Lexical Summary hudór: Water Original Word: ὕδωρ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance water. And genitive case, hudatos (hoo'-dat-os), etc. From the base of huetos; water (as if rainy) literally or figuratively -- water. see GREEK huetos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition water NASB Translation water (63), waters (13). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5204: ὕδωρὕδωρ (ὕω (but cf. Curtius, § 300)), genitive ὕδατος, τό, from Homer down, Hebrew מַיִם, water: of the water in rivers, Matthew 3:16; Revelation 16:12; in wells, John 4:7; in fountains, James 3:12; Revelation 8:10; Revelation 16:4; in pools, John 5:3f, (R L), 7; of the water of the deluge, 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:6 (Winer's Grammar, 604f, (562)); of water in any of earth's repositories, Revelation 8:10; Revelation 11:6; ὁ ἄγγελος τῶν ὑδατον, Revelation 16:5; of water as a primary element, out of and through which the world that was before the deluge arose and was compacted, 2 Peter 3:5. plural τά ὕδατα, of the waves of the Lake of Galilee, Matthew 14:28f; (so also the singular τό ὕδωρ in Luke 8:25); of the waves of the sea, Revelation 1:15; Revelation 14:2 (on both these passages, see φωνή, 1); πολλά ὕδατα, many springs or fountains, John 3:23; figuratively used of many peoples, Revelation 17:1, as the seer himself explains it in Revelation 17:15, cf. Nahum 2:8; of a quantity of water likened to a river, Revelation 12:15; of a definite quantity of water drawn for drinking, John 2:7; ποτήριον ὕδατος, Mark 9:41; for washing, Matthew 27:24; Luke 7:44; John 13:5; Hebrews 10:22 (23); τό λουτρόν τοῦ ὕδατος, of baptism, Ephesians 5:26 (cf. Winer's Grammar, 138 (130)); κεράμιον ὕδατος, Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10. in opposed to other things, whether elements or liquids: opposed to τῷ πνεύματι καί πυρί (cf. Buttmann, § 133, 19; Winer's Grammar, 217 (204), 412 (384)), Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; to πνεύματι alone, John 1:26, 31, 33; Acts 1:5 (in all these passages the water of baptism is intended); to τῷ πυρί alone, Matthew 17:15; Mark 9:22; to τῷ οἴνῳ, John 2:9; John 4:46; to τῷ αἵματι, John 19:34; Hebrews 9:19; 1 John 5:6, 8. Allegorically, that which refreshes and keeps alive the soul is likened to water, viz. the Spirit and truth of God, John 4:14f (ὕδωρ σοφίας, Sir. 15:3); on the expressions ὕδωρ ζῶν, τό ὕδωρ τῆς ζωῆς, ζῶσαι πηγαί ὑδάτων, see ζάω, II. a. and ζωή, 2 b., p. 274a. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope Strong’s Greek 5204 refers to “water” in its various grammatical forms. The term appears eighty times in the Greek New Testament and is employed literally, symbolically, and eschatologically. Its contexts range from mundane refreshment to profound theological revelation. Water in Creation and Sustenance Although 5204 begins appearing in the New Testament, the writers echo the Old Testament affirmation that water is God’s gift for sustaining life. Jesus points to the heavenly Father who “sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45), reminding hearers that every drop of water testifies to God’s providence. Water as Instrument of Judgment Peter twice recalls the global Flood: “the world of that time perished in the floodwaters” (2 Peter 3:6). In 1 Peter 3:20 the same event becomes a type of salvation “through water,” anticipating Christian baptism. Water, therefore, is not neutral; God can employ it both to cleanse and to judge. Ritual Purification and Covenant Cleansing Temple practices required many washings; Hebrews 9:19 mentions Moses sprinkling “both the book itself and all the people with the blood and with the water.” New-covenant imagery builds on these rites: “having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). Paul connects the bride of Christ to “the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26), joining physical water to the life-giving gospel. John’s Baptism and Christian Baptism John the Baptist declared, “I baptize you with water for repentance” (Matthew 3:11). Jesus affirmed the rite by submitting to it (Matthew 3:16) and later commanded it for