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They took soundings, and found twenty fathoms. After a little while, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms.
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1
Ancient Sailing 101
Commentators explain that "sounding" involved dropping a weighted line to measure water depth. A "fathom" was an ancient unit of measurement, roughly six feet, based on the span of a person's outstretched arms. The sailors were using standard nautical procedures to navigate.
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7
18th Century
Presbyterian
And sounded. To sound is to make use of a line and lead to ascertain the depth of water.
Twenty fathoms. A fathom…
They sounded (βολισαντες). First aorist active participle of βολιζω rare verb only here and in Eustathius who says it was familiar…
19th Century
Anglican
Twenty fathoms.—The Greek noun so rendered was defined as the length of the outstretched arms from hand to hand, including the che…
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Baptist
They found that the water was shallowing very quickly, so they knew that they were getting near the shore.
During the fourteenth night after leaving Crete, it was clear—probably from the running swell and the roar of surf—that they were near a shore. Sou…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And sounded Or let down their plummet, or sounding line; which was a line with a piece of lead at the end of it, whi…
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They did not listen to the apostle when he warned them of their danger; yet if they acknowledge their foolishness and repent, he will speak words o…
