Topical Encyclopedia
A ravine, in biblical terms, refers to a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides, often carved by the persistent flow of water. These natural formations are frequently mentioned in the Bible, symbolizing both physical and spiritual realities. In the arid and rugged landscapes of the biblical world, ravines were significant geographical features that influenced travel, settlement, and the imagery used by biblical writers.
Biblical References and Symbolism1.
Physical Geography: Ravines are often depicted as places of refuge or danger. In
1 Kings 17:3, God commands the prophet Elijah to hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, during a time of drought and famine: "Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook Cherith, east of the Jordan." This ravine provided Elijah with water from the brook and sustenance from ravens, illustrating God's provision and protection in desolate places.
2.
Symbol of Judgment and Deliverance: Ravines can also symbolize judgment and deliverance. In
Isaiah 40:4, the prophet speaks of a future time when "every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain." This imagery of transformation includes the filling of ravines, symbolizing the removal of obstacles and the establishment of God's righteous order.
3.
Spiritual Metaphor: The imagery of ravines is used metaphorically to describe spiritual conditions. In
Jeremiah 2:23, God rebukes Israel for idolatry, saying, "How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done." Here, the "valley" or ravine is a place of spiritual infidelity and rebellion, contrasting with the high places of worship that were often associated with idolatry.
4.
Places of Encounter: Ravines are also depicted as places of divine encounter and revelation. In the New Testament, the wilderness, which includes ravines, is where John the Baptist preached repentance and prepared the way for the Lord (
Matthew 3:1-3). The rugged terrain symbolizes the need for spiritual preparation and the leveling of the heart's landscape to receive God's message.
Cultural and Historical ContextIn the ancient Near East, ravines were significant for their strategic and practical uses. They provided natural defense mechanisms for cities and were often routes for travel and trade. The presence of water in ravines made them vital for agriculture and survival in the otherwise arid regions. The biblical authors, familiar with these landscapes, used the imagery of ravines to convey messages of hope, judgment, and divine intervention.
Theological ImplicationsThe use of ravines in biblical literature underscores themes of God's sovereignty and care. Whether as places of refuge, symbols of transformation, or metaphors for spiritual realities, ravines remind believers of God's ability to provide, protect, and transform. They serve as a testament to the divine presence in the midst of life's challenges and the assurance of God's ultimate plan for redemption and restoration.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A deep and narrow hollow, usually worn by a stream or torrent of water; a gorge; a mountain cleft.
2. (n.) Food obtained by violence; plunder; prey; raven.
3. (v. t. & i.) See Raven.
4. (n.) A torrent of water.
Greek
5327. pharagx -- a chasm,ravine... a chasm,
ravine. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: pharagx Phonetic
Spelling: (far'-anx) Short Definition: a valley,
ravine Definition: a valley
...5493. cheimarros -- flowing in winter, a torrent
... torrent. Word Origin from the same as cheimazo and rheo Definition flowing
in winter, a torrent NASB Word Usageravine (1). brook....
Strong's Hebrew
4699. metsullah -- a basin or hollow... 4698, 4699. metsullah. 4700 . a basin or hollow. Transliteration: metsullah
Phonetic Spelling: (mets-ool-law') Short Definition:
ravine.
...5158a. nachal -- torrent, torrent-valley, wadi
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition torrent, torrent-valley, wadi NASB
Word Usage brook (44), brooks (5), flowing (1),ravine (2), ravines (2...
794. ashedah -- a foundation, (mountain) slope
... of eshed Definition a foundation, (mountain) slope NASB Word Usage slopes (6). springs.
Feminine of 'eshed; aravine -- springs. see HEBREW 'eshed. 793, 794....
Library
Lost in the Woods.
... She suddenly found herself standing upon a point of land where a deep,
wideravine extended on either side. The distance across...
The Little Girl who Died to Save Her Father's Life
... This little girl lived near a deepravine at the foot of one of the mountains
in Switzerland. A huge rock had fallen down the mountain...
The Tangled Web
... At thisravine and that debouching upon Golgotha, the Vale of Hinnom and the
Valley of Tophet, whole legions of besiegers were stationed....
The Tomb of the Pharaoh
... Theravine was simply a chasm, with perpendicular sides of naked rock.... But the
tombs he sought were in the upper end of the mainravine....
The victory of Unarmed Faith
... is 'a deep trench or gulley, the sides and bed of which are strewn with rounded
and water- worn pebbles.' This is the 'valley,' or rather 'ravine' of verse 3...
The Fulfilment
... As he ascended the opposite slope of theravine, he saw, descending toward the battle,
the front of a rushing multitude, as irresistible and as destructive as...
Beside the Still Waters.
... We see Niagara cutting its backward way through theravine, so many feet in a thousand
years; the lava stream descends the mountain-side like a black and...
The Testament of Issachar Concerning Simplicity.
... forth. Now these mandrakes were sweet-smelling apples which the land of
Aram produced on high ground below aravine of water. And...
The Battle of Thermopylae.
... of Xerxes. The pass of Thermopylae was not aravine among mountains, but
a narrow space between mountains and the sea. The mountains...
In the Dungeon of Giant Discourager
... I've been nearly killed. Giant Discourager encountered me first and got
me off into thatravine over there toward the castle. Then...
Thesaurus
Ravine (26 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) Food obtained by violence; plunder; prey; raven. 3. (vt & i.) See Raven.
4. (n.) A torrent of water. Multi-Version Concordance
Ravine (26 Occurrences).
...Zeboim (7 Occurrences)
... 13:18). It was probably theravine now bearing the name Wady Shakh-ed-
Dub'a, or "ravine of the hyena," north of Jericho. (3.) A...
Jordan (188 Occurrences)
... Along the whole eastern bank of the river and the lakes, from the base of Hermon
to theravine of Hieromax, a region of great fertility, 30 miles long by 7 or...
Plateau (13 Occurrences)
... Joshua 13:9 from Aroer, which is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that
is in the midst of theravine, and all the plateau of Medeba to Dibon, (DBY...
Plain (113 Occurrences)
... Down through the centre of this plain is aravine, from 200 to 300 yards wide, and
from 50 to 100 feet deep, through which the Jordan flows in a winding course...
Hinnom (11 Occurrences)
... A deep, narrowravine separating Mount Zion from the so-called "Hill of Evil Counsel."
It took its name from "some ancient hero, the son of Hinnom." It is...
Shimei (43 Occurrences)
... Apparently David's flight to the Jordan led through a narrowravine, on one side
of which, or on the ridge above, stood Shimei in safety as he cast stones at...
Ravines (17 Occurrences)
Valley (187 Occurrences)
... (3.) Ge, "a bursting," a "flowing together," a narrow glen orravine, such as... The
valley of the Kidron is a nachal ("ravine"), not an `emeq ("broad valley")....
Bank (28 Occurrences)
... of clouds; a bank of snow. 3. (n.) A steep acclivity, as the slope of a hill,
or the side of aravine. 4. (n.) The margin of a watercourse...
Resources
What happened on the Mount of Olives? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was Herod's temple? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of Damascus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgRavine: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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