Water

wo'-ter (mayim; hudor):

(1) The Greek philosophers believed water to be the original substance and that all things were made from it. The Koran states, "From water we have made all things." In the story of the creation (Ge 1:2) water plays an elemental part.

(2) Because of the scarcity of water in Palestine it is especially appreciated by the people there. They love to go and sit by a stream of running water. Men long for a taste of the water of their native village (1Ch 11:17). A town or village is known throughout the country for the quality of its water, which is described by many adjectives, such as "light," "heavy," etc.

(3) The rainfall is the only source of supply of water for Palestine. The moisture is carried up from the sea in clouds and falls on the hills as rain or snow. This supplies the springs and fountains. The rivers are mostly small and have little or no water in summer. For the most part springs supply the villages, but in case this is not sufficient, cisterns are used. Most of the rain falls on the western slopes of the mountains, and most of the springs are found there. The limestone in many places does not hold the water, so wells are not very common, though there are many references to them in the Bible.

(4) Cisterns are usually on the surface of the ground and vary greatly in size. Jerusalem has always had to depend for the most part on water stored in this way, and carried to the city in aqueducts. A large number of cisterns have been found and partially explored under the temple-area itself. The water stored in the cisterns is surface water, and is a great menace to the health of the people. During the long, dry summer the water gets less and less, and becomes so stagnant and filthy that it is not fit to drink. In a few instances the cisterns or pools are sufficiently large to supply water for limited irrigation.

See CISTERN.

(5) During the summer when there is no rain, vegetation is greatly helped by the heavy dews. A considerable amount of irrigation is carried on in the country where there is sufficient water in the fountains and springs for the purpose. There was doubtless much more of it in the Roman period. Most of the fruit trees require water during the summer.

(6) Many particular wells or pools are mentioned in the Bible, as: Beersheba (Ge 21:19), Isaac's well (Ge 24:11), Jacob's well (Joh 4:6), Pool of Siloam (Joh 9:7), "waters of Nephtoah" (Jos 15:9).

(7) Washing with water held a considerable place in the Jewish temple-ceremony (Le 11:32; 16:4; 17:15; 22:6; Nu 19:7; Ex 30:18; 40:7). Sacrifices were washed (Ex 29:4; Le 1:9; 6:28; 14:5).

(8) The lack of water caused great suffering (Ex 15:22; De 8:15; 2Ki 3:9; Ps 63:1; Pr 9:17; Eze 4:11; La 5:4).

See also FOUNTAIN; PIT; POOL; SPRING; WELL.

Alfred H. Joy

• → Creation of Ps 148:4,5
• → Covered the whole earth Ge 1:9
• → Daily allowance of Eze 4:11
• → City waterworks 2Ki 20:20
• → Vision of, by Ezekiel Eze 47:1-5
• → Of separation Nu 19:2-22
• → Libation of 1Sa 7:6
• → Irrigation with
  • See IRRIGATION
• → Miraculously supplied
  • To the Israelites Ex 17:1,6; Nu 20:11
  • To Samson Jud 15:19
  • To Jehoshaphat' s army 2Ki 3:16-20
• → Purified by Elisha 2Ki 2:19-22
• → Red Sea divided Ex 14:21,22
• → The Jordan River Jos 3:14-17; 2Ki 2:6-8,14
• → Jesus walks upon Mt 14:25
• → Changed to wine Joh 2:1-11
• → Turned into blood Re 16:3-5
• → FIGURATIVE
  • Water of life Joh 4:14; 7:37-39; Re 21:6; 22:17
  • Water of affliction 2Sa 22:17; Ps 69:1; Isa 30:20; 43:2
  • Water of salvation Isa 12:3; 49:10; 55:1; Eze 36:25; Joh 4:10; 7:38
  • Domestic love Pr 5:15
• → SYMBOLICAL Isa 8:7; Re 8:11; 12:15; 16:4; 17:1,15

