Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the concept of "depth" is often used both literally and metaphorically to convey various aspects of God's creation, human experience, and spiritual truths. The term appears in different contexts throughout the Scriptures, illustrating the multifaceted nature of God's wisdom, the profoundness of His judgments, and the vastness of His love.
Literal DepthLiterally, "depth" refers to the physical dimensions of the earth and the sea. In
Genesis 1:2, the "deep" is mentioned as part of the primordial chaos before God brought order through creation: "Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters." Here, the "deep" signifies the unformed and chaotic state of the world before God's creative work.
The Psalms frequently use the imagery of depth to describe the sea, emphasizing God's sovereignty over creation.
Psalm 107:24-25 speaks of those who "have seen the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep," highlighting the awe-inspiring nature of God's creation and His control over the natural world.
Metaphorical DepthMetaphorically, "depth" is used to describe the profound and often unfathomable nature of God's attributes and actions. In
Romans 11:33, the Apostle Paul exclaims, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!" This passage underscores the incomprehensible nature of God's wisdom and the vastness of His knowledge, which surpasses human understanding.
The depth of God's love is another significant theme in Scripture.
Ephesians 3:17-19 encourages believers to be "rooted and grounded in love" and to "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." This passage invites Christians to explore the immeasurable dimensions of Christ's love, which is beyond human comprehension yet accessible through faith.
Depth in Human ExperienceIn human experience, depth often relates to the emotional and spiritual states of individuals. The Psalms frequently express the depths of human despair and the corresponding cry for divine intervention.
Psalm 130:1-2 begins with a plea from the depths: "Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy." This expression of deep distress and the subsequent hope for God's mercy illustrate the believer's reliance on God in times of trouble.
The concept of depth also appears in the context of sin and redemption. In
Micah 7:19, the prophet declares, "You will again have compassion on us; You will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." This imagery conveys the complete and irreversible nature of God's forgiveness, as sins are cast into the depths, never to be retrieved.
ConclusionThe biblical use of "depth" encompasses a range of meanings, from the literal depths of the sea to the metaphorical depths of God's wisdom, love, and human emotion. Through these varied uses, Scripture invites believers to contemplate the vastness of God's creation, the profundity of His attributes, and the depth of His relationship with humanity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The quality of being deep; deepness; perpendicular measurement downward from the surface, or horizontal measurement backward from the front; as, the depth of a river; the depth of a body of troops.
2. (n.) Profoundness; extent or degree of intensity; abundance; completeness; as, depth of knowledge, or color.
3. (n.) Lowness; as, depth of sound.
4. (n.) That which is deep; a deep, or the deepest, part or place; the deep; the middle part; as, the depth of night, or of winter.
5. (n.) The number of simple elements which an abstract conception or notion includes; the comprehension or content.
6. (n.) A pair of toothed wheels which work together.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DEPTHSeeABYSS.
Greek
899. bathos --depth...depth. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: bathos Phonetic Spelling:
(bath'-os) Short Definition:
depth, a
depth, a deep Definition:
depth; deep water
...1037. buthos -- the bottom, thedepth
... the bottom, thedepth. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: buthos Phonetic
Spelling: (boo-thos') Short Definition: the deep sea Definition: the...
3989. pelagos -- the deep, the deep sea
... word Definition the deep, the deep sea NASB Word Usagedepth (1), sea (1).depth,
sea. Of uncertain affinity; deep or open sea, ie The main --depth, sea....
12. abussos -- boundless, bottomless
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: abussos Phonetic Spelling:
(ab'-us-sos) Short Definition: the abyss, the unfathomabledepth Definition: the...
419. anexeraunetos -- unsearchable
... Ro 11:33: "Oh, thedepth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How (419 ) are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" ()....
1840. exischuo -- to have strength enough
... 4102 ); and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 (1840) to comprehend
with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height anddepth" ()....
Strong's Hebrew
6011. omeq --depth...depth. Transliteration: omeq Phonetic Spelling: (o'-mek) Short Definition:
depth.
Word Origin from amoq Definition
depth NASB Word Usage
depth (1), depths (1).
...4688. metsolah --depth, deep
...depth, deep. Transliteration: metsolah or metsolah or metsulah or metsulah Phonetic
Spelling: (mets-o-law') Short Definition: depths.... bottom, deep,depth....
4615. maamaqqim -- depths
... Word Origin from amoq Definition depths NASB Word Usage deep (2), depths (3). deep,
depth. From amaq; a deep -- deep,depth. see HEBREW amaq. 4614, 4615....
6012. ameq -- deep, unfathomable
... deeper,depth, strange. From amaq; deep (literally or figuratively) -- deeper,depth,
strange. see HEBREW amaq. 6011, 6012. ameq. 6013 . Strong's Numbers.
6009. amoq -- to be deep
... have, make, seek deeply,depth, be profound. A primitive root; to be (causatively,
make) deep (literally or figuratively) -- (be, have...
