the Sixth Week after Easter
Click here to join the effort!
Bible Dictionaries
Fathom
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or The only instance of this measurement is found in Acts 27:28, where by successive soundings a depth of 20 and 15 fathoms is obtained. The word employed (ὀργυιά; cf. Herod, ii. 149. 4) denotes the length from finger tip to finger tip of the outstretched arms, measuring across the breast. In tables of length it appears = 4 cubits = 6 feet. The actual measurement thus depends on the length of the cubit or foot. According to recent authorities, the Roman-Attic ft. is given as equivalent to 971 English ft., which yields 70 in. (approximately) as the length of the fathom. This is slightly under our present-day measure of 6 feet. For the fathom of Julian of Ascalon (74. 49 in.) see Encyclopaedia Biblica , article ‘Weights and Measures.’
W. Cruickshank.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Hastings, James. Entry for 'Fathom'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/f/fathom.html. 1906-1918.
