Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, ponds were not only natural bodies of water but also man-made reservoirs used for various purposes, including irrigation, drinking water, and as habitats for fish. While the Bible does not frequently mention ponds explicitly, the concept of small bodies of water is present in the broader context of water management and agriculture in ancient Israel.
Biblical References and Context1.
Water Management in Ancient Israel: The arid climate of the Near East necessitated the development of sophisticated water management systems. Ponds, along with cisterns and wells, were integral to sustaining life and agriculture.
Isaiah 41:18 speaks of God's provision, "I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys; I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into springs."
2.
Symbolism and Imagery: Water bodies, including ponds, often symbolize life, sustenance, and divine blessing in the Bible. In
Isaiah 35:7 , the transformation of the desert is described: "The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, there will be grass, reeds, and papyrus."
3.
Fish Ponds: While not directly mentioned in the Bible, fish ponds were known in ancient times and are implied in the broader context of water use.
Ecclesiastes 2:6 reflects on the accomplishments of the Preacher, "I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees." These reservoirs could have included fish ponds, which were a part of the agricultural practices.
4.
Metaphorical Use: Ponds and pools are sometimes used metaphorically to describe abundance and prosperity. In the
Song of Solomon 7:4 , the beauty of the beloved is likened to a pool: "Your neck is like a tower of ivory; your eyes are the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim."
Cultural and Historical InsightsIn the ancient Near East, the construction of ponds and reservoirs was a significant engineering feat. These water bodies were essential for collecting rainwater and runoff, especially in regions with limited natural water sources. The ability to store and manage water effectively was crucial for agriculture, which was the backbone of the economy and sustenance in biblical times.
Theological ImplicationsThe presence and provision of water, including ponds, are often seen as a sign of God's blessing and care for His people. The transformation of barren land into fertile ground with pools of water is a recurring theme that underscores God's power to bring life and renewal. This imagery is not only literal but also spiritual, pointing to the refreshment and sustenance that God provides to His people.
In summary, while ponds are not frequently mentioned in the Bible, their role in the ancient world as sources of life and symbols of divine blessing is significant. They reflect the broader biblical themes of provision, transformation, and the sustaining power of God.
Strong's Hebrew
1295. berekah -- a pool, pond... Definition: pool. Word Origin from barak Definition a pool, pond NASB Word
Usage
ponds (1), pool (15), pools (1). fishpool. From barak
...98. agam -- a marsh, muddy pool
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a marsh, muddy pool NASB Word Usage
marshes (1),ponds (1), pool (4), pools (2), swamps (1)....
Library
Hugh the Builder
... No mention is made of the fishponds, but they are likely enough to have been prepared
in his time, for the rule, which never allowed meat, did allow fish on...
King David's Little Boy.
... He did not linger among the shady walks of the king's garden or by theponds where
the red lilies grew and the swans shook out their white plumes in the sun....
Use Made of Water by the Heathen Type of the Angel at the Pool of...
... Witness all shady founts, and all unfrequented brooks, and theponds in the baths,
and the conduits [8573] in private houses, or the cisterns and wells which...
The Civil Trial
... was supported by massive pillars, forming broad, shady colonnades; and round the
building there extended a park, with walks, trees andponds, where fountains...
The Welter, 1415-1434.
... They declared that priests were an unnecessary nuisance. They celebrated the Holy
Communion in barns, and baptized their babies inponds and brooks....
Christ's Estimate of his People
... did not even know there were such places at all, so that if Solomon had wished to
praise her he would not have compared her eyes to the fish-ponds of Heshbon...
Living up in the Spirit Realm.
... Maybe up around Nazareth, in the brooks andponds up there, you can catch something
in daylight, but not down here.". I have heard many people talking that way....
The Answer to Trust
... Life is but a dreary stretch of wilderness, unless all through it there be dotted,
like a chain ofponds in a desert, these moments in which the mind fixes...
The Savanna of Aripo
... and Cyperoids of small sizes and fine kinds, with a species of Cassytha; in the
water, Ceratophyllum (the well-known hornwort of the Englishponds) and bog...
Whether to Live Belongs to all Natural Things?
... living that have a continuous current: for standing waters, that are not connected
with a continually flowing source, are called dead, as in cisterns andponds...
Thesaurus
Ponds (6 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Ponds (6 Occurrences).
... Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made me
ponds of water, to water therewith the wood, where the trees are reared. (DBY NAS).
...Reservoir (1 Occurrence)
... In Isaiah 19:10 the rendering of the King James Version, "all that make sluices
andponds for fish," would be an exception to this statement, but the Revised...
Pond (2 Occurrences)
... In Isaiah 19:10 the rendering of the King James Version, "all that make sluices
andponds for fish," would be an exception to this statement, but the Revised...
Staff (91 Occurrences)
... Say unto Aaron, Take thy staff, and stretch out thy hand upon the waters of the
Egyptians upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon theirponds, and upon...
Pool (25 Occurrences)
... 84:6, ma`yan by, "place of springs." "Pool," 'agham (Isaiah 14:23, etc.; in the
King James Version, Exodus 7:19; Exodus 8:5, rendered "ponds"); more frequently...
Jars (28 Occurrences)
... your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers,
over their streams, and over their pools, and over all theirponds of water...
Wooden (18 Occurrences)
... Take thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers,
over their streams, and over their pools, and over all theirponds of water...
Isles (32 Occurrences)
... (WBS YLT). Isaiah 42:15 I make waste mountains and hills, And all their herbs I
dry up, And I have made rivers become isles, Andponds I dry up. (YLT)....
Fishpools (1 Occurrence)
... In Isaiah 19:10, again, instead of "all that make sluices andponds for fish" (the
King James Version), we should certainly read, with the Revised Version...
Feed (117 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To fill the wants of; to supply with that which is used or wasted; as, springs
feedponds; the hopper feeds the mill; to feed a furnace with coal....
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