UBS Greek Dictionary Article

Form 1

Part of speech: noun, f.

Inflections: κιβωτός; -οῦ

Sense 1: boat, ship, the ark

Semantic entry: 6.44

Semantic domains: Artifacts

Subdomains: Boats and Parts of Boats

Definition: a large box-like structure (the vessel built by Noah)

Notes: The central meaning of κιβωτός is ‘box’ or ‘chest,’ but it was apparently applied to Noah’s ark in view of the type of construction and the fact that Noah’s ark resembled more a barge than a seagoing vessel. However, in view of the size of Noah’s ark, it is probably best in most languages to speak of it as a ‘ship.’

Further resources: realia:8.1.3

Show passage in OET: MAT 24:38

OET-RV MAT 24:38

38 In the days leading up to the flood, people were eating and drinking, and marrying and getting engaged—right until the very day that Noah got into the barge.

OET-LV MAT 24:38

38 For/Because as they _were in the days which before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and betrothing, until that day Nōe came _in into the box.

Show passage in OET: LUK 17:27

OET-RV LUK 17:27

27 people were eating and drinking, and getting engaged and married right until that day when Noah went into the barge and the flood came and destroyed everything.

OET-LV LUK 17:27

27 they _were _eating, they _were _drinking, they _were _marrying, they _were _being _betrothed, until that day Nōe came _in into the box, and the flood came and destroyed all.

Jump to OET MAT 24:38 section.

Jump to OET LUK 17:27 section.

All 4 recorded passages for this sense

MAT: OET MAT 24:38

LUK: OET LUK 17:27

HEB: OET HEB 11:7

PE1: OET PE1 3:20

Sense 2: box, chest, coffer

Semantic entry: 6.139

Semantic domains: Artifacts

Subdomains: Containers

Definition: any box-like container, whether plain or elaborate; here, refers to the box used to hold the tablets of the Law

Notes: In the NT κιβωτός[b] occurs only in the phrase κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης ‘the box of the covenant,’ which was placed in the Holy of Holies of the Temple in Jerusalem and referred to also as being in the heavenly temple (OET REV 11:19).|In the case of English some persons object to speaking of the so-called ‘ark of the Covenant’ as ‘the Covenant Box,’ since they assume that the English word ‘ark’ has some special meaning equivalent to the corresponding Greek or Hebrew terms. However, the term ‘ark’ in Old English and Middle English is simply a borrowing of Latin arca meaning ‘box, chest, coffer.’ In present-day English the term ark is known primarily from the context of ‘Noah’s ark.’

Further resources: realia:4.1

Show passage in OET: HEB 9:4

OET-RV HEB 9:4

4 having the golden incense altar and the box of the agreement which was completely gold-plated and which contained a golden jar of manna and Aharon’s (Aaron) staff which had sprouted and the stone tablets inscribed with the commands.

OET-LV HEB 9:4

4 the_golden having incense _altar and the box of _the covenant, having _been _covered _around on _every _side with _gold, in which jar golden having the manna, and the staff of_Aʼarōn/(ʼAhₐron) which having _sprouted, and the tablets of _the covenant.

Show passage in OET: REV 11:19

OET-RV REV 11:19

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the wooden chest containing his agreement appeared in his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a large hailstorm.

OET-LV REV 11:19

19 And was _opened _up the temple of_ the _god which in the heaven, and was _seen the box of _the covenant of _him in the temple of _him, and there _became lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an_earthquake, and hail great.

Jump to OET HEB 9:4 section.

Jump to OET REV 11:19 section.

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

κιβωτός

Form 1

Sense 1: boat, ship, the ark

Sense 2: box, chest, coffer