His disciples (Matthew 28:19). Baptism “in water” distinguishes John’s preparatory ministry (John 1:26, Acts 1:5) from the Spirit’s future outpouring, yet the two are complementary rather than competing. Water Symbolizing the Holy Spirit and New Birth In His nighttime conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus states, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Later He tells a Samaritan woman, “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst” (John 4:14). At the Feast of Tabernacles He proclaims, “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him’” (John 7:38). John clarifies, “He was speaking about the Spirit” (John 7:39). Thus physical water becomes a signpost pointing to the regenerating, indwelling Spirit. Miracles Involving Water • Turning water into wine (John 2:7–9) inaugurates Jesus’ public ministry and reveals His glory. Each miracle employs actual water while demonstrating a deeper spiritual reality: Jesus is Lord over matter and mediator of divine grace. Compassionate Ministry and Hospitality A cup of cool water given “because you bear the name of Christ” will not go unrewarded (Mark 9:41). The woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair illustrates lavish devotion (Luke 7:44). Acts records the Ethiopian eunuch requesting baptism upon finding sufficient water along the desert road (Acts 8:36–38), affirming that access to water should never hinder obedience. The Passion and the Witness of Water From Jesus’ pierced side “flowed blood and water” (John 19:34), signifying both His true humanity and the fountain of cleansing opened at Calvary. John later writes, “This is the One who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood” (1 John 5:6). Water, blood, and the Spirit “testify, and the three are in agreement” (1 John 5:8). The sacramental and forensic dimensions of redemption converge in this triple witness. Eschatological Waters Revelation abounds with images of water: “a roar like many waters” around the throne (Revelation 14:2), the bowls turning “the rivers and springs of water into blood” (Revelation 16:4–5), the harlot seated on “many waters” (Revelation 17:1), and finally “the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1). The invitation is universal: “Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who desires take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17). Eschatology returns believers to Eden yet surpasses it, for the river now flows from the glorified Christ. Theological Synthesis Water in the New Testament unites multiple themes: life-giving sustenance, covenant cleansing, divine judgment, Spirit empowerment, and eternal satisfaction. Its persistent presence from creation to new creation underscores the coherence of Scripture’s storyline. Pastoral and Missional Implications 1. Proclaim the gospel as living water that alone quenches spiritual thirst. In all its uses, 5204 draws the reader from the material to the eternal, directing every thirst to the One who says, “To the thirsty I will freely give from the spring of the water of life” (Revelation 21:6). Forms and Transliterations ύδασι υδασιν ύδασιν ὕδασιν υδατα ύδατα ὕδατα υδατι ύδατι ὕδατι υδατος ύδατος ύδατός ὕδατος υδατων υδάτων ύδατων ὑδάτων υδωρ ύδωρ ὕδωρ ύειον υετίζων υετίσαι hydasin hýdasin hydata hýdata hydati hýdati hydaton hydatōn hydáton hydátōn hydatos hýdatos hydor hydōr hýdor hýdōr udasin udata udati udaton udatōn udatos udor udōrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 3:11 N-DNSGRK: βαπτίζω ἐν ὕδατι εἰς μετάνοιαν NAS: As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, KJV: you with water unto repentance: INT: baptize with water to repentance Matthew 3:16 N-GNS Matthew 8:32 N-DNP Matthew 14:28 N-ANP Matthew 14:29 N-ANP Matthew 17:15 N-ANS Matthew 27:24 N-ANS Matthew 27:49 N-NNS Mark 1:8 N-DNS Mark 1:10 N-GNS Mark 9:22 N-ANP Mark 9:41 N-GNS Mark 14:13 N-GNS Luke 3:16 N-DNS Luke 7:44 N-ANS Luke 8:24 N-GNS Luke 8:25 N-DNS Luke 16:24 N-GNS Luke 22:10 N-GNS John 1:26 N-DNS John 1:31 N-DNS John 1:33 N-DNS John 2:7 N-GNS John 2:9 N-ANS John 2:9 N-ANS Strong's Greek 5204 |
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