Water: (Covering the Sea) of the General Diffusion of The
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Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of water, particularly the sea, holds significant theological and symbolic importance throughout the Bible. From the creation narrative to the eschatological visions, the sea is depicted as both a literal and metaphorical element, reflecting God's power, judgment, and provision.

Creation and Sovereignty

In the Genesis account, water is one of the primordial elements over which God exercises His creative authority. Genesis 1:9-10 states, "And God said, 'Let the waters under the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.' And it was so. God called the dry land 'earth,' and the gathering of waters He called 'seas.' And God saw that it was good." Here, the sea is part of the ordered creation, demonstrating God's sovereignty over chaos and His ability to bring order and life.

Judgment and Deliverance

The sea also serves as a medium of divine judgment and deliverance. In the narrative of the Flood (Genesis 6-9), the waters of the sea and the heavens are instruments of God's judgment upon a corrupt world, yet they also become a means of salvation for Noah and his family. Similarly, in the Exodus account, the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) is a pivotal moment of deliverance for the Israelites, showcasing God's power to save His people and defeat their enemies.

Symbolism and Prophecy

Throughout the Psalms and prophetic literature, the sea often symbolizes chaos and the nations. Psalm 93:3-4 declares, "The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is majestic." This imagery underscores God's majesty and control over the tumultuous forces of nature and history.

In prophetic visions, the sea is sometimes depicted as a place from which beasts emerge, representing empires and powers opposed to God (Daniel 7:2-3; Revelation 13:1). Yet, in the eschatological vision of the new creation, the sea is notably absent, as described in Revelation 21:1 : "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." This absence signifies the removal of chaos and the establishment of eternal peace.

Provision and Sustenance

The sea is also a source of provision and sustenance. In the Gospels, Jesus calls fishermen from the Sea of Galilee to become His disciples (Matthew 4:18-22), and He performs miracles involving the sea, such as calming the storm (Mark 4:39) and walking on water (Matthew 14:25-33). These acts reveal His authority over creation and His ability to provide for and protect His followers.

Conclusion

In summary, the sea in the Bible is a multifaceted symbol of God's creative power, judgment, deliverance, and provision. It serves as a reminder of His sovereignty over all creation and His ultimate plan to bring order and peace to the world. Through the lens of Scripture, the sea is both a literal body of water and a profound theological symbol, reflecting the depth and breadth of God's interaction with His creation.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Isaiah 11:9
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Second Theological Oration.
... the darkness of this world and the thick covering of the ... And what is the nourishing
power of water, and what the ... which gave heaven to Zeus, the sea to Poseidon ...
/.../lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxviii the second theological.htm

The Seventh Book
... ends of the earth even across the sea, to punish the ... of paradise; every precious
stone was thy covering, the sardius ... is washed down into the bilge water in its ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the seventh book.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... wherever, in fact, the presence of water made culture ... western mountainous region
about the Dead Sea and the ... stuff, was frequently used as a covering for the ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... perhaps on the Phoenician shore beyond the sea, and then ... he hath given bread to the
hungry, water to the ... over the whole of Egypt after the general adoption of ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... as a helper and protector, as men at sea call on ... we need to enlarge a little upon
the general outline and ... the single name of the Psalmist covering the products ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

Resources
Did Jesus change the water into wine or grape juice? | GotQuestions.org

What was the meaning of Jesus walking on water? | GotQuestions.org

Do the news reports of rivers turning blood red have anything to do with the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Water: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Dowsing

