Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, waves are often used metaphorically to describe the power and majesty of God, the tumultuous nature of life, and the instability of human emotions. The imagery of waves is prevalent throughout Scripture, illustrating both the might of God's creation and the challenges faced by humanity.
Creation and God's SovereigntyThe Bible frequently uses the imagery of waves to highlight God's sovereignty over creation. In the book of Job, God questions Job about the creation of the world, emphasizing His control over the sea: "Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’?" (
Job 38:8-11). This passage underscores God's authority over the natural world, including the powerful and often unpredictable waves of the sea.
Symbol of Chaos and DangerWaves are also symbolic of chaos and danger in the Bible. In the book of Psalms, the psalmist describes the perilous nature of the sea: "The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken. The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; Your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked" (
Psalm 77:16-18). Here, the waves are depicted as part of a tumultuous and fearsome natural event, reflecting the overwhelming challenges that can confront individuals.
Metaphor for Human Emotions and InstabilityWaves are often used metaphorically to describe human emotions and the instability of life. James warns against being double-minded, comparing such a person to a wave: "But let him ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" (
James 1:6). This imagery conveys the idea of instability and lack of direction, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith.
Jesus and the Calming of the StormOne of the most significant New Testament accounts involving waves is the account of Jesus calming the storm. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority over nature: "Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We are perishing!' 'You of little faith,' Jesus replied, 'Why are you so afraid?' Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm" (
Matthew 8:23-26). This miracle not only reveals Jesus' power over the natural world but also serves as a reminder of His ability to bring peace and calm to the storms of life.
Eschatological ImageryIn eschatological contexts, waves are used to describe the upheaval of the end times. In the book of Revelation, the sea is depicted as a place of turmoil and chaos, from which the beast emerges: "And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads" (
Revelation 13:1). This imagery serves to illustrate the tumultuous events that will occur before the ultimate establishment of God's kingdom.
Throughout Scripture, waves serve as a powerful symbol of both the majesty and the unpredictability of God's creation, as well as the challenges and instabilities faced by humanity. The biblical use of waves underscores the need for faith and reliance on God's sovereignty in the midst of life's storms.
Greek
2831. kludonizomai -- to be tossed bywaves... to be tossed by
waves. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kludonizomai Phonetic
Spelling: (kloo-do-nid'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I am tossed by
waves...928. basanizo -- to torture
... basanizo Phonetic Spelling: (bas-an-id'-zo) Short Definition: I torment, torture,
buffet Definition: I examine, as by torture; I torment; I buffet, as ofwaves...
123. aigialos -- the seashore
... shore. From aisso (to rush) and hals (in the sense of the sea; a beach (on which
thewaves dash) -- shore. see GREEK hals. (aigialon) -- 6 Occurrences....
2949. kuma -- a wave
... wave, surge, billow. Word Origin from kuo (to be pregnant, swell) Definition
a wave NASB Word Usagewaves (4). wave. From kuo (to...
4950. Surtis -- "shoal," Syrtis, the name of two large sandbanks...
... quicksands, Syrtis. From suro; a shoal (from the sand drawn thither by thewaves),
ie The Syrtis Major or great bay on the north coast of Africa -- quicksands....
4366. prosregnumi -- to break against
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prosregnumi Phonetic Spelling: (pros-rayg'-
noo-mee) Short Definition: I dash against Definition: I dash against, aswaves...
5269. hupozonnumi -- to undergird
... hupozonnumi Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-od-zone'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I
under-gird Definition: I under-gird, as to strengthen a ship against thewaves....
4494. rhipizo -- to fan, generally to make a breeze
... toss. From a derivative of rhipto (meaning a fan or bellows); to breeze up, ie
(by analogy) to agitate (intowaves) -- toss. see GREEK rhipto....
2830. kludon -- a billow (of water)
... Word Origin from kluzo (to wash over) Definition a billow (of water) NASB
Word Usage surf (1), surgingwaves (1). raging, wave....
1796. enubrizo -- to insult
... [The root is also used of the , force of oceanwaves.]. Word Origin from en and
hubrizo Definition to insult NASB Word Usage insulted (1). to insult, outrage....
Strong's Hebrew
1796. doki -- a pounding (ofwaves)... 1795, 1796. doki. 1797 . a pounding (of
waves). Transliteration: doki
Phonetic Spelling: (dok-ee') Short Definition:
waves. Word
...1530. gal -- a heap, wave, billow
... 1529, 1530. gal. 1531 . a heap, wave, billow. Transliteration: gal Phonetic
Spelling: (gal) Short Definition:waves. Word Origin...
