Original Word: κουφίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kouphizó
Pronunciation: koo-FEE-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (koo-fid'-zo)
KJV: lighten
NASB: lighten
Word Origin: [from kouphos (light in weight)]

1. to unload

lighten.

From kouphos (light in weight); to unload -- lighten.

Word Origin
from kouphos (light)
Definition
to make light (in weight)
NASB Translation
lighten (1).

STRONGS NT 2893: κουφίζω

κουφίζω: imperfect 3 person plural ἐκούφιζον; (κοῦφος light);

1. intransitive, to be light (Hesiod, Euripides, Dio C.).

2. from Hippocrates down, generally translated, to lighten: a ship, by throwing the cargo overboard, Acts 27:38. (the Sept. Jonah 1:5, and often in Polybius)

Overview

The verb ἐκουφίζω (Strong’s Greek 2893) appears once in the Greek New Testament, Acts 27:38, where Luke records that those aboard Paul’s vessel “lightened the ship” by casting the remaining grain into the sea. Though the term is rare, the act it describes is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative of deliverance, faith‐filled obedience, and the stripping away of encumbrances in order to attain salvation’s goal.

Biblical setting: Acts 27:27-44

• The single usage occurs in the climactic section of Paul’s voyage to Rome.
• Having received divine assurance of safety (Acts 27:23-24), Paul urges all 276 souls on board to eat and be encouraged.
• “After the men had eaten all they wanted, they lightened the ship, throwing the grain into the sea.” (Acts 27:38)
• The action immediately precedes the shipwreck that strands everyone on Malta, where further ministry unfolds (Acts 28:1-10).

Historical context

• Grain vessels from Alexandria commonly sailed to Italy loaded with Egyptian wheat; an overloaded hull in winter seas increased peril.
• Jettisoning cargo was a last resort (compare Jonah 1:5), signifying the crew’s utter dependence on providential care once human resources were spent.
• Luke’s nautical precision highlights his credibility as a historian and underscores that Scripture’s theological claims rest on factual events.

Theological themes

1. Divine sovereignty and human responsibility

– God had promised preservation, yet the crew still had to “lighten the ship.” Faithful obedience cooperates with, never contradicts, God’s decrees.
2. Salvation through loss

– Material security (valuable grain) is sacrificed so that lives are saved, foreshadowing the gospel principle that gaining life requires losing it (Matthew 16:25).
3. Casting off encumbrances

– The image anticipates exhortations such as “let us throw off every encumbrance” (Hebrews 12:1) and Jesus’ call, “My yoke is easy” (Matthew 11:30).

Intercanonical parallels

• Jonah 1:4-16 – pagan sailors lighten their ship in a storm; contrast Jonah’s disobedience with Paul’s faithfulness.
• Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you.”
• Proverbs 11:4 – “Riches are worthless in the day of wrath,” exemplified when grain becomes expendable.
• Hebrews 12:1-2 – spiritual “lightening” to run the race set before believers.
• Revelation 18:17-19 – merchants lament cargo loss; temporal wealth cannot secure eternal safety.

Ministry applications

• Crisis leadership – Paul’s calm, Spirit‐directed authority models pastoral care amid chaos.
• Stewardship – possessions are to serve God’s purposes; when they hinder, they may be relinquished for higher kingdom priorities.
• Discipleship – believers are urged to identify and cast off any weight—sinful or merely excessive—that impedes obedience.

Homiletical suggestions

• Sermons on Acts 27 can revolve around “Lightening the ship: trusting God when letting go hurts.”
• Bible studies may trace the motif of jettisoning burdens from Jonah to Hebrews.
• Counseling contexts can employ the narrative to encourage relinquishing destructive attachments.

Influence in hymnody and devotion

• Many songs of trust echo the theme, e.g., “I’ll cast on Him my every care” (Joseph Scriven).
• Devotional writers routinely cite Acts 27 to illustrate surrender and reliance on divine guidance.

Summary

Although ἐκουφίζω appears only once, its single occurrence crystallizes a timeless biblical principle: when God’s purpose is at stake, His people willingly divest themselves of every hindrance, confident that obedient sacrifice secures what truly matters—life preserved for the advancement of the gospel.

εκουφιζον εκούφιζον ἐκούφιζον εκούφισας κούφη κούφης κουφίζεται κουφιούσιν κουφίση κουφισθήναι κούφισον κούφοι κούφοις κούφον κούφόν κούφος κουφότεροι κούφως ekouphizon ekoúphizonInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts