLT 'lading' keep the shipping picture, which matters, because 18:17–19 goes straight on to ship-masters and sailors.
Used elsewhere in the period: Exodus 23:5 (LXX) uses it of a donkey's load. Acts 21:3 uses it of a ship unloading its cargo at Tyre, the very city whose lament (Ezekiel 27) lies behind this chapter. In the New Testament it appears only in Acts 21:3 and Revelation 18:11–12.

Range of meaning: A load or burden carried by an animal or a ship; hence 'cargo, freight'. It comes from the verb gemō, 'to be full, loaded'.
Against the English: KJV/WEB 'merchandise' highlights goods for sale. BSB/NIV 'cargo' and YLT 'lading' keep the picture of a loaded ship, which suits the sailors' lament that follows (18:17–19).
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX Exodus 23:5 uses it for a donkey collapsing under its load. In 2 Kings (4 Kingdoms) 5:17 Naaman asks for 'a load for a pair of mules'. Acts 21:3 uses it for a ship unloading its cargo at Tyre. In the papyri it is a normal word for freight.

Acts · 1

Acts 21:3 γόμον.¶ cargo.

After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

Revelation · 2

Revelation 18:11 γόμον cargo

And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo—

Here: A ship's freight, the load that fills a hold. It opens the long inventory in 18:12–13, which itself begins with the same word.
Revelation 18:12 γόμον cargo

cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

Here: A ship's cargo, the freight the merchants of v.11 can no longer sell. It is in the accusative because it is the object of 'no one buys' at the end of v.11, and everything in the list hangs on it.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.