4867. mishbar -- a breaker (of the sea)
... Definition: breakers. Word Origin from shabar Definition a breaker (of the sea)
NASB Word Usage breakers (3),waves (2). billow, wave. From...
1116. bamah -- a high place
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a high place NASB Word Usage heights
(3), high place (19), high places (76), places (1),waves (1)....
7280. raga' -- to disturb
... A primitive root; properly, to toss violently and suddenly (the sea withwaves,
the skin with boils); figuratively (in a favorable manner) to settle, ie Quiet...
Library
Peter on theWaves
... PETER ON THEWAVES. 'And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou,
bid me come unto Thee on the water.'"Matthew 14:28....
TheWaves of Time
... THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES THEWAVES OF TIME. 'The times that went over
him.'"1 Chronicles 29:30. This is a fragment from the...
A River of Peace andWaves of Righteousness
... A RIVER OF PEACE ANDWAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.... then had thy peace been as a river,
and thy righteousness as thewaves of the sea.'" Isaiah 48:18....
Walking theWaves --The Two Kingdoms.
... THE NEW TESTAMENT. CHAPTER XXIV. WALKING THEWAVES"THE TWO KINGDOMS.
While Jesus was alone on the mountain side the disciples...
On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiv. 24, "But the Boat was Now...
... Sermon XXV. On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xiv. 24, "But the boat was now in
the midst of the sea, distressed by thewaves.". [LXXV. Ben.]...
Comparison of Christ's Power Over Winds andWaves with Moses'...
... Chapter XX."Comparison of Christ's Power Over Winds andWaves with Moses'
Command of the Waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan....
Again on Matt. xiv. 25:00:00 of the Lord Walking on theWaves of...
... testament. Sermon XXVI. Again on Matt. xiv. 25: Of the Lord walking on the
waves of the sea, and of Peter tottering. [LXXVI. Ben.] Again...
Nisibene Hymns. Hymn i. O God of Mercies who Didst Refresh Noah...
... wrath! R. Stretch forth Thy bow against the flood, for lo! it has lifted
up itswaves against our walls! 2. In revelation, Lord!...
The Disciples in Conflict. Jesus Walks Upon the Waters.
... by the Word, and goes unwillingly, as it were, when the Saviour wishes to train
by exercise the disciples in this boat which is distressed by thewaves and the...
Argument: Octavius, Displeased at the Act of this Superstitious...
... level them for a promenade; and as the sea is always restless, even when the winds
are lulled, it came up on the shore, although not withwaves crested and...
Thesaurus
Waves (43 Occurrences)...Waves (43 Occurrences). Matthew 8:24 Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea,
so much that the boat was covered with the
waves, but he was asleep.
...Calm (18 Occurrences)
... Freedom from motion, agitation, or disturbance; a cessation or absence of that which
causes motion or disturbance, as of winds orwaves; tranquility; stillness...
Storm (62 Occurrences)
... Storm (62 Occurrences). Matthew 8:24 Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea,
so much that the boat was covered with thewaves, but he was asleep....
Roar (53 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To make a loud, confused sound, as winds,waves, passing vehicles,
a crowd of persons when shouting together, or the like....
Roaring (28 Occurrences)
... 21:25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety
of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and thewaves; (WEB KJV...
Raging (26 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Jude 1:13 Ragingwaves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering
stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (KJV DBY WBS)....
Beat (85 Occurrences)
... 14. (vi) To come or act with violence; to dash or fall with force; to strike anything,
as, rain, wind, andwaves do. 15. (vi) To be in agitation or doubt. 16....
Swell (9 Occurrences)
... or diminish. 3. (vi) To rise or be driven intowaves or billows; to heave;
as, in tempest, the ocean swells intowaves. 4. (vi) To...
Seas (40 Occurrences)
... The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the
violence of thewaves.... The floods lift up theirwaves. (See NIV)....
Rolling (32 Occurrences)
... And he, when he was awake, gave orders to the wind and the rollingwaves,
and the storm came to an end, and all was calm. (BBE)....
Resources
What does it mean that deep calls to deep (Psalm 42:7)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did Jesus mean when He said, “Peace, be still”? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of the Sea of Galilee in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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