Sinking
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Definition and Context:
The term "sinking" in the Bible often refers to the act of descending or being submerged, typically in water. It can be both a literal and metaphorical concept, representing physical danger or spiritual despair. The imagery of sinking is used to convey feelings of fear, helplessness, and the need for divine intervention.

Biblical Instances:

1. Peter Walking on Water (Matthew 14:28-31):
One of the most well-known instances of sinking in the Bible is the account of Peter walking on water. As Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee, Peter asked to join Him. Initially, Peter walked on the water, but when he saw the wind, he became afraid and began to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him, saying, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" This passage highlights the importance of faith and reliance on Jesus, illustrating how doubt and fear can lead to a spiritual sinking.

2. Jonah in the Sea (Jonah 2:3-6):
Jonah's experience in the sea is another example of sinking. After being thrown overboard by the sailors, Jonah describes his descent into the depths of the ocean, surrounded by waves and engulfed by the waters. In his distress, Jonah prayed to the LORD, who commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land. This narrative underscores themes of repentance, deliverance, and God's sovereignty over creation.

3. Psalm 69:1-2 :
"Save me, O God, for the waters have risen to my neck. I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me." This psalm of David uses the imagery of sinking to express overwhelming distress and the urgent need for God's salvation. It serves as a metaphor for the trials and tribulations faced by believers, emphasizing the necessity of calling upon God in times of trouble.

Theological Significance:

· Faith and Doubt: The account of Peter sinking while walking on water serves as a powerful lesson on the relationship between faith and doubt. It illustrates that faith in Christ enables believers to overcome seemingly impossible challenges, while doubt can lead to spiritual failure. The act of sinking becomes a call to refocus on Jesus and trust in His power.

· Divine Rescue: The theme of sinking often accompanies narratives of divine rescue. Whether it is Jonah being saved from the depths of the sea or Peter being lifted by Jesus, these accounts highlight God's readiness to save those who call upon Him. They remind believers of God's faithfulness and His ability to deliver from both physical and spiritual peril.

· Human Frailty: Sinking also symbolizes human frailty and the limitations of relying on one's own strength. It serves as a reminder of the need for humility and dependence on God. The imagery of sinking into deep waters or mire reflects the struggles and burdens that can overwhelm individuals, pointing to the necessity of seeking God's help.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to maintain their focus on Christ, especially during life's storms. The act of sinking, whether literal or metaphorical, calls for an immediate response of faith and prayer. Christians are reminded to trust in God's promises and His ability to uphold them, even when circumstances seem dire. The biblical accounts of sinking serve as both warnings and assurances, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to seek God's intervention in times of need.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sink.

2. (a. & n.) from Sink.

Greek
1746. enduo -- to clothe or be clothed with (in the sense of ...
... to clothe or be clothed with (in the sense of sinking into a garment). Part of Speech:
Verb Transliteration: enduo Phonetic Spelling: (en-doo'-o) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1746.htm - 7k

908. baptisma -- (the result of) a dipping or sinking
... (the result of) a dipping or sinking. Part of ... Word Origin from baptizo Definition
(the result of) a dipping or sinking NASB Word Usage baptism (20). baptism. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/908.htm - 6k

1422a. dusis -- a sinking, setting.
... dusis. 1422b . a sinking, setting. Transliteration: dusis Short Definition:
setting. Word Origin from duno Definition a sinking, setting. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1422a.htm - 5k

1746a. enduo -- to clothe or be clothed with (in the sense of ...
... 1746, 1746a. enduo. 1746b . to clothe or be clothed with (in the sense of sinking
into a garment). Transliteration: enduo Short Definition: put. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1746a.htm - 5k

1422. duskolos -- a sinking, setting.
... 1421, 1422. duskolos. 1422a . a sinking, setting. Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: duskolos Phonetic Spelling: (doo'-kol ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1422.htm - 6k

2702. kataphero -- to bring down
... Word Origin from kata and phero Definition to bring down NASB Word Usage against
(1), bringing (1), cast...against (1), overcome (1), sinking (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2702.htm - 6k

5217. hupago -- to lead or bring under, to lead on slowly, to ...
... From hupo and ago; to lead (oneself) under, ie Withdraw or retire (as if sinking
out of sight), literally or figuratively -- depart, get hence, go (a-)way. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5217.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew
7510. rippayon -- a sinking
... 7509, 7510. rippayon. 7511 . a sinking. Transliteration: rippayon Phonetic
Spelling: (rif-yone') Short Definition: limpness. Word ...
/hebrew/7510.htm - 6k

8220. shiphluth -- a sinking
... 8219, 8220. shiphluth. 8221 . a sinking. Transliteration: shiphluth Phonetic
Spelling: (shif-looth') Short Definition: slackness. ...
/hebrew/8220.htm - 6k

Library

The Sun is Sinking Fast
... THE HYMNAL. I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Daily Prayer: Evening 17. The sun is sinking
fast. 6.4.6.6 ... Edward Caswall, 1858. The sun is sinking fast,. The daylight dies ...
/.../daily prayer evening 17 the.htm

The Day is Gently Sinking to a Close
... I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Daily Prayer: Evening 13. The day is gently sinking to
a close. ... Christopher Wordsworth, 1863. The day is gently sinking to a close,. ...
/.../daily prayer evening 13 the.htm

Affecting Incident at Sea.
... He was back again in an instant, crying that the shaft was broken and the ship sinking.
Then ensued a scene the like of which I hope never to witness again. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/affecting incident at sea.htm

