Quick Definition
κιβωτός, οῦ, ἡ n.f. an ark
Strong's Definition
a box, i.e. the sacred ark and that of Noah
Derivation: of uncertain derivation;
KJV Usage: ark
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -οῦ
6.44 · Artifacts · Boats and Parts of Boats
boat, ship, the ark a large box-like structure (the vessel built by Noah) 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.’
6.139 · Artifacts · Containers
box, chest, coffer any box-like container, whether plain or elaborate; here, refers to the box used to hold the tablets of the Law 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 (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.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κιβωτός, -ov, ἡ, (κίβος fef. Suidas 2094 c.]), a wooden chest, box, ([Hecatae. 368 (Miiller’s Frag. i. p. 30), Simon.], Arstph., Lysias, Athen., Ael., al.) : in the N. T., the ark of the covenant, in the temple at Jerusalem, Heb. ix. 4 (Philo, Joseph.; Sept. very often for js); in the heavenly temple, Rev. xi. 19; of Noah’s vessel, built in the form of an ark, Mt. xxiv. 38; Lk. xvii. 27; Heb. xi. 7; 1 Pet. iii. 20, (4 Mace. xv. 31; Sept. for 72/).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
κιβωτός kibōtos 6x
a chest, coffer; the ark of the covenant, Heb. 9:4; Rev. 11:19; the ark of Noah, Mt. 24:38; Lk. 17:27; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κιβωτός, -οῦ, ἡ,
[in LXX: Ge 6-9 (תֵּבָה), elsewhere, very freq., as Ex 25:9 (10), for אָרוֹן;]
a wooden box or chest: of Noah's ark, Mt 24:38, Lk 17:27, He 11:7, I Pe 3:20; of the ark of the covenant, He 9:4, Re 11:19.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κιβωτός. In P Tebt II. 2791 (8.6. 231) we find the phrase πέπτωκεν εἰς κιβωτόν, which is confined to iii/B.c. papyri, with reference to the depositing of documents, here a nursing contract, in the ‘‘official ᾿᾿ chest: see the editors’ introd. and cf. Archiv v. p. 230 f. Other instances of the word are P Fay 1218 (c. A.D. 100) ἐν τῆι (for gender, Mayser G. p. 261) κειβωτῶι τῶν ἀσκῶν ἧι ἔχεις παρὰ σοί, P Oxy X. 1269* (early ii/aA.D.) κιβωτὸς κειμένου παρακλειδίου, ‘a coffer supplied with a false key ” (Edd.), and BGU III. 71733 (A.D. 149) together with κόφινος. The word is apparently of Semitic origin (cf. Lewy Fremdworter, p. 99f.). It may be
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
κιβωτός (kibōtos) — ark: covenant. κῑβωτός, ἡ, box, chest, coffer, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Noah's ark, [LXX]; the ark of [LXX+2nd c.AD+]; πέπτωκεν εἰς κ. has been deposited in the archives, [Refs 3rd c.BC+], etc.; opposed to κίστη (which see). (Perh. a variant in [Refs 8th c.BC+] cites κίβος as the radical form.)
κιβωτός (kibōtos) — ark: Noah. κῑβωτός, ἡ, box, chest, coffer, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Noah's ark, [LXX]; the ark of [LXX+2nd c.AD+]; πέπτωκεν εἰς κ. has been deposited in the archives, [Refs 3rd c.BC+], etc.; opposed to κίστη (which see). (Perh. a variant in [Refs 8th c.BC+] cites κίβος as the radical form.)