rudder

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

4079 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

πηδάλιον

Transliteration:

pedalion

Phonic:

pay-dal’-ee-on

Meaning:

neuter of a (presumed) derivative of πηδόν (the blade of an oar; from the same as 3976); a "pedal", i.e. helm

KJV Usage:

rudder

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Acts 27:40⁴⁰And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. (Acts 27:40). They committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands.

More correctly, the bands of the rudders; the word in the original being plural. Each ship had two rudders, or paddles, for steering, one on each quarter. The hinged rudder at the stern is comparatively a modern contrivance.