Lexical Summary buthos: Depth, deep, abyss Original Word: βυθός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deep. A variation of bathos; depth, i.e. (by implication) the sea -- deep. see GREEK bathos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originakin to bathos Definition the bottom, the depth NASB Translation deep (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1037: βυθόςβυθός, βυθοῦ, ὁ, the bottom (of a ditch or trench, Xenophon, oec. 19, 11); the bottom or depth of the sea, often in Greek writings from Aeschylus Prom. 432 down; the sea itself, the deep sea: 2 Corinthians 11:25, as in Psalm 106:24 Topical Lexicon Concept and Scope Strong’s Greek 1037 designates the fathomless “depth” or “bottom” of the sea. In Scripture it brings to view the place where solid footing is lost, orientation is gone, and survival depends entirely on the Lord’s preserving grace. Occurrence in the New Testament 2 Corinthians 11:25 is the sole New-Testament instance: “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I spent in the open sea”. Paul reaches for this vivid noun to crown his catalogue of sufferings, underscoring that his apostleship embraced dangers both on land and in “the deep.” Background in the Septuagint and Classical Usage βυθός appears frequently in the Septuagint for the Hebrew tĕhōm (“deep”) and meṣūlāh (“depths”), especially in passages celebrating God’s victory over watery chaos. Exodus 15:5, for instance, sings, “The depths have covered them; they sank to the bottom like a stone.” Greek authors likewise used the term for the sea floor, the unseen realm where storms hurl ships and where treasures—or corpses—settle beyond human reach. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty over Chaos Throughout Scripture the sea symbolizes untamed power. By parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and stilling Galilee’s waves (Mark 4:39), the Lord shows He rules the βυθός. Paul’s survival in the deep testifies that this sovereignty continues in the church age. 2. Suffering and Apostolic Authentication Far from weakening Paul’s message, his night and day in the deep authenticates it. Just as Jesus validated His mission through the cross, Paul validates his through endurance. The peril of βυθός becomes a credential, exposing the hollowness of the “super-apostles” who boasted without scars (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). 3. Deliverance and Hope Jonah descended to “the roots of the mountains” yet was brought up (Jonah 2:6). Paul likewise emerges alive, embodying the promise: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2). The motif anticipates the final triumph when “the sea gave up its dead” (Revelation 20:13), proving that even the deepest abyss cannot imprison God’s people. Historical Setting of Paul’s Experience Ancient Mediterranean travel was treacherous, especially in late autumn (Acts 27:9-10). A drifting survivor could be swept far from shipping lanes, exposed to hypothermia, sharks, or drowning. Roman justice offered no rescue operations; only Providence could intervene. Paul’s testimony likely alludes to an early wreck before the events of Acts 27, showing that the hazards of Acts were not an isolated incident but a pattern of costly obedience. Ministry Implications • Courage in Mission: Modern servants of the gospel can expect opposition as real as Paul’s waves. The depth he faced encourages believers to value faithfulness over comfort. • Dependence on God: βυθός strips away self-reliance. Whether the “deep” is literal peril, emotional despair, or cultural hostility, the remedy is the same—call upon the One who “trampled the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8). • Witness through Weakness: Surviving the deep became part of Paul’s story, opening doors for evangelism (Philippians 1:12-14). Present-day testimonies of deliverance from “depths”—addiction, persecution, illness—can bear similar fruit. Related Biblical Imagery • Psalm 69:1-2 – “I have come into deep waters.” Summary Strong’s Greek 1037 is more than a geographical term; it is a theological signpost. The βυθός exposes human frailty, magnifies divine power, and frames the gospel narrative of death, deliverance, and resurrection hope. Forms and Transliterations βυθοίς βυθόν βυθός βυθού βυθω βυθώ βυθῷ βύρσαν βύρσης butho buthō bytho bythō bythôi bythō̂iLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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