και 2532 CONJ θεωρει 2334 5719 V-PAI-3S τον 3588 T-ASM ουρανον 3772 N-ASM ανεωγμενον 455 5772 V-RPP-ASM και 2532 CONJ καταβαινον 2597 5723 V-PAP-ASN επ 1909 PREP αυτον 846 P-ASM σκευος 4632 N-ASN τι 5100 X-ASN ως 5613 ADV οθονην 3607 N-ASF μεγαλην 3173 A-ASF τεσσαρσιν 5064 A-DPF αρχαις 746 N-DPF δεδεμενον 1210 5772 V-RPP-ASM και 2532 CONJ καθιεμενον 2524 5746 V-PPP-ASN επι 1909 PREP της 3588 T-GSF γης 1093 N-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
11. Saw (qewrei). Rev., better, and more literally, beholdeth. See on Luke x. 18. The present tense is graphically introduced into the narrative. Unto him. The best texts omit.Sheet (oqonhn). Only here and ch. xi. 5. Originally fine linen; later, sail-cloth or a sail. Dr. J. Rawson Lumby suggests that the word, "applied to loose, bellying sails of ships," may indicate that the form of vessel which appeared to Peter "recalled an image most familiar to his previous life - the wind-stretched canvas of the craft on the Lake of Galilee" ("Expositor," iii, 272).
Knit (dedemenon). If this is retained, we must render bound, or attached; but the best texts omit, together with the following and. Render, as Rev., let down by four corners. Compare ch. xi. 5.
Corners (arcaiv). Lit., beginnings; the extremity or corner, marking a beginning of the sheet. "We are to imagine the vessel, looking like a colossal four-cornered linen cloth, letting itself down, while the corners attached to heaven to support the whole." The word is used in this sense by Herodotus, describing the sacrifices of the Scythians. The victim's forefeet are bound with a cord, "and the person who is about to offer, taking his station behind the victim, pulls the end (archn) of the rope, and thereby throws the animal down" (4, 60). The suggestion of ropes holding the corners of the sheet (Alford, and, cautiously, Farrar) is unwarranted by the usage of the word. It was the technical expression in medical language for the ends of bandages. The word for sheet in this passage was also the technical term for a bandage, as was the kindred word ojqonion, used of the linen bandages in which the Lord's body was swathed. See Luke 2412; John xix. 40; xx. 5, 6, 7. Mr. Hobart says: "We have thus in this passage a technical medical phrase - the ends of a bandage - used for the ends of a sheet, which hardly any one except a medical man would think of employing" ("Medical Language of St. Luke").
Robertson's NT Word Studies
10:11 {Beholdeth} (qewrei). Vivid historical present and change from past time. {Opened} (anewigmenon, perfect passive participle with double reduplication, state of completion). {Descending} (katabainon). Present active participle describing the process. {Sheet} (oqonen). Old word for linen cloth and only here in the N.T. Accusative case in apposition with skeuos (vessel). {Let down} (kaqiemenon). Present passive participle of kaqiemi. Old verb, but in the N.T. only here and #Lu 5:19; Ac 9:25. Linear action here picturing the process, "being let down." {By four corners} (tessarsin arcais). Instrumental case of arce, beginning. We say "end" or extremity for this use of the word. The picture is the sheet held up by four cords to which the sheet is fastened. #Isa 11:12 had said that Israel would be gathered from the four corners of the earth. Knowling follows Hobart in taking the four corners of the sheet to be a medical phrase for bandage (the end of a bandage).