8415. tehom -- deep, sea, abyss
... usually feminine) from huwm; an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the
deep (the main sea or the subterranean water-supply) -- deep (place),depth....
990. beten -- belly, body, womb
... from an unused word Definition belly, body, womb NASB Word Usage abdomen (3), being
(1), belly (8), birth (4), body (11), brothers* (1),depth (1), himself (1...
8416. tehillah -- praise, song of praise
... deep place,depth. From halal; laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn -- praise.
see HEBREW halal. 8415, 8416. tehillah. 8417 . Strong's Numbers.
6683. tsulah -- (ocean) deep
... Short Definition: sea. Word Origin from an unused word Definition (ocean)
deep NASB Word Usagedepth of the sea (1). deep. From an...
5672. abi -- thickness
... thickness. Or mobiy {ob-ee'}; from abah; density, ieDepth or width -- thick(-ness).
Compare ab. see HEBREW abah. see HEBREW ab. 5671, 5672. abi or obi. 5673...
Library
Depth of Mercy!
...DEPTH OF MERCY!Depth of mercy! can there be Mercy still reserved for me? Can
my God His wrath forbear? Me, the chief of sinners, spare?...
A QuietDepth. August 9.
... A QuietDepth. August 9. The deepest affections are those of which we are
least conscious"that is, which produce least startling...
Of theDepth of the Sacred Scripture, and Its Enemies.
... Book XII. Chapter XIV."Of theDepth of the Sacred Scripture, and Its Enemies.
17. Wonderful is thedepth of Thy oracles, whose...
Depth of Mercy.
... 194Depth of Mercy. 7s. The Chief of Sinners (501)Depth of mercy! can there
be Mercy still reserved for me? Can my God his wrath forbear?...
WondrousDepth of Thy Words! Whose Surface, Behold! is Before Us.....
... Book XII Chapter XIV Wondrousdepth of Thy words! whose surface, behold! is
before us? Wondrousdepth of Thy words! whose surface, behold!...
This is the True Height, andDepth, and Total Strength of Deism or...
... [Way-1-103] This is the TRUE height, anddepth, and total strength of Deism
or infidelity? This is the true height, anddepth, and...
But, Passing Over in the Mean While theDepth of Knowledge...
... Section 10. But, passing over in the mean while thedepth of knowledge? 10.
But, passing over in the mean while thedepth of knowledge...
O Lord My God, what aDepth is that Recess of Thy Mysteries...
... Book XI Chapter XXXI O Lord my God, what adepth is that recess of Thy
mysteries? O Lord my God, what adepth is that recess of...
An Exhortation to the Amorous Submission which we Owe to the...
... Let us love then, Theotimus, and adore in humility of spirit thisdepth of God's
judgments, which, as S. Augustine says, the holy Apostle discovers not, but...
Of the [Temple And] Cities that were Built by Herod and Erected...
... its side, beneath, or at its bottom, a dark cave opens itself; within which there
is a horrible precipice, that descends abruptly to a vastdepth; it contains...
Thesaurus
Depth (22 Occurrences)... The quality of being deep; deepness; perpendicular measurement downward from the
surface, or horizontal measurement backward from the front; as, the
depth of a
...Deep (237 Occurrences)
... dimension (measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from high, which
is measured upward); far to the bottom; having a certaindepth; as, a deep sea...
Fathom (5 Occurrences)
... measure of length, containing six feet; the space to which a man can extend his
arms; -- used chiefly in measuring cables, cordage, and thedepth of navigable...
Thick (129 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Having moredepth or extent from one surface to its opposite than usual;
not thin or slender; as, a thick plank; thick cloth; thick paper; thick...
Sound (1245 Occurrences)
... Sound. 13. (vt) To measure thedepth of; to fathom; especially, to ascertain
thedepth of by means of a line and plummet. 14. (vt...
Shallow (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (superl.) Not deep; having littledepth; shoal.
2. (superl.) Not deep in tone. 3. (superl.) Not intellectually...
Jacob's (34 Occurrences)
... It is about 9 feet in diameter and about 75 feet indepth, though in ancient
times it was no doubt much deeper, probably twice as deep....
Quickly (254 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:5 Some falls on rocky ground, where it has but scanty soil. It quickly
shows itself above ground, because it has nodepth of earth; (WEY NIV)....
Unsearchable (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Unsearchable (8 Occurrences). Romans 11:33 Oh thedepth
of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!...
Falls (79 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 13:5 Some falls on rocky ground, where it has but scanty soil. It
quickly shows itself above ground, because it has nodepth of earth; (WEY)....
Resources
What does it mean that deep calls to deep (Psalm 42:7)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Bible Study Fellowship? | GotQuestions.orgWas Noah's flood global or local? | GotQuestions.orgDepth: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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