Jump to: ATS • ISBE • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia In biblical literature, the term "lake" is not as frequently mentioned as other bodies of water such as seas or rivers. However, lakes hold significant symbolic and geographical importance in the biblical narrative. The most notable mention of a lake in the Bible is the "Lake of Fire," which appears in the apocalyptic literature of the New Testament.Geographical Context While the Bible does not explicitly mention many lakes by name, the region of Palestine and its surrounding areas are home to several significant lakes. The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias or Lake Gennesaret, is one of the most prominent. Although often referred to as a "sea," it is technically a freshwater lake. This body of water is central to many events in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. It is here that Jesus called His first disciples, performed miracles such as walking on water (Matthew 14:25-33), and calmed a storm (Mark 4:39). Symbolic and Theological Significance The "Lake of Fire" is a symbolic representation of final judgment and eternal punishment. It is mentioned in the Book of Revelation as the ultimate destination for Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and those whose names are not found in the Book of Life. Revelation 20:14-15 states, "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." This imagery serves as a stark warning of the consequences of rejecting God's salvation. Miracles and Ministry The Sea of Galilee, as a lake, is a backdrop for several of Jesus' miracles and teachings. It is here that Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:41-44) and delivered the Sermon on the Mount nearby. The lake's setting provides a natural amphitheater for Jesus' teachings and a place for solitude and prayer, as seen when He withdrew to pray on a mountainside by the lake (Mark 6:46). Cultural and Historical Context In the ancient Near East, lakes were vital for sustenance, providing water for agriculture, fishing, and transportation. The Sea of Galilee, in particular, was a hub of economic activity, with fishing being a primary industry. This context is reflected in the calling of the first disciples, who were fishermen by trade (Matthew 4:18-22). Conclusion While lakes are not as frequently mentioned as other bodies of water in the Bible, their presence is significant both geographically and symbolically. The Sea of Galilee serves as a central location for Jesus' ministry, while the Lake of Fire represents the ultimate judgment. These references underscore the importance of water in biblical narratives, both as a source of life and as a symbol of divine judgment. ATS Bible Dictionary LakeSee MEROM and SEA. That most terrible description of hell, as a lake burning with fire and brimstone, Revelation 19:20 21:8, recalls the fire and sea in which Sodom was consumed and swallowed up. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A pigment formed by combining some coloring matter, usually by precipitation, with a metallic oxide or earth, esp. with aluminium hydrate; as, madder lake; Florentine lake; yellow lake, etc.2. (n.) A kind of fine white linen, formerly in use. 3. (v. i.) To play; to sport. 4. (n.) A large body of water contained in a depression of the earth's surface, and supplied from the drainage of a more or less extended area. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia LAKElak (limne): The word is used (Luke 5:1, 2; Luke 8:22, 23, 33) of the Lake of Gennesaret or Sea of Galilee, and (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10, 14, 15; Revelation 21:8) of the "lake of fire and brimstone." Lakes are not abundant in Syria and Palestine. The Dead Sea, which might be called a lake, is in most places in English Versions of the Bible called the Salt Sea. It is called by the Arabs Bachr Lut, Sea of Lot. It is a question whether the Waters of Merom (Joshua 11:5, 7) can be identified with the Chuleh, a marshy lake in the course of the Upper Jordan, North of the Sea of Galilee. East of Damascus on the edge of the desert there are saltish lakes in which the water of the rivers of Damascus (see 2 Kings 5:12) is gathered and evaporates. In the Lebanon West of Ba`albek is the small Lake Yammuneh, which is fed by copious springs, but whose water disappears in the latter part of the summer, being drained off by subterranean channels. The Lake of Kums on the Orontes is artificial, though ancient. On the lower Orontes is the Lake of Antioch. LAKE OF FIRE (limne tou puros): Found in Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10, 14 (bis), 15. Revelation 21:8 has "the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone." The brimstone in connection with "the lake of fire" occurs also in Revelation 19:20 and 10, the latter being a backward reference to the former passage. In Revelation 20:14 the words, "This is the second death, even the lake of fire" are either a gloss originally intended to elucidate 20:15 through a reference to 20:6, or, if part of the text, formed originally the close of 20:15, whence they became displaced on account of the identity of the