Greek word · G2893

κουφίζω

kouphizō

to lighten

To make light, to lighten a load or weight. Figuratively, to relieve or ease a burden.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κουφίζω

(κοῦφος, light), [in LXX: Exodus 18:22, Jonah 1.5, al. (קָלַל hi.), Esther 5:1, al. ;]

1. intrans., to be light (poetic chiefly).

2. to lighten, make light: with accusative, Acts 27:38.†

(AS)

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

In depth

From the study of Acts 27:38

Range of meaning

To make light, to lighten a load or weight. Figuratively, to relieve or ease a burden.

Against the English

All the major versions say "lightened". Only YLT ("were lightening") and NASB ("began to lighten") bring out that the task went on for some time.

Used elsewhere in the period

It appears only here in the New Testament. In the Greek Old Testament of Jonah 1:5, the sailors in a storm throw the ship's gear into the sea "to lighten it", using the same word group and the noun ekbolē ("jettison"). Luke uses that noun earlier in Acts 27:18. Jettisoning cargo in a storm was standard practice in the ancient world.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 27:38 ἐκούφιζον they were lightening

    After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

    Here: "They were lightening" or "they set about lightening". The verb form shows an ongoing task, not a single act: hauling a heavy load of grain up from the hold took time and effort.

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