Greek word · G4694

σπιλάς

spilas

reef

In ordinary Greek, a rock in the sea that the waves wash over, a reef, often one hidden just below the surface. It is a sailor's word for something that tears open a ship.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

σπιλάς, -άδος, ἡ

(on the gender in Ju, l.with, see Mayor, Ju., 41),

1. poët. in cl., a rock or reef over which the sea dashes (Polyb., FlJ, al.). Metaphorical, of men whose conduct causes danger to others, Jude 1:12, R, txt. (but see infr.).

2. In late writers = σπίλος (which see), a spot, stain; metaphorically, Ju, l.with, R, mg. (cf. Mayor, 41, but see supr.).†

(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 Jude 1:12

Range of meaning

In ordinary Greek, a rock in the sea that the waves wash over, a reef, often one hidden just below the surface. It is a sailor's word for something that tears open a ship. Late Greek dictionaries also record a meaning like 'stain, spot', probably by confusion with the similar word σπίλος (spilos, 'spot').

Against the English

KJV has 'spots', following the Latin Vulgate's maculae ('stains'). BSB, WEB, ESV and NASB have 'hidden reefs', YLT 'craggy rocks', NIV 'blemishes', NLT 'dangerous reefs'.

How it drifted

The parallel in 2 Peter 2:13 calls the same people σπίλοι καὶ μῶμοι, 'spots and blemishes'. Latin translators and later English ones made Jude match Peter, so 'reef' became 'spot'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Homer, Odyssey 3.298, has waves smashing ships against the σπιλάδες. BDAG gives 'rock washed by the sea, reef' as the main sense and cites a similar use of rocky coast in Josephus (Jewish War 3.420). The 'spot' sense is found only in late dictionary entries.

Where it appears

Jude · 1

  1. Jude 1:12 σπιλάδες, hidden reefs,

    These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.

    Here: Rocks just under the surface that wreck ships. The picture is a danger you cannot see until the hull hits it. A minority reading takes it as 'spots, stains' (see debates).

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