• One of the elements of the world Ge 1:2
• GOD ORIGINALLY
  • Created the firmament to divide Ge 1:6,7
  • Collected into one place Ge 1:9
  • Created fowls and fishes, &c from Ge 1:20,21
• Necessary to vegetation Ge 2:5,6; Job 14:9; Isa 1:30
• Some plants particularly require Job 8:11
• Necessary to the comfort and happiness of man Isa 41:17; Zec 9:11
• COLLECTED IN
  • Springs Jos 15:19
  • Pools 1Ki 22:38; Ne 2:14
  • Ponds Ex 7:19; Isa 19:10
  • Fountains 1Ki 18:5; 2Ch 32:3
  • Wells Ge 21:19
  • Brooks 2Sa 17:20; 1Ki 18:5
  • Streams Ps 78:16; Isa 35:6
  • Rivers Isa 8:7; Jer 2:18
  • The sea Ge 1:9,10; Isa 11:9
  • The clouds Ge 1:7; Job 26:8,9
• Rises in vapour to the clouds Ec 1:7; Ps 104:8
• Drops from the clouds in rain De 11:11; 2Sa 21:10
• DESCRIBED AS
  • Fluid Ps 78:16; Pr 30:4
  • Unstable Ge 49:4
  • Penetrating Ps 109:18
  • Reflecting images Pr 27:9
  • Wearing the hardest substances Job 14:19
  • Cleansing Eze 36:25; Eph 5:26
  • Refreshing Job 22:7; Pr 25:25
• Congealed by cold Job 38:29; Ps 147:16,17
• WAS USED BY JEWS
  • As their principal beverage Ge 24:43; 1Ki 13:19,22; 18:4; Ho 2:5
  • For culinary purposes Ex 12:9
  • For washing the person Ge 18:4; 24:32
  • For legal purification Ex 29:4; Heb 9:10,19
• Kept for purification in large waterpots Joh 2:6
• Carried in vessels Ge 21:14; 1Sa 26:11; Mr 14:13
• Artificial mode of conveying, into large cities 2Ki 20:20
• Frequently brackish and unfit for use Ex 15:23; 2Ki 2:19
• The want of, considered a great calamity Ex 17:1-3; Nu 20:2; 2Ki 3:9,10; Isa 3:1
• In times of scarcity, sold at an enormous price La 5:4
• MIRACLES CONNECTED WITH
  • Turned into blood Ex 7:17,20
  • Turned into wine Joh 2:7-9
  • Brought from the rock Ex 17:6; Nu 20:11
  • Brought from the jaw-bone of an ass Jud 15:19
  • Consumed by fire from heaven 1Ki 18:38
  • Divided and made to stand on heap Ex 14:21,22; Jos 3:16
  • Trenches filled with 2Ki 3:17-22
  • Iron made to swim in 2Ki 6:5,6
  • Our Lord, &c walking on Mt 14:26-29
  • Healing powers communicated to 2Ki 5:14; Joh 5:4; 9:7
• The world and its inhabitants once destroyed by Ge 7:20-23; 2Pe 3:6
• The world not to be again destroyed by Ge 9:8-15; 2Pe 3:7
• ILLUSTRATIVE
  • Of the support of God Isa 8:6
  • Of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit Isa 41:17,18; 44:3; Eze 36:25; Joh 7:38,39
  • Of persecutors Ps 124:4,5
  • Of persecutions Ps 88:17
  • Of hostile armies Isa 8:7; 17:13
  • (Still,) of the ordinances of the gospel Ps 23:2
  • (Deep,) of severe affliction Ps 66:12; 69:1; Isa 30:20; 43:2
  • (Deep,) of counsel in the heart Pr 20:5
  • (Deep,) of the words of the wise Pr 18:4
  • (Poured out,) of the wrath of God Ho 5:10
  • (Poured out,) of faintness by terror Ps 22:14
  • (Pouring, out of buckets,) of a numerous progeny Nu 24:7
  • (Spilled on the ground,) of death 2Sa 14:14
  • (Its instability,) of a wavering disposition Ge 49:4
  • (Its weakness,) of faintness and cowardice Jos 7:5; Eze 7:17
  • (Difficulty of stopping,) of strife and contention Pr 17:14
  • (Rapidly flowing away,) of the career of the wicked Job 24:18; Ps 58:7
  • (Many,) of different nations and people Re 17:1,15; Jer 51:13
  • (Many,) of a variety of afflictions 2Sa 22:17
  • (Noise of many,) of the word of Christ Re 1:15
  • (Covering the sea,) of the general diffusion of the knowledge of God Isa 11:9; Hab 2:14