The term "billowed" is often used to describe the surging or swelling movement of waves or clouds, and it can be found in various contexts within the Bible, symbolizing the power and majesty of God's creation, as well as the tumultuous experiences of life. While the specific word "billowed" may not appear frequently in the Berean Standard Bible, the imagery it conveys is prevalent throughout Scripture.

Biblical Imagery of Billows

1. Creation and Nature: The imagery of billowing waves is a testament to the grandeur and power of God's creation. In Genesis 1:9-10 , God commands the waters to gather, forming the seas, which can be imagined as billowing with the breath of divine command. The Psalms often reflect on the majesty of the sea as a creation of God, as seen in Psalm 104:25-26 : "There is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small. There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there."

2. God's Sovereignty: The billowing of the sea is also used to illustrate God's sovereignty over creation. In Job 38:8-11 , God questions Job, highlighting 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’?"

3. Human Experience and Divine Deliverance: The tumultuous nature of billowing waves is often used metaphorically to describe the trials and tribulations faced by individuals. In Psalm 42:7 , the psalmist laments, "Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me." This verse captures the overwhelming nature of personal struggles, yet it also points to the hope of divine deliverance.

4. Jesus Calming the Storm: The New Testament provides a powerful narrative of Jesus' authority over the billowing sea. In Mark 4:37-39 , a great storm arises, and the waves break over the boat, threatening to swamp it. Jesus, however, rebukes the wind and commands the sea, "Peace, be still!" The wind ceases, and there is a great calm, demonstrating His divine authority over nature.

5. Symbol of Judgment and Salvation: The imagery of billowing waters is also associated with judgment and salvation. In the account of Noah, the floodwaters that billow over the earth serve as both a means of judgment and a vehicle for the salvation of Noah and his family (Genesis 7:17-24). Similarly, the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14:21-22 illustrates God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, as the waters stand like walls, billowing on either side.

Conclusion

The concept of billowing, while not explicitly named in every instance, is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative. It serves as a powerful symbol of God's creative power, His sovereignty over nature, the trials of human life, and the hope of divine intervention and salvation. Through these vivid images, Scripture invites believers to trust in God's control over the chaos of life and to find peace in His presence.(imp. & p. p.) of Billow.

The Hand Felt Its Way up his Arm, And...
... But so sheltered was he by North Wind's arm and bosom that only at times, in the
fiercer onslaught of some curl-billowed eddy, did he recognise for a moment ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 6 the hand felt.htm

The Consuming Fire.
... That thunder and lightning and tempest, that blackness torn with the sound of a
trumpet, that visible horror billowed with the voice of words, was all but a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the consuming fire.htm

The General Service to one Hierarch.
... Brightly illumined with thy clear-sighted mind, thou hast pacified the multi-billowed
sea of passions, and, flying in thine impassiveness with clean wings ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter x the general service.htm

Billowed (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Billow. Multi-Version Concordance
Billowed (1 Occurrence). Exodus 19:18 Mount Sinai, all ...
/b/billowed.htm - 6k

Billows (18 Occurrences)

/b/billows.htm - 11k

Billow (1 Occurrence)

/b/billow.htm - 7k

How many times did Moses ascend Mount Sinai? | GotQuestions.org

Billowed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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