Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "mist" is often used to describe a natural phenomenon that holds both literal and symbolic significance. The Hebrew word for mist, "אֵד" (ed), and the Greek word "ὁμίχλη" (homichlē) appear in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, illustrating God's creative power and the transient nature of life.
Creation and ProvisionThe first mention of mist in the Bible is found in the account of creation in Genesis.
Genesis 2:6 states, "But springs welled up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground." Here, the mist is depicted as a divine provision for the earth, nurturing the land before the creation of rain. This underscores God's sovereignty and care in sustaining His creation, ensuring that the earth was fertile and ready for the habitation of man.
Symbol of TransienceMist is also used metaphorically in Scripture to convey the fleeting nature of human life.
James 4:14 poignantly states, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." This imagery serves as a humbling reminder of the brevity and uncertainty of life, urging believers to live with an eternal perspective and reliance on God's will.
Divine Presence and RevelationIn some instances, mist is associated with the presence and revelation of God. In
Exodus 19:9 , the Lord says to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you and will always put their trust in you." While the term "mist" is not directly used here, the concept of a cloud or mist enveloping the divine presence is evident. This signifies God's holiness and the mystery surrounding His revelation to humanity.
Judgment and ObscurityMist can also symbolize judgment and obscurity. In
2 Peter 2:17 , false teachers are described as "springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them." This metaphor highlights the deceptive and unstable nature of false teachings, contrasting them with the clarity and truth found in God's Word.
ConclusionThroughout the Bible, mist serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing God's provision, the ephemeral nature of life, His divine presence, and the obscurity of falsehood. These themes encourage believers to trust in God's eternal promises and to seek His truth amidst the uncertainties of life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Visible watery vapor suspended in the atmosphere, at or near the surface of the earth; fog.
2. (n.) Coarse, watery vapor, floating or falling in visible particles, approaching the form of rain; as, Scotch mist.
3. (n.) Hence, anything which dims or darkens, and obscures or intercepts vision.
4. (v. t.) To cloud; to cover with mist; to dim.
5. (v. i.) To rain in very fine drops; as, it mists.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MIST('edh; achlus, homichie): Mist is caused by particles of water vapor filling the air until it is only partially transparent. Mist and haze produce much the same effect, the one being due to moisture in the atmosphere and the other to dust particles. Mist or fog is not common on the plains of Palestine and Syria at sea-level, but is of almost daily occurrence in the mountain valleys, coming up at night and disappearing with the morning sun (The Wisdom of Solomon 2:4). It is nothing else than a cloud touching the land. In the account of creation, "there went up a mist from the earth," giving a description of the warm humid atmosphere of the carboniferous ages which agrees remarkably with the teaching of modern science (Genesis 2:6). The word is used figuratively inActs 13:11 to describe the shutting out of light. Those who bring confusion and uncertainty are compared to "mists driven by a storm" (2 Peter 2:17).
SeeVAPOR.
Alfred H. Joy
Greek
887. achlus -- amist... a
mist. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: achlus Phonetic Spelling:
(akh-looce') Short Definition: a
mist, dimness Definition: a
mist, dimness
...3658. homichle -- amist or fog
... amist or fog. Transliteration: homichle Phonetic Spelling: (hom'-il-os) Short
Definition: mists.... word Definition amist or fog NASB Word Usage mists (1)....
2217. zophos -- deep gloom
... blackness, darkness,mist. Akin to the base of nephos; gloom (as shrouding
like a cloud) -- blackness, darkness,mist. see GREEK nephos....
822. atmis -- vapor
... Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition vapor NASB Word Usage vapor (2). vapor.
From the same as aer;mist -- vapour. see GREEK aer. (atmida) -- 1 Occurrence...
Strong's Hebrew
108. ed -- amist... a
mist. Transliteration: ed Phonetic Spelling: (ade) Short Definition:
mist. Word
Origin from the same as ud Definition a
mist NASB Word Usage
mist (2).
