In biblical literature, the term "foam" is used metaphorically to describe instability, chaos, and the fruitlessness of ungodly pursuits. The imagery of foam is employed to convey the transient and insubstantial nature of certain behaviors and conditions, often in a negative context.

Old Testament References

While the Old Testament does not explicitly mention "foam," the imagery of turbulent waters is prevalent. For example, in Isaiah 57:20 , the wicked are compared to the restless sea, which "cannot be still, whose waters cast up mire and mud." This imagery aligns with the concept of foam, as it suggests agitation and impurity, characteristics often associated with the wicked.

New Testament References

The New Testament provides a more direct reference to foam in the Epistle of Jude. Jude 1:13 describes false teachers as "wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever." Here, foam is used to illustrate the chaotic and shameful nature of those who lead others astray. The metaphor of "wild waves" emphasizes their lack of stability and the destructive consequences of their actions.

Symbolism and Interpretation

Foam, by its very nature, is ephemeral and lacks substance. It is created by agitation and quickly dissipates, leaving no lasting impact. In biblical symbolism, this characteristic is used to highlight the futility and emptiness of a life lived apart from God. The imagery of foam serves as a warning against the pursuit of worldly desires and the teachings of false prophets, which may appear impressive or alluring but ultimately lead to nothing of eternal value.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the use of foam as a metaphor underscores the importance of building one's life on a solid foundation, as opposed to the shifting and unstable nature of sin and false doctrine. In Matthew 7:24-27 , Jesus contrasts the wise man who builds his house on the rock with the foolish man who builds on sand. While foam is not mentioned directly, the underlying principle is similar: only a life grounded in the truth of God's Word will withstand the trials and temptations of this world.

Practical Application

For believers, the imagery of foam serves as a reminder to remain vigilant against the allure of teachings and lifestyles that promise much but deliver little. It encourages Christians to seek substance and depth in their spiritual lives, focusing on the eternal truths of Scripture rather than the fleeting pleasures of the world. By doing so, they can avoid the fate of those described in Jude, who are ultimately led to destruction by their own shameful actions.(Hosea 10:7), the rendering of ketseph, which properly means twigs or splinters (as rendered in the LXX. and marg. R.V.). The expression in Hosea may therefore be read, "as a chip on the face of the water," denoting the helplessness of the piece of wood as compared with the irresistable current. 1. (n.) The white substance, consisting of an aggregation of bubbles, which is formed on the surface of liquids, or in the mouth of an animal, by violent agitation or fermentation; froth; spume; scum; as, the foam of the sea.

2. (n.) To gather foam; to froth; as, the billows foam.

3. (n.) To form foam, or become filled with foam; -- said of a steam boiler when the water is unduly agitated and frothy, as because of chemical action.

4. (v.t.) To cause to foam; as, to foam the goblet; also (with out), to throw out with rage or violence, as foam.

FOAM

fom (qetseph (Hosea 10:7); aphros (Luke 9:39), aphrizo (Mark 9:18, 20), epaphrizo (Jude 1:13)):

Qetseph from qatsaph, "to break to pieces," or "to break forth into anger," "to be angry," occurs often in the sense of "wrath" or "anger" (e.g. Numbers 1:53 Psalm 38:1, etc.), and in this passage has been rendered "twigs" or "chips," "As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam (the Revised Version, margin "twigs") upon the water" (Hosea 10:7). The other references are from the New Testament. In Jude, evil-doers or false teachers are compared to the "wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame." In Mark and Luke the references are to the boy with a dumb spirit who foamed at the mouth.

Alfred Ely Day

1890. epaphrizo -- to foam up
... to foam up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epaphrizo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-af-rid'-zo) Short Definition: I foam out Definition: I foam out (a metaphor ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1890.htm - 6k

875. aphrizo -- to foam at the mouth
... to foam at the mouth. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: aphrizo Phonetic Spelling:
(af-rid'-zo) Short Definition: I foam at the mouth Definition: I foam (at ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/875.htm - 6k

876. aphros -- foam
... aphros. 877 . foam. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: aphros Phonetic
Spelling: (af-ros') Short Definition: foam, froth Definition: foam, froth ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/876.htm - 6k

2560a. chamar -- to ferment, boil or foam up
... 2560, 2560a. chamar. 2560b . to ferment, boil or foam up. Transliteration:
chamar Short Definition: troubled. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2560a.htm - 5k

