The term "floweth" is an archaic form of the verb "flow," often found in older translations of the Bible. It is used to describe the movement or abundance of water, blessings, or other elements that are depicted as flowing in a continuous and generous manner. The imagery of flowing is significant in biblical literature, symbolizing life, prosperity, and divine provision.

Biblical Usage and Symbolism

1. Water and Rivers: In the Bible, water is a powerful symbol of life and purification. The term "floweth" is often associated with rivers and streams, which are seen as sources of sustenance and renewal. For example, in Psalm 46:4 , it is written, "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells." This verse highlights the life-giving and joyful nature of God's presence, symbolized by a flowing river.

2. Milk and Honey: The phrase "a land flowing with milk and honey" is a well-known biblical expression describing the Promised Land. This imagery is used to convey the abundance and fertility of the land that God promised to the Israelites. In Exodus 3:8 , God says, "So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey." The use of "flowing" here emphasizes the richness and generosity of God's provision.

3. Spiritual Blessings: The concept of flow is also applied to spiritual blessings and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In John 7:38 , Jesus declares, "Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." This promise of living water represents the Holy Spirit's work in the believer's life, bringing spiritual vitality and growth.

4. Divine Judgment: Conversely, the imagery of flowing can also be used in the context of divine judgment. In Isaiah 30:28 , it is written, "His breath is like an overflowing torrent that rises to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction." Here, the flow represents the overwhelming and inescapable nature of God's judgment upon the nations.

Theological Implications

The use of "floweth" in the Bible underscores the dynamic and active nature of God's interaction with the world. Whether in the form of blessings, sustenance, or judgment, the concept of flow highlights the continuous and abundant nature of God's work. It serves as a reminder of God's provision and presence, as well as His power and authority over creation.

Conclusion

The term "floweth" captures the essence of movement and abundance in biblical language. It is a vivid expression of the life-giving and sustaining power of God, as well as His righteous judgment. Through the imagery of flowing, the Bible communicates profound truths about God's character and His relationship with humanity.

In all Love There is a Love Begetting
... It floweth from itself and resteth in its object. ... Constraint is destructive and opposite
to its nature. The Love from which it floweth is the fountain of Love. ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/40 in all love there.htm

Psalm LVI.
... A grape on the vine sustaineth no pressing, whole it seemeth, but nothing thence
floweth: it is thrown into a winepress, is trodden, is pressed; harm seemeth ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lvi.htm

The Spies
... of the love of Christ; they do not enter into covenant with the Lord Jesus, or else
they would soon discover that it is a good land that floweth with milk and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the spies.htm

Latimer -- on Christian Love
... Paul speaks not here of this lively justifying faith; for this right faith is not
without love, for love cometh and floweth out of faith; love is a child of ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/latimer on christian love.htm

The Blood of Sprinkling
... He has quitted the wilderness for the land which floweth with milk and honey, and
the material mount which might be touched for the spiritual and heavenly ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/the blood of sprinkling.htm

On the Difficulties and Duties of the Christian Life.
... They have spied the land, and seen that it is exceeding good, that it floweth with
milk and honey; but they find they have the children of Anak to grapple with ...
/.../scougal/the life of god in the soul of man/part iii on the difficulties.htm

The Completeness of the Bible Demonstrates Its Divine Perfection
... There are other books that have poetry; but there is none that sings the song of
salvation or gives a troubled soul the peace that floweth like a river. ...
/.../pink/the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter ten the completeness of.htm

A Word from the Beloved's Own Mouth. "And Ye are Clean. " --John ...
... beloved believer, that, as one with Christ, you are not with sinners in the gall
of bitterness, but with the saints in the land which floweth with milk and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/a word from the beloveds.htm

Israel at the Red Sea
... the desert through with hasty footstep; and when a few more days have passed, we
shall enter into the land of our possession"the land that floweth with milk ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/israel at the red sea.htm

Christ Glorified as the Builder of his Church
... of the rolling thunder, of the boiling sea of the dashing cataract, and of the lowing
cattle; and often with that still, solemn harmony, which floweth from the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/christ glorified as the builder.htm

Floweth (16 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Floweth (16 Occurrences). Genesis 2:14 And the name of
the third river is Hiddekel: which floweth toward the east of Assyria. ...
/f/floweth.htm - 11k

Woman's (20 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 15:25 And when a woman's issue of blood floweth many days within the time
of her separation, or when it floweth over her separation -- all the days ...
/w/woman's.htm - 12k

Sware (90 Occurrences)
... 11:9 And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your
fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk ...
/s/sware.htm - 35k

Flowers (42 Occurrences)

/f/flowers.htm - 22k

Gazah (16 Occurrences)
... Joshua 13:3 from the Shihor, which floweth before Egypt, as far as the borders of
Ekron northward, and which is counted to the Canaanite; five lordships of the ...
/g/gazah.htm - 11k

Delighteth (23 Occurrences)
... Numbers 14:8 If the LORD delighteth in us, then he will bring us into this land,
and give it to us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. (WBS). ...
/d/delighteth.htm - 13k

Avvite (1 Occurrence)
... Joshua 13:3 from the Shihor, which floweth before Egypt, as far as the borders of
Ekron northward, and which is counted to the Canaanite; five lordships of the ...
/a/avvite.htm - 6k

Avvites (3 Occurrences)
... Joshua 13:3 from the Shihor, which floweth before Egypt, as far as the borders of
Ekron northward, and which is counted to the Canaanite; five lordships of the ...
/a/avvites.htm - 7k

Swarest (4 Occurrences)
... habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast
given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk ...
/s/swarest.htm - 7k

Sentest (5 Occurrences)
... Numbers 13:27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest
us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it ...
/s/sentest.htm - 7k

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