Greek word · G4535

σάλος

salos

tossing

The rolling, tossing motion of something unstable, especially the swell or surge of a rough sea; also restlessness in general.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

σάλος, -ου, ὁ

[in LXX for מוֹט, etc. ;]

in poets and late prose, a tossing, as of an earthquake; esp. the tossing, the rolling swell of the sea: Luke 21:25.†

(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 Luke 21:25

Range of meaning

The rolling, tossing motion of something unstable, especially the swell or surge of a rough sea; also restlessness in general.

Against the English

Most versions say 'waves' (KJV, ESV, NASB, WEB). Strictly, salos is not the waves themselves (Greek kyma) but their heaving and surging. NIV's 'tossing' and BSB's 'surging' are more exact.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Psalm 88:10 (English 89:9): 'You rule the might of the sea; the surge (salon) of its waves you calm.' Jonah 1:15: 'the sea ceased from its surging (salou).' In both, the salos is something only God can quiet.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 21:25 σάλου rolling surge

    There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.

    Here: The rolling, heaving motion of a stormy sea. It shares a root with saleuō, 'shake', used in the very next verse: 'the powers of the heavens will be shaken'. The heaving sea below matches the shaking heavens above.

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