2560. chamar -- to ferment, boil or foam up
... chamar. 2560a . to ferment, boil or foam up. Transliteration: chamar Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-mar') Short Definition: daub. daub, befoul, be red, trouble ...
/hebrew/2560.htm - 5k

7110. qetseph -- wrath
... 7109, 7110. qetseph. 7110a . wrath. Transliteration: qetseph Phonetic Spelling:
(keh'-tsef) Short Definition: foam. foam, indignation, sore, wrath ...
/hebrew/7110.htm - 5k

2194. zaam -- to be indignant
... A primitive root; properly, to foam at the mouth, ie To be enraged -- abhor, abominable,
(be) angry, defy, (have) indignation. 2193, 2194. zaam. 2195 . ...
/hebrew/2194.htm - 6k

As the Foam Upon Water
... Chapter XX AS THE FOAM UPON WATER. The madness on Jerusalem poured like an overwhelming
flood into the cavern under the ruin of the Herodian palaces. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter xx as the foam.htm

The Sands of Dee
... go and call the cattle home, And call the cattle home, And call the cattle home
Across the sands of Dee;' The western wind was wild and dank with foam, And all ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the sands of dee.htm

Through the Red Sea
... From his superior height, Kenkenes saw, over the heads of the immense concourse,
two lines of foam riding like the wind across the sea-bed toward each other. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlv through the red.htm

All that is White
... The snow where no foot has trod". All white is the foam on the fountains. ... Where only
the angels go? Than the foam where the wild bright fountains. ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen and others second series/all that is white.htm

Andromeda
... Onward they came in their joy, and before them the roll of the surges Sank, as the
breeze sank dead, into smooth green foam-flecked marble, Awed; and the crags ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/andromeda.htm

On Proverbs. From the Commentary of St. Hippolytus on Proverbs.
... And they say that this bird is so much pleased with foam, that if one should
hold foam in his hand as he sails, it will sit upon his hand. ...
/.../on proverbs from the commentary.htm

The City and River of God
... There you can hear the wild waves dashing round the base of the firm hills, sapping
their strength, and toppling their crests down in the bubbling, yeasty foam ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the city and river of.htm

'Fruit which is Death'
... present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed
of his own counsel.7. As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/fruit which is death.htm

On the Glory of Martyrdom.
... water again and again beats upon it, yet its immoveable strength abides firm, and
does not yield even when covered over by the waves that foam around, until ...
/.../on the glory of martyrdom.htm

These Things, Since they are Asserted Upon the Warrant of the ...
... believed. Venus also, whom they call Aphrodite, was born, they believe,
of the foam of the sea, as her compounded name shews. They ...
/.../11 these things since they.htm

Foam (5 Occurrences)
... bubbles, which is formed on the surface of liquids, or in the mouth of an animal,
by violent agitation or fermentation; froth; spume; scum; as, the foam of the ...
/f/foam.htm - 9k

Yeast (48 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The foam, or troth (top yeast), or the sediment (bottom yeast), of beer
or other in fermentation, which contains the yeast plant or its spores, and ...
/y/yeast.htm - 21k

Foal (10 Occurrences)

/f/foal.htm - 11k

Captivity (141 Occurrences)
... "Like the dew on the mountain, Like the foam on the river, Like the bubble on
the fountain, They are gone, and for ever.". (2.) Of Judah. ...
/c/captivity.htm - 79k

Whiten (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vi) To grow white; to turn or become white or whiter; as, the hair whitens with
age; the sea whitens with foam; the trees in spring whiten with blossoms. ...
/w/whiten.htm - 7k

Well-nigh (5 Occurrences)
... It convulses him, and makes him foam at the mouth, and does not leave him
till it has well-nigh covered him with bruises. (WEY). ...
/w/well-nigh.htm - 7k

Insignificant (9 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Job 24:18 "They are foam on the surface of the waters. Their portion
is cursed in the earth. They don't turn into the way of the vineyards. (See NAS) ...
/i/insignificant.htm - 9k

Foamed (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Foam. Multi-Version Concordance
Foamed (1 Occurrence). Psalms 75:8 For a cup 'is' in the ...
/f/foamed.htm - 6k

Treader (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Treader (5 Occurrences). Job 24:18 "They are foam on
the surface of the waters. Their portion is cursed in the earth. ...
/t/treader.htm - 8k

Breaker (2 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A small water cask. 4. (n.) A wave breaking into foam against the shore,
or against a sand bank, or a rock or reef near the surface. ...
/b/breaker.htm - 7k

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