Topical Bible: Dew in the Night

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical literature, "dew in the night" is a recurring motif that symbolizes divine blessing, favor, and sustenance. Dew, a natural phenomenon, is the moisture that forms on the ground and vegetation during the night, particularly in arid regions where rain is scarce. In the context of the Bible, dew is often seen as a gentle and life-giving provision from God, reflecting His care and providence for His creation.

Symbolism and Significance

1. Divine Blessing and Favor: Dew is frequently associated with God's blessing. In the ancient Near East, where agriculture was heavily dependent on natural water sources, dew was crucial for the survival of crops during dry seasons. Thus, it became a symbol of God's favor and provision. In Genesis 27:28, Isaac blesses Jacob, saying, "May God give to you the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth—an abundance of grain and new wine."

2. Sustenance and Renewal: Dew is also a metaphor for spiritual sustenance and renewal. In Hosea 14:5, God promises to be like the dew to Israel, indicating His role in reviving and nurturing His people: "I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon."

3. Gentle and Quiet Provision: Unlike rain, which can be forceful and overwhelming, dew appears quietly and gently, often unnoticed until morning. This characteristic of dew reflects the subtle and constant care of God. In Judges 6:37-40, Gideon uses dew as a sign to confirm God's will, asking for dew to appear on a fleece while the ground remains dry, and vice versa, demonstrating God's ability to provide signs and guidance in a gentle manner.

4. Purity and Freshness: Dew is often associated with purity and freshness, as it appears in the cool of the night and evaporates with the morning sun. This imagery is used in Psalm 110:3, where the psalmist describes the people of God as appearing "like the dew of your youth" in the day of His power, symbolizing vitality and purity.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, dew was a vital source of moisture, especially during the dry months when rainfall was minimal. The reliance on dew for agricultural success made it a powerful symbol of God's provision. The Israelites understood that, just as dew sustained their crops, God's presence and blessing were essential for their spiritual and physical well-being.

Theological Implications

The imagery of dew in the night underscores the themes of God's faithfulness and the quiet, yet profound, ways in which He sustains His people. It serves as a reminder of the importance of relying on God's provision and recognizing His hand in the seemingly mundane aspects of life. Dew, as a symbol of divine grace, encourages believers to trust in God's continuous care and to seek His blessings in both spiritual and material realms.

In summary, "dew in the night" in the Bible is a rich symbol of God's gentle and sustaining presence, His blessings, and the renewal He brings to His people. It invites believers to reflect on the quiet ways God works in their lives and to remain dependent on His unfailing provision.

Nave's Topical Index

Job 29:19
My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night on my branch.
Nave's Topical Index

Strong's Hebrew

2919. tal -- night mist, dew
... 2918, 2919. tal. 2920 . night mist, dew. Transliteration: tal Phonetic
Spelling: (tal) Short Definition: dew. Word Origin from an ...
/hebrew/2919.htm - 5k

Library

The Dew and the Plants
... The dew, or the night mist, as it might more properly be rendered, was evidently
a good deal in Hosea's mind; you may remember that he uses the image again in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the dew and the plants.htm

Desires to Go among the Indians
... till six in the morning. There fell a heavy dew in the night which covered
us over as white as snow. Within an hour after sunrise ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/desires to go among the.htm

'A Dew from the Lord'
... The simple natural science of the Hebrews saw a mystery in the production of the
dew on a clear night, and their poetic imagination found in it a fit symbol ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a dew from the lord.htm

Of the Condolence and Complacency of Love in the Passion of Our ...
... Pearls, in sooth (as we have said often enough), are nothing but drops of dew, which
the freshness of night rains over the face of the sea, received into the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter v of the condolence.htm

The Manna
... Is not this Jesus the Son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?' So, brethren,
as the manna that descended from above in the dew of the night was to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the manna.htm

A Psalm of Remembrance
... His root is spread out by the river, and the dew lieth all night upon his branch;
his glory is fresh in him, and his bow is renewed in his hand. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/a psalm of remembrance.htm

Communion Again Broken --Restoration
... Open to Me, My sister, My love, My dove, My undefiled: For My head is filled
with dew,. My locks with the drops of the night. How ...
/.../taylor/union and communion/section iv communion again brokenrestoration.htm

I Sleep, but My Heart Waketh; it is the Voice of My Beloved that ...
... beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled;
for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/2 i sleep but my.htm

Work, for the Night is Coming. PM
... Work, for the night is coming, Work thro' the morning hours; Work while the dew
is sparkling, Work 'mid springing flowers; Work, when the day grows brighter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/416 work for the night.htm

"Day unto Day Uttereth Speech, and Night unto Night Showeth ...
... thousand voices speak thy might, And day to day, and night to night, Utter thy ... and
planets' song, And every flower that light receives, And every dew that tips ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/178 day unto day.htm