...5387b. nasi -- risingmist, vapor
... risingmist, vapor. Transliteration: nasi Short Definition: clouds. Word Origin
from nasa Definition risingmist, vapor NASB Word Usage clouds (3), vapors (1)....
2919. tal -- nightmist, dew
... 2918, 2919. tal. 2920 . nightmist, dew. Transliteration: tal Phonetic
Spelling: (tal) Short Definition: dew. Word Origin from an...
5387. nasiy' -- one lifted up, a chief, prince
... Or nasi' {naw-see'}; from nasa'; properly, an exalted one, ie A king or sheik; also
a risingmist -- captain, chief, cloud, governor, prince, ruler, vapour....
6051. anan -- a cloud mass, cloud
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a cloud mass, cloud NASB Word Usage
cloud (78), clouds (7), cloudy (1), heavymist (1). cloudy....
Library
Writing Blotted Out andMist Melted
... WRITING BLOTTED OUT ANDMIST MELTED.... 'I have blotted out as a cloud'"that is, the
thinning away of themist. The blurred and stained page can be cancelled....
Christ among the Common Things of Life
... Not long ago, in the early morning, while all the world slept, I stood beside the
Sea of Tiberias, just as the morningmist lifted, and watched a single brown...
The Dew and the Plants
... You cannot call it rain, so gently does it diffuse itself; it is liker amist,
but it brings life and freshness, and everything is changed....
Going Forth
... that point all was dark, except for the sparkle of the great hope that gleamed on
the horizon in front, as a sunlit summit rises above a sea ofmist between it...
Let us See what My Adversary Himself Says on this Point in those...
... addressed: "Ye are the light of the world." [2929] On the other hand, he should
exhibit everything involved in darkness and wrapped up in themist of symbols...
October the Second Humbling Our Pride
... Themist is very close to our doors, and in a very few steps we are lost on
a trackless moor.... But themist remains, the home of blessing....
A Rough Voyage
... There was no moon, or stars, but a thickmist, so that I could see neither road
nor anything else; but I went as right as if it had been noon-day....
For These Reasons There was Plainly Wanting a Divine Revelation,
... But in like manner, as Homer relates, that Minerva took away themist from before
Diomede's eyes, that he might be able to distinguish one person from another...
Out of the Deep of Suffering and Sorrow.
... and the desire of his eyes is taken from him, and all his hopes and plans, all which
he intended to do or to enjoy, are hid with blindingmist, so that he...
On Heavenly Objects
... feet. [Nah.1:3]. Themist is the working of the divine mysteries; in the
psalm: and themist is beneath His feet. [Ps.17(18):10(11)]....
Thesaurus
Mist (17 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) Coarse, watery vapor, floating or falling in visible particles, approaching
the form of rain; as, Scotch
mist.
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
MIST.
...Vapor (6 Occurrences)
... va'-per: (1) edh: "For he draweth up the drops of water, which distill in rain from
his vapor" (Job 36:27); "There went up amist ['edh] from the earth, and...
Dew (35 Occurrences)
... with moisture, are robbed of it as they pass over the land, the cold air condensing
it into drops of water, which fall in a gracious rain ofmist on every...
Mistake (5 Occurrences)
Offenses (23 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 44:22 I have put your evil doings out of my mind like a thick cloud, and
your sins like amist: come back to me; for I have taken up your cause....
Of (369523 Occurrences)
... 4. (prep.) Denoting the material of which anything is composed, or that which it
contains; as, a throne of gold; a sword of steel; a wreath ofmist; a cup of...
Josephus
... the Lake of Gennesaret, in May, 67 AD The Jews withstood the siege for 47 days with
splendid courage, till Titus, assaulting under cover of amist, stormed the...
Groped (1 Occurrence)
... Acts 13:11 Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not
seeing the sun for a season!" Immediately amist and darkness fell on him....
Watered (28 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 2:6 but amist went up
from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground....
Watering (21 Occurrences)
... to his own labour, (YLT). Genesis 2:6 But amist went up from the earth,
watering all the face of the land. (BBE). Genesis 2:10 And...
Resources
What does it mean that life is a vapor? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about time management? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of chaff in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgMist: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
