In biblical times, the concept of a "beach" as understood in modern terms is not frequently mentioned, but the coastal regions and shores of bodies of water play significant roles in various biblical narratives. The term "beach" itself is used in some translations to describe the sandy or pebbly shorelines where water meets land, particularly in the context of the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee.

Biblical References:

1. Acts 27:39-44: One of the most notable mentions of a beach in the Bible occurs in the account of Paul's shipwreck. As Paul was being transported to Rome, the ship encountered a violent storm. When daylight came, "they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could" (Acts 27:39). This passage highlights the beach as a place of refuge and safety amidst the chaos of the storm.

2. John 21:4-12: After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples by the Sea of Galilee. The disciples were fishing, and Jesus stood on the shore, though they did not initially recognize Him. Jesus instructed them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, resulting in a miraculous catch of fish. When they came ashore, they found Jesus had prepared a breakfast of fish and bread on the beach. This event underscores the beach as a place of divine encounter and provision.

3. Matthew 13:1-2: The beach also serves as a setting for Jesus' teaching. "That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore" (Matthew 13:1-2). Here, the beach becomes a natural amphitheater for Jesus to deliver parables to the multitudes.

Symbolic Significance:

In biblical symbolism, the beach can represent a boundary or transition between the known and the unknown, the stable and the unstable. It is a place where land meets water, symbolizing the meeting of the earthly and the divine. The beach is often a site of revelation, teaching, and transformation, as seen in the encounters of Jesus with His disciples.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, coastal regions were vital for trade, travel, and communication. The Mediterranean Sea, in particular, was a major route for commerce and cultural exchange. The beaches along these coasts would have been familiar to the people of biblical times, serving as places for landing ships, gathering resources, and engaging in daily life.

Theological Reflections:

From a theological perspective, the beach can be seen as a metaphor for the Christian journey. Just as the beach is a place of transition and encounter, so too is the life of faith a journey marked by moments of divine intervention and revelation. The beach serves as a reminder of God's presence in the midst of life's storms and His provision in times of need.

In summary, while the term "beach" may not be frequently used in the Bible, the concept of coastal and shoreline regions is integral to many biblical narratives, offering rich symbolism and theological insights.1. (n.) Pebbles, collectively; shingle.

2. (n.) The shore of the sea, or of a lake, which is washed by the waves; especially, a sandy or pebbly shore; the strand.

3. (v. t.) To run or drive (as a vessel or a boat) upon a beach; to strand; as, to beach a ship.

BEACH

bech (aigialos): The part of the shore washed by the tide on which the waves dash (Matthew 13:2, 48 John 21:4 Acts 21:5; Acts 27:39, 40).

123. aigialos -- the seashore
... the seashore. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: aigialos Phonetic
Spelling: (ahee-ghee-al-os') Short Definition: sea-coast, beach Definition: sea ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/123.htm - 6k

285. ammos -- sand
... Word Origin from psammos (sand) Definition sand NASB Word Usage sand (5). sand.
Perhaps from hama; sand (as heaped on the beach) -- sand. see GREEK hama. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/285.htm - 6k

2027. epokello -- run aground.
... run aground. From epi and okello (to urge); to drive upon the shore, ie To beach
a vessel -- run aground. see GREEK epi. (epekeilan) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2027.htm - 6k

7557. Raqqath -- a city in Naphtali
... Rakkath. From raqaq in its original sense of diffusing; a beach (as expanded shingle);
Rakkath, a place in Palestine -- Rakkath. see HEBREW raqaq. 7556, 7557 ...
/hebrew/7557.htm - 6k

The Beach and the Sea
... THE BEACH AND THE SEA. 'When the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore;
but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.'"John 21:4. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/the beach and the sea.htm

Letter B
... Received 1821, Located 1824 * Beach, Ancil "Received 1830 * Beach, Anson F. "Received
1833 * Beach, John B. "Received 1833 * Beach, Lyman "Received ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter b.htm

Jesus Unrecognised.
... Yonder is some One standing on the beach. ... Words were needless. Now they're walking
along the beach, Jesus and Peter in the lead but the others quite near. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/jesus unrecognised.htm

Of the Second Consideration of the Sacred, Holy Stigmata
... upon them and for his coming to visit them there, he prayed Orlando to cause a little
cell to be made for him at the foot of a beautiful beach-tree, which was ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/of the second consideration of.htm

The Advance of Xerxes into Greece.
... on the coast. There was a rocky promontory at one end of this bay and a
cape on the other, with a long beach between them. It was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter viii the advance of.htm

Appearance at Sea of Galilee.
... took nothing. But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: howbeit
the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xxiv appearance at sea of.htm

Among the Fishermen.
... The beautiful plain of Gennesaret spreads out from one end of the lake, and there
is a white beach of shells there, while at other points on the lake there are ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xiv among the fishermen.htm

By the Sea once More
... Here the tempest had been hushed by His word. Within sight was the beach where above
ten thousand persons had been fed from a few small loaves and fishes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 85 by the sea.htm

After the Wreck
... on the shore in the early morning, and no doubt they were doubtful what reception
they would have from the islanders who had been attracted to the beach. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/after the wreck.htm

The First Great Group of Parables.
... kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of
every kind: 48 which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/liv the first great group 7.htm

Beach (7 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To run or drive (as a vessel or a boat) upon a beach; to strand; as,
to beach a ship. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BEACH. ...
/b/beach.htm - 9k

Gathered (384 Occurrences)
... (WEY NAS RSV). Matthew 13:2 Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered
into a boat, and sat, and all the multitude stood on the beach. ...
/g/gathered.htm - 35k

Shore (45 Occurrences)
... shor: (1) choph, always of the Mediterranean, variously translated "haven," "beach,"
"shore," "sea-shore," "coast," "sea coast" (Genesis 49:13 Deuteronomy 1:7 ...
/s/shore.htm - 22k

Sat (222 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV). Matthew 13:2 Great multitudes gathered to him, so
that he entered into a boat, and sat, and all the multitude stood on the beach. ...
/s/sat.htm - 36k

Beacon (3 Occurrences)

/b/beacon.htm - 8k

Fish (66 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:47) is likened unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of
every kind; which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat ...
/f/fish.htm - 38k

Red (124 Occurrences)
... above tide, on a level with the base of the pyramids, there is a clearly defined
recent sea beach composed of water-worn pebbles from 1 inches to 1 or 2 ft. ...
/r/red.htm - 77k

Stood (491 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:2 Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into
a boat, and sat, and all the multitude stood on the beach. ...
/s/stood.htm - 36k

Kneeling (12 Occurrences)
... They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the
city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed. (WEB WEY ASV DBY NAS RSV). ...
/k/kneeling.htm - 10k

Noticed (19 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:39 When it was day, they didn't recognize the land, but they noticed a certain
bay with a beach, and they decided to try to drive the ship onto it. ...
/n/noticed.htm - 11k

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