Greek word · G3607
ὀθόνη
othonē
sheet
Fine linen, a linen cloth or sheet. In Greek literature it is also used for sails.
Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ὀθόνη, -ης, ἡ
(of Semitic origin, cf. Heb. אֵטוּן, yarn)
1. fine linen (Hom., al.).
2. Later, a sheet or sail: Acts 10:11 11:5.†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
Fine linen, a linen cloth or sheet. In Greek literature it is also used for sails.
- Against the English
'Sheet' is fine. Picture a large square of cloth, not bedding.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In the NT it occurs only in Acts 10:11 and 11:5. The related small form othonion is used for the linen strips wrapped around Jesus' body (Luke 24:12; John 19:40).
- Range of meaning
Fine cloth, especially linen. A linen sheet or garment. Also sailcloth or a sail.
- Against the English
Almost every English version has 'sheet'. That is accurate, but readers may picture bed linen rather than a large cloth used to carry things.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In the New Testament it appears only here and in Acts 11:5 (a related diminutive, othonia, is used for Jesus' grave cloths in Luke 24:12 and John). In classical and later Greek it covers linen cloths and sails. BDAG gives 'linen cloth, sheet'.
Where it appears
Acts · 2
-
Acts 10:11 ὀθόνην a sheet
He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
Here: A large piece of fine cloth, usually linen. Elsewhere the word is also used for sailcloth. The picture is a big cloth gathered up into a carrying bundle.
-
Acts 11:5 ὀθόνην a sheet
“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.
Here: A large piece of fine cloth, usually linen. Sailcloth was a familiar sight in a port town.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.