Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, liquids play a significant role in both literal and symbolic contexts. They are often associated with life, purification, and divine provision. The use of liquids in biblical narratives and rituals underscores their importance in the spiritual and daily life of the people of Israel and the early Christian community.
WaterWater is one of the most frequently mentioned liquids in the Bible. It is essential for life and is often used symbolically to represent spiritual cleansing and renewal. In
Genesis 1:2, water is present at the creation of the world: "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." Water is also central to the account of Noah and the Flood (Genesis 6-9), where it serves as a means of judgment and renewal for the earth.
In the New Testament, water is significant in the context of baptism, symbolizing the washing away of sins and the believer's new life in Christ. John the Baptist baptized with water as a sign of repentance (
Matthew 3:11), and Jesus Himself was baptized in the Jordan River (
Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus also refers to Himself as the source of "living water" in
John 4:10, offering spiritual sustenance and eternal life.
WineWine is another important liquid in the Bible, often associated with joy, celebration, and covenant. It is frequently mentioned in the context of feasts and offerings. In the Old Testament, wine is part of the drink offerings presented to God (
Exodus 29:40). The Psalmist declares, "He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart" (
Psalm 104:14-15).
In the New Testament, wine takes on additional significance in the context of the Last Supper. Jesus uses wine as a symbol of His blood, establishing the New Covenant with His disciples: "Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'" (
Matthew 26:27-28).
OilOil, particularly olive oil, is another significant liquid in biblical texts. It is used for anointing, healing, and as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, oil is used to anoint kings and priests, setting them apart for God's service (
1 Samuel 16:13). The anointing with oil is also associated with healing, as seen in
James 5:14: "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord."
Oil is also a symbol of abundance and blessing. In the parable of the ten virgins, oil represents readiness and spiritual preparedness (
Matthew 25:1-13). The presence of oil in the lamps of the wise virgins signifies their preparedness for the bridegroom's arrival.
BloodBlood, while not a liquid used in daily life like water or wine, holds profound theological significance in the Bible. It is often associated with sacrifice, atonement, and covenant. In the Old Testament, the sacrificial system required the shedding of blood for the atonement of sins (
Leviticus 17:11). The Passover lamb's blood, applied to the doorposts of the Israelites' homes, served as a sign for the Lord to "pass over" and spare them from judgment (
Exodus 12:13).
In the New Testament, the blood of Jesus is central to the message of salvation. His sacrificial death is described as the ultimate atonement for sin, fulfilling the requirements of the Old Covenant and establishing the New Covenant.
Hebrews 9:14 states, "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!"
Throughout the Bible, liquids are more than mere physical substances; they are imbued with deep spiritual meaning, reflecting God's provision, purification, and promise to His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Flowing freely like water; fluid; not solid.
2. (a.) Being in such a state that the component parts move freely among themselves, but do not tend to separate from each other as the particles of gases and vapors do; neither solid nor aeriform; as, liquid mercury, in distinction from mercury solidified or in a state of vapor.
3. (a.) Flowing or sounding smoothly or without abrupt transitions or harsh tones.
4. (a.) Pronounced without any jar or harshness; smooth; as, l and r are liquid letters.
5. (a.) Fluid and transparent; as, the liquid air.
6. (a.) Clear; definite in terms or amount.
7. (n.) A substance whose parts change their relative position on the slightest pressure, and therefore retain no definite form; any substance in the state of liquidity; a fluid that is not aeriform.
8. (n.) A letter which has a smooth, flowing sound, or which flows smoothly after a mute; as, l and r, in bla, bra. M and n also are called liquids.
Greek
943. batos -- a bath, an Israeliteliquid measure... a bath, an Israelite
liquid measure. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
batos Phonetic Spelling: (bat'-os) Short Definition: a bath, a
liquid...4632. skeuos -- a vessel, implement, pl. goods
... goods. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: skeuos Phonetic Spelling:
(skyoo'-os) Short Definition: a vessel to containliquid, utensil, tackle...
5080. teko -- to melt (down), to melt away
... to melt (down), to melt away. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: teko Phonetic
Spelling: (tay'-ko) Short Definition: I makeliquid, melt Definition: I make...
3355. metretes -- a measurer, a measure
... 3355 (from 3354 , "to measure") -- a "liquid measure containing nearly nine gallons" (,
408); " 'a measure' about 39.39 litres or 8 gallons" (Souter)....
1632. ekcheo -- to pour out, fig. to bestow
... bestow. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekcheo Phonetic Spelling: (
ek-kheh'-o,) Short Definition: I pour out, shed Definition: I pour out (liquid or...
5445. phurama -- that which is mixed
... From a prolonged form of phuro (to mix aliquid with a solid; perhaps akin to phuo
through the idea of swelling in bulk), mean to knead; a mass of dough -- lump...
Strong's Hebrew
1969. hin -- a hin (aliquid measure)... 1968, 1969. hin. 1970 . a hin (a
liquid measure). Transliteration: hin Phonetic
Spelling: (heen) Short Definition: hin.
... a hin or
liquid measure.
...1325. bath -- a bath (aliquid measure)
... 1324, 1325. bath. 1326 . a bath (aliquid measure). Transliteration:
bath Phonetic Spelling: (bath) Short Definition: baths. Word...
