27:41a

the vessel struck: The Greek word translated as struck is literally “encountering.” The Greek verb implies being unpleasantly surprised by something. (It is used of encountering robbers in Luke 10:30.) Other ways to translate this Greek word are:

coming/happening upon
-or-
they encountered (NET Bible)
-or-
we were surprised by

a sandbar: This phrase in Greek is literally “a place between two seas.” There are two ways to interpret this Greek phrase:

(1) It refers to a shallow place in the sea, either of sand or mud caused by two currents of the ocean depositing sand or mud where they meet. For example:

a sandbank (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), English Standard Version)

(2) It refers only to a place where two currents of the ocean meet. For example:

the cross–currents (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek verb is “strike,” which is unlikely to be used with a place where two currents of the ocean meet.

Other ways to translate this Greek phrase according to interpretation (1) are:

a hill of sand just under the water
-or-
a ⌊submerged⌋ bank of sand
-or-
shallow land
-or-
and underwater ridge ⌊of sand⌋
-or-
it instead struck sand because the water was shallow

ran aground: This refers to the ship hitting the ground under shallow water. See how you translated this in 27:17.

27:41b

bow: This refers to the front of the ship.

stuck fast: This refers to the sandbar holding it securely. Even the pounding waves did not move the ship. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

stuck firmly (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
became thoroughly stuck/jammed

27:41c

the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

the pounding of the surf broke the stern to pieces

waves: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek word litereally here. If your language has a word that describes waves that build and crash onto shallow areas, you can use that here. For example:

surf (New International Version)

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