Distinction Between Exterior and Interior Actions --Those of the ...
... THOSE OF THE SOUL IN THIS CONDITION ARE INTERIOR, BUT HABITUAL, CONTINUED, DIRECT,
PROFOUND, SIMPLE, AND IMPERCEPTIBLE"BEING A CONTINUAL SINKING IN THE OCEAN ...
/.../chapter xvii distinction between exterior.htm

How we May Become Hidden Sons of God, and Attain to the God-Seeing ...
... And with this sinking into love there is always bound up a practice of love which
is wayless; for love cannot be lazy, but would search through and through and ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter ix how we may.htm

Psalm LII.
... 7. Because of this there followeth in the Psalm, "Thou hast loved all words of sinking
under" (ver.5). Rescue therefore thyself, if thou canst, from sinking ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lii.htm

Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome.
... blinded by earthly passion, we love the very bitterness of the world, we pursue
the world flying from our embrace, we cling to the world sinking from our grasp ...
/.../neander/light in the dark places/gregory the great bishop of.htm

Submission.
... Thus said the Lord, who gave them to my hand; Nor even was my sinking heart
permitted. ... And dimly see, amid the darkness sinking,. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/submission 2.htm

Evening
... I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Evening. [33]11 O Trinity of blessed light [34]12 O Brightness
of the immortal Father's face [35]13 The day is gently sinking to a ...
/.../various/the hymnal of the protestant episcopal church in the usa/evening.htm

Whether There Can be Voluntariness Without any Act?
... Secondly, indirectly; in which sense something proceeds from another through this
other not acting; thus the sinking of a ship is set down to the helmsman ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be voluntariness.htm

Thesaurus
Sinking (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sink. 2. (a. & n.) from
Sink. Multi-Version Concordance Sinking (3 Occurrences). ...
/s/sinking.htm - 7k

Depression (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of depressing. 2. (n.) The state
of being depressed; a sinking. 3. (n.) A falling in of ...
/d/depression.htm - 7k

Support (135 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To keep from failing or sinking; to solace under afflictive circumstances;
to assist; to encourage; to defend; as, to support the courage or spirits. ...
/s/support.htm - 36k

Lead (192 Occurrences)
... Moses mentioned the sinking qualities of lead in the sea in his simile of the sinking
of Pharaoh's hosts "as lead in the mighty waters" (Exodus 15:10). ...
/l/lead.htm - 42k

Quicksand (1 Occurrence)
... water, sometimes found at the mouth of a river or along some coasts, and very dangerous,
from the difficulty of extricating a person who begins sinking into it ...
/q/quicksand.htm - 7k

Unusual (4 Occurrences)
... This lad, gradually sinking into deep sleep while Paul preached at unusual length,
overcome at last by sleep, fell from the second floor and was taken up dead. ...
/u/unusual.htm - 7k

Lad (66 Occurrences)
... This lad, gradually sinking into deep sleep while Paul preached at unusual length,
overcome at last by sleep, fell from the second floor and was taken up dead. ...
/l/lad.htm - 27k

Logos
... This restless, all-consuming and yet all-transforming activity-now darting upward
as a flame, now sinking to an ember and now vanishing as smoke-is for him at ...
/l/logos.htm - 38k

Length (135 Occurrences)
... This lad, gradually sinking into deep sleep while Paul preached at unusual length,
overcome at last by sleep, fell from the second floor and was taken up dead. ...
/l/length.htm - 37k

Gradually (2 Occurrences)
... This lad, gradually sinking into deep sleep while Paul preached at unusual length,
overcome at last by sleep, fell from the second floor and was taken up dead. ...
/g/gradually.htm - 7k

Resources
Who was Eutychus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God strike Uzzah dead for touching the Ark of the Covenant? | GotQuestions.org

Is it wrong to pray written prayers? | GotQuestions.org

Sinking: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Sinking (3 Occurrences)

Luke 5:7
And they beckoned to their partners who were in the other ship to come and help them, and they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were sinking.
(DBY YLT)

Acts 20:9
and a youth of the name of Eutychus was sitting at the window. This lad, gradually sinking into deep sleep while Paul preached at unusual length, overcome at last by sleep, fell from the second floor and was taken up dead.
(WEY NAS NIV)

Psalms 69:14
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Sinking

Related Terms

Sink (16 Occurrences)

Jude (4 Occurrences)

Leaks (3 Occurrences)

Idleness (4 Occurrences)

Rottenness (9 Occurrences)

Rot (15 Occurrences)

Edomites (22 Occurrences)

Esdraelon

Den (19 Occurrences)

Devours (26 Occurrences)

Draught (8 Occurrences)

Michmash (10 Occurrences)

Blossom (23 Occurrences)

Stubble (18 Occurrences)

Sloth (3 Occurrences)

Slothfulness (3 Occurrences)

Sinless (1 Occurrence)

Sinking (3 Occurrences)

Edom (108 Occurrences)

Gadara

Idle (33 Occurrences)

Roof (55 Occurrences)

Baptist (16 Occurrences)

Arabia (9 Occurrences)

Interpretation (45 Occurrences)

Root (54 Occurrences)

Fulness (76 Occurrences)

Despised (96 Occurrences)

Rejected (96 Occurrences)

Plain (113 Occurrences)

Grass (92 Occurrences)

Palestine (1 Occurrence)

Flame (61 Occurrences)

Baptism (76 Occurrences)

Epistle (13 Occurrences)

Sinketh
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