3849. log -- a log (aliquid measure)
... 3848, 3849. log. 3850 . a log (aliquid measure). Transliteration: log
Phonetic Spelling: (lohg) Short Definition: log. Word Origin...
6378. pak -- a vial, flask
... box, vial. From pakah; a flask (from which aliquid may flow) -- box, vial. see
HEBREW pakah. 6377, 6378. pak. 6379 . Strong's Numbers.
8210. shaphak -- to pour out, pour
... A primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation,liquid metal; or even a solid,
ie To mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money...
2834. chasaph -- to strip off, strip, make bare
... A primitive root; to strip off, ie Generally to make naked (for exertion or in
disgrace), to drain away or bail up (aliquid) -- make bare, clean, discover...
4945b. mashqeh -- irrigation, drink
... Word Origin from shaqah Definition irrigation, drink NASB Word Usage drink (1),
drinking (2),liquid (1), office (1), watering places (1), well watered (1)....
8081. shemen -- fat, oil
... From shaman; grease, especiallyliquid (as from the olive, often perfumed);
figuratively, richness -- anointing, X fat (things), X fruitful, oil((-ed...
5674a. abar -- to pass over, through, or by, pass on
... 1), goes (1), going (2), going over (3), gone (1), gone over (1), gone through
(1), laid aside (1), led across (1), led through (3), left (1),liquid (2), made...
4116. mahar -- to hasten
... A primitive root; properly, to beliquid or flow easily, ie (by implication); to
hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often used (with another verb) adverbially...
Library
Whether anyLiquid Can be Mingled with the Consecrated Wine?
... OF THE ACCIDENTS WHICH REMAIN IN THIS SACRAMENT (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether any
liquid can be mingled with the consecrated wine? Objection...
TheseLiquid, Clear Satisfactions
... THE THIRD CENTURY 22 Theseliquid, clear satisfactions. Theseliquid, clear
satisfactions were the emanations of the highest reason...
Of the Outflowing (Escoulement) or Liquefaction of the Soul in God...
... Moist andliquid things easily receive the figures and limits which may be given
them, because they have no firmness or solidity which stops or limits them in...
Whether Plain Water is Necessary for Baptism?
... For aliquid of this kind cannot be used for Baptism, as neither can the blood
of an animal, or wine, or anyliquid extracted from plants....
Whether Original Sin is More in the Flesh than in the Soul?
... Objection 5: Further, no wise man pours a preciousliquid into a vessel,
knowing that the vessel will corrupt theliquid. But the...
Genesis.
... Which, through their rise and setting, were to change. Then, on the fifth, theliquid
[1253] streams receive.... Fair offsprings from itsliquid waves, and cuts....
The Formation of Man by the Demiurge Human Flesh not Made of the...
... Now, since fluidity and fusibility are qualities ofliquid matter, and since everything
liquid flowed from Sophia's tears, we must, as a necessary conclusion...
Seventh Tractate. On Complete Transfusion.
... Nature to allow of the sweat exuding, there is the case of those manufactured articles,
slender but without puncture, in which we can see aliquid wetting them...
Sponges and Watering-Cans
... The most noticeable feature of a sponge is its power of absorbing aliquid
and retaining it within itself. If dipped in or placed...
But Since the Human Being is a Twofold Creature...
... For as by the admixture of a poisonousliquid with a wholesome one the whole drought
is deprived of its deadly effect, so too the immortal Body, by being...
Thesaurus
Liquid (15 Occurrences)... among themselves, but do not tend to separate from each other as the particles of
gases and vapors do; neither solid nor aeriform; as,
liquid mercury, in
...Wash (105 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To cleanse by ablution, or dipping or rubbing in water; to apply water or
otherliquid to for the purpose of cleansing; to scrub with water, etc., or...
Wet (25 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Containing, or consisting of, water or otherliquid; moist; soaked
with aliquid; having water or otherliquid upon the surface; as, wet land; a...
Dip (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To plunge or immerse; especially, to put for a
moment into aliquid; to insert into a fluid and withdraw again....
Nephthar
... sacrifices. After an interval the sun shone forth from behind a cloud and
theliquid ignited and consumed the sacrifices. Nehemiah...
Nephthai
... sacrifices. After an interval the sun shone forth from behind a cloud and
theliquid ignited and consumed the sacrifices. Nehemiah...
Drink (414 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To swallow anythingliquid, for quenching thirst or other purpose; to imbibe;
to receive or partake of, as if in satisfaction of thirst; as, to drink...
Bath (13 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A Hebrewliquid measure, the tenth part of an homer (1
Kings 7:26, 38; Ezek. 45:10, 14).... 2. (n.) Water or otherliquid for bathing....
Myrrh (22 Occurrences)
... This was the gum or viscid whiteliquid which flows from a tree resembling the acacia,
found in Africa and Arabia, the Balsamodendron myrrha of botanists....
Flow (85 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To move with a continual change of place among the particles or parts, as
a fluid; to change place or circulate, as aliquid; as, rivers flow from...
Resources
What are some popular illustrations of the Holy Trinity? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the canopy theory? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.orgLiquid: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
