The act of swimming, while not frequently mentioned in the Bible, is an activity that involves moving through water by using one's limbs. In biblical times, swimming would have been a necessary skill for fishermen, sailors, and those living near bodies of water. The Bible provides a few instances and contexts where swimming or related activities are implied or mentioned.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 25:11 · "He will spread out his hands within it, as a swimmer spreads out his hands to swim. But God will bring down their pride together with the trickery of their hands." This verse uses the imagery of swimming to describe the actions of God against Moab. The act of spreading out hands to swim is used metaphorically to illustrate the futility of Moab's efforts against divine judgment.

2. Ezekiel 47:5 · "Again he measured a thousand cubits, and it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in—a river that could not be crossed on foot." In this vision of the river flowing from the temple, the depth of the water is significant enough to require swimming, symbolizing the abundance and life-giving power of God's presence.

3. Acts 27:42-44 · In the account of Paul's shipwreck, the soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any from swimming away and escaping. However, the centurion, wanting to save Paul, ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. This narrative highlights swimming as a means of survival and escape during a maritime disaster.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, swimming was not a recreational activity as it is often viewed today. It was primarily a practical skill for those who lived near the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, or the Mediterranean Sea. Fishermen, such as the disciples of Jesus, would have been familiar with swimming as part of their daily lives. Additionally, swimming could be a necessary skill for soldiers and travelers who might encounter rivers or need to escape danger by water.

Theological Implications:

Swimming in the Bible can symbolize human effort and the struggle against overwhelming forces, as seen in Isaiah 25:11. It also represents the depth and abundance of God's blessings, as in Ezekiel's vision. The act of swimming, therefore, can be seen as a metaphor for navigating the challenges of life with reliance on God's strength and provision.

Practical Lessons:

For believers, the biblical references to swimming can serve as reminders of the importance of preparation and skill in facing life's challenges. Just as swimming requires practice and strength, so too does the spiritual life require discipline and reliance on God's guidance. The imagery of swimming through deep waters can encourage Christians to trust in God's sustaining power amidst trials and uncertainties.

Divers Matters.
... Beth-cerem.""Where the Gloss writes thus, "Beth-cerem is the name of a place: whence
a man fetches turf, and puts it into a pot, and the water swims upon it ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 55 divers matters.htm

An Example Showing How one is Hindered in this Exercise
... Then the heart swims in bliss, as a fish in water; and the inmost ground of the
heart burns in the fury of love, even whilst it swims in delight in the gifts ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xxv an example showing.htm

Whether There was any Reasonable Cause for the Ceremonial ...
... The gull, which flies both in the air and swims in the water, signifies those who
are partial both to Circumcision and to Baptism: or else it denotes those who ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there was any reasonable.htm

Love
... Our love to God must be above all things besides, as the oil swims above
the water. We must love God above estate and relations. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 2 love.htm

The Teen Boy and Missions
... lot, or the foreign-speaking boy, who can "shoot a basket," to whom he gives a
half-hour lesson in English, or the Hindoo lad, who easily swims the Ganges, and ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/xvi the teen boy and.htm

Sin Charged Upon the Surety
... to His laws. The lamb that grazes in the meadow, and the fish that swims
in the stream, are each in their proper element. If you ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xx sin charged upon.htm

Joy
... By it the soul is supported under present troubles. Joy stupifies and swallows up
troubles; it carries the heart above them, as the oil swims above the water. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/8 joy.htm

The Sympathy of the Two Worlds
... We seem as if we dwelt in an isle cut off from the mainland. This world, like a
fair planet, swims in a sea of ether unnavigated by mortal ship. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the sympathy of the two.htm

Ar Lan Yr Iorddonen
... He stumbles to the flood,". A mortal made to know. The frowning love of God: He
sinks, he swims; now, all is o'er: Hope must forsake him ever more. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/morris/favourite welsh hymns/il ar lan yr iorddonen.htm

Sorrowful, yet Always Rejoicing
... and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath begotten us again!'"the springing up
in a man's heart of a strange new hope, like a new star that swims into the ...
/.../sorrowful yet always rejoicing.htm

Swims (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Swims (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 25:11 He will spread
out his hands in its midst, like one who swims spreads ...
/s/swims.htm - 6k

Swimming (8 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) That swims; capable of swimming; adapted to, or used in, swimming; as, a
swimming bird; a swimming motion. ... 4. (n.) The act of one who swims. ...
/s/swimming.htm - 9k

Swim (8 Occurrences)
... (n.) A part of a stream much frequented by fish. 12. (vi) To be dizzy; to have an
unsteady or reeling sensation; as, the head swims. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/swim.htm - 9k

Through (6695 Occurrences)
... 5. (prep.) Among or in the midst of; -- used to denote passage; as, a fish swims
through the water; the light glimmers through a thicket. ...
/t/through.htm - 8k

Swimmer (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) One who swims. 2. (n.) A protuberance on the
leg of a horse. 3. (n.) A swimming bird; one of the natatores. ...
/s/swimmer.htm - 6k

Swindler (2 Occurrences)

/s/swindler.htm - 7k

Spreads (31 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 25:11 He will spread out his hands in its midst, like one who swims spreads
out hands to swim, but his pride will be humbled together with the craft of ...
/s/spreads.htm - 14k

Craft (14 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 25:11 He will spread out his hands in its midst, like one who swims spreads
out hands to swim, but his pride will be humbled together with the craft of ...
/c/craft.htm - 12k

Humbled (77 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 25:11 He will spread out his hands in its midst, like one who swims spreads
out hands to swim, but his pride will be humbled together with the craft of ...
/h/humbled.htm - 30k

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