words once immediately preceding them in 20:15 with the words now preceding them in 20:14. The "lake of fire" can be called "the second death" only with reference to the lost among men (20:15), not with reference to death and Hades (20:14). In all the above references "the lake of fire" appears as a place of punishment, of perpetual torment, not of annihilation (20:10). The beast (19:20); the pseudo-prophet (19:20; 20:10); the devil (20:10); the wicked of varying description (20:15; 21:8), are cast into it. When the same is affirmed of death and Hades (20:14), it is doubtful whether this is meant as a mere figure for the cessation of these two evils personified, or has a more realistic background in the existence of two demon-powers so named (compare Isaiah 25:8 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54;; 2 Esdras 7:31). The Scriptural source for the conception of "the lake of fire" lies in Genesis 19:24, where already the fire and the brimstone occur together, while the locality of the catastrophe described is the neighborhood of the Dead Sea. The association of the Dead Sea with this fearful judgment of God, together with the desolate appearance of the place, rendered it a striking figure for the scene of eschatological retribution. The two other Old Testament passages which have "fire and brimstone" (Psalm 11:6 Ezekiel 38:22) are dependent on the Genesis passage, with which they have the figure of "raining" in common. In Revelation 21:8, "their part" seems to allude to Psalm 11:6, "the portion of their cup." In Enoch 67:4; the Dead Sea appears as the place of punishment for evil spirits. Of late it has been proposed to derive "the lake of fire" from "the stream of fire" which destroys the enemies of Ahura in the Zoroastrian eschatology; so Bousset, Die Offenbarung Johannis, 1906, 433, 434. But the figures of a stream and a lake are different; compare 2 Esdras 13:9-11, where a stream of fire proceeds from the mouth of the Messiah for the destruction of His enemies. Besides, the Persian fire is, in part, a fire of purification, and not of destruction only (Bousset, 442), and even in the apocalyptic Book of Enoch, the fires of purification and of punishment are not confounded (compare Enoch 67:4 with 90:20). The Old Testament fully explains the entire conception. FIRE, LAKE OF See LAKE OF FIRE. GENNESARET, LAKE OF ge-nes'-a-ret LAKE OF GENNESARET ge-nes'-a-ret. Greek 3041. limne -- a lake ... limne. 3042 . a lake. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: limne Phonetic Spelling: (lim'-nay) Short Definition: a lake Definition: a lake. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3041.htm - 6k 1082. Gennesaret -- Gennesaret, a fertile plain on W. shore of the ... 2281. thalassa -- the sea 123. aigialos -- the seashore 1067. geenna -- Gehenna, a valley W. and South of Jer., also a ... 1179. Dekapolis -- Decapolis, a region East of the Jordan 5085. Tiberias -- Tiberias, a city of Galilee, also another name ... Strong's Hebrew 3672. Kinaroth -- a city in Galilee, also a lake near the city... a city in Galilee, also a lake near the city. Transliteration: Kinaroth or Kinnereth Phonetic Spelling: (kin-ner-oth') Short Definition: Chinnereth. ... /hebrew/3672.htm - 6k 6002. Amaleq -- a descendant of Esau, also his posterity 3230. Yamlek -- a Simeonite 4792. Merom -- a place in Upper Galilee 479. illek -- these 4108. mahlek -- place to walk Library The Lake and the River Mirage or Lake The Lake of Gennesaret; Or, the Sea of Galilee and Tiberias. The Preachings on the Lake. The Lake Samochonitis [Or Semechonitis. ] Within what Tribe the Lake of Gennesaret Was. A Night on the Lake Stories Told by the Lake. The River of Egypt, Rhinocorura. The Lake of Sirbon. How St Francis Passed the Time of Lent in an Island, on the Lake ... Thesaurus Lake (45 Occurrences)... with aluminium hydrate; as, madder lake; Florentine lake; yellow lake, etc. 2. (n.) A kind of fine white linen, formerly in use. ...LAKE. ... /l/lake.htm - 24k Shore (45 Occurrences) Merom (2 Occurrences) Gennesaret (3 Occurrences) Bethsaida (7 Occurrences) Throwing (29 Occurrences) Across (172 Occurrences) Tiberias (3 Occurrences) Armenia (2 Occurrences) Capernaum (16 Occurrences) Resources What does it mean that hell is referred to as a lake of fire? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the difference between Sheol, Hades, Hell, the lake of fire, Paradise, and Abraham's bosom? | GotQuestions.org What is the second death? | GotQuestions.org Lake: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Lake (45 Occurrences)Matthew 4:13 Matthew 4:15 Matthew 4:18 Matthew 8:18 Matthew 8:24 Matthew 8:32 Matthew 13:1 Matthew 13:47 Matthew 14:24 Matthew 14:25 Matthew 14:26 Matthew 15:29 Matthew 16:5 Matthew 17:27 Mark 1:16 Mark 2:13 Mark 3:7 Mark 4:1 Mark 5:1 Mark 5:13 Mark 5:21 Mark 6:47 Mark 6:48 Mark 6:49 Mark 7:31 Luke 5:1 Luke 5:2 Luke 8:22 Luke 8:23 Luke 8:26 Luke 8:33 John 6:1 John 6:16 John 6:17 John 6:18 John 6:22 John 6:25 John 21:1 Revelation 19:20 Revelation 20:10 Revelation 20:14 Revelation 20:15 Revelation 21:8 Deuteronomy 33:23 Job 14:11 Subtopics Related Terms |
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