Water

Water Baptism

Water in Times of Scarcity, Sold at an Enormous Price

Water of Bitterness or of Jealousy

Water of Hostile Armies

Water of Jealousy

Water of Persecutions

Water of Persecutors

Water of Separation

Water of Separation or of Uncleanness

Water of the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit

Water of the Support of God

Water was Used by Jews for Culinary Purposes

Water was Used by Jews for Legal Purification

Water was Used by Jews for Washing the Person

Water was Used by Jews: As Their Principal Beverage

Water: (Covering the Sea) of the General Diffusion of The

Water: (Deep) of Counsel in the Heart

Water: (Deep) of Severe Affliction

Water: (Deep) of the Words of the Wise

Water: (Difficulty of Stopping) of Strife and Contention

Water: (Its Instability) of a Wavering Disposition

Water: (Its Weakness) of Faintness and Cowardice

Water: (Many) of a Variety of Afflictions

Water: (Many) of Different Nations and People

Water: (Noise of Many) of the Word of Christ

Water: (Poured Out) Faintness by Terror

Water: (Poured Out) the Wrath of God

Water: (Pouring, out of Buckets) a Numerous Progeny

Water: (Rapidly Flowing Away) the Career of the Wicked

Water: (Spilled on the Ground) Death

Water: (Still) the Ordinances of the Gospel

Water: Artificial Mode of Conveying, Into Large Cities

Water: Carried in Vessels

Water: Changed to Wine

Water: City Waterworks

Water: Cleansing

Water: Collected in Brooks

Water: Collected in Fountains

Water: Collected in Ponds

Water: Collected in Pools

Water: Collected in Rivers

Water: Collected in Springs

Water: Collected in Streams

Water: Collected in The Clouds

Water: Collected in The Sea

Water: Collected in Wells

Water: Congealed by Cold

Water: Covered the Whole Earth

Water: Creation of

Water: Daily Allowance of

Water: Domestic Love

Water: Drops from the Clouds in Rain

Water: Fluid

Water: Frequently Brackish and Unfit for Use

Water: God Originally: Collected Into One Place

Water: God Originally: Created Fowls and Fishes From

Water: God Originally: Created the Firmament to Divide

Water: Jesus Walks Upon

Water: Kept for Purification in Large Waterpots

Water: Libation of

Water: Miracles Connected With: Brought from the Jaw-Bone of an Ass

Water: Miracles Connected With: Brought from the Rock

Water: Miracles Connected With: Consumed by Fire from Heaven

Water: Miracles Connected With: Divided and Made to Stand on Heap

Water: Miracles Connected With: Healing Powers Communicated To

Water: Miracles Connected With: Iron Made to Swim In

Water: Miracles Connected With: Our Lord Walking On

Water: Miracles Connected With: Trenches Filled With

Water: Miracles Connected With: Turned Into Blood

Water: Miracles Connected With: Turned Into Wine

Water: Miraculously Supplied: To Jehoshaphat's Army

Water: Miraculously Supplied: To Samson

Water: Miraculously Supplied: To the Israelites

Water: Necessary to the Comfort and Happiness of Man

Water: Necessary to Vegetation

Water: One of the Elements of the World

Water: Penetrating

Water: Purified by Elisha

Water: Red Sea Divided

Water: Reflecting Images

Water: Refreshing

Water: Rises in Vapour to the Clouds

Water: some Plants Particularly Require

Water: Symbolical

Water: The Jordan River

Water: The Want of, Considered a Great Calamity

Water: The World and Its Inhabitants Once Destroyed By

Water: The World not to be Again Destroyed By

Water: Turned Into Blood

Water: Unstable

Water: Vision of, by Ezekiel

Water: Water of Affliction

Water: Water of Life

Water: Water of Salvation

Water: Wearing the Hardest Substances

Related Terms

Water-spring (16 Occurrences)

Water-vessel (14 Occurrences)

Water-springs (12 Occurrences)

Water-hole (25 Occurrences)

Water-courses (9 Occurrences)

Water-holes (8 Occurrences)

Water-plants (7 Occurrences)

Water-gate (5 Occurrences)

Water-brooks (6 Occurrences)

Water-doorway (4 Occurrences)

Water-streams (4 Occurrences)

Drinking-water (4 Occurrences)

Water-vessels (2 Occurrences)

Water-jugs (2 Occurrences)

Water-town (2 Occurrences)

Water-hen (2 Occurrences)

Water-jug (1 Occurrence)

Water-pipe (1 Occurrence)

Water-door (1 Occurrence)

Water-spouts (1 Occurrence)

Water-flood (1 Occurrence)

Water-skins (1 Occurrence)

Water-pot (1 Occurrence)

Water's (2 Occurrences)

Water-skin (1 Occurrence)

Snow-water (1 Occurrence)

Sail (32 Occurrences)

Springing (16 Occurrences)

Springs (59 Occurrences)

Ablution

Cleansing (37 Occurrences)

Snow (25 Occurrences)

Streaming (16 Occurrences)

Shepherd (76 Occurrences)

Causeth (209 Occurrences)

Swell (9 Occurrences)

Knee-deep (1 Occurrence)

Compacted (3 Occurrences)

Soak (1 Occurrence)

Shoal (2 Occurrences)

Swim (8 Occurrences)

Sooner (21 Occurrences)

Storing (10 Occurrences)

Swamp (1 Occurrence)

Shiloah (1 Occurrence)

Valleys (38 Occurrences)

Siloah (1 Occurrence)

Shelah (18 Occurrences)

Aqueduct (4 Occurrences)

Siloam (4 Occurrences)

Separation (50 Occurrences)

Streams (80 Occurrences)

Kneel (10 Occurrences)

Sprinkling (48 Occurrences)

Crystal (7 Occurrences)

Agitated (9 Occurrences)

Stank (6 Occurrences)

Shihor (5 Occurrences)

Sink (16 Occurrences)

Soap (4 Occurrences)

Sluice

Shrink (10 Occurrences)

Scant (4 Occurrences)

Adultery (49 Occurrences)

Hyssop (12 Occurrences)

Augury (5 Occurrences)

Cistern (21 Occurrences)

Arabah (32 Occurrences)

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)

Camest (27 Occurrences)

Salim (1 Occurrence)

Siddim (3 Occurrences)

Adullam (10 Occurrences)

Slope (29 Occurrences)

Camped (100 Occurrences)

Ceremonially (38 Occurrences)

Vast (54 Occurrences)

Yields (21 Occurrences)

Water was Used by Jews: As Their Principal Beverage
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