Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "shore" refers to the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or large river. The concept of the shore is significant in various biblical narratives, symbolizing boundaries, transitions, and divine encounters. The shore serves as a setting for numerous events in both the Old and New Testaments.
Old Testament ReferencesThe shore is often mentioned in the context of the Israelites' journey and God's deliverance. One of the most notable references is the crossing of the Red Sea. In
Exodus 14:30, after the miraculous parting of the sea, it is written, "That day the LORD saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore." This event marks a pivotal moment of salvation and transition for the Israelites, as they move from slavery in Egypt to the journey toward the Promised Land.
The shore also appears in the context of the Promised Land's geography. In
Joshua 9:1, the shore is mentioned as part of the land that the Israelites are to inhabit: "Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things, those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon..." The shore here delineates the extent of the land promised to the descendants of Abraham.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the shore is frequently the setting for Jesus' ministry and teachings. The Sea of Galilee's shore is particularly significant. In
Matthew 4:18-19, Jesus calls His first disciples along the shore: "As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow Me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'" The shore here is a place of calling and transformation, where ordinary fishermen are invited into a divine mission.
The shore is also a place of miraculous provision and teaching. In
John 21:4-6, after His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples on the shore: "Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, 'Friends, have you any fish?' 'No,' they answered. He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish." This encounter on the shore reaffirms Jesus' identity and His continued provision for His followers.
Symbolic SignificanceThe shore in biblical texts often symbolizes a place of transition and divine encounter. It is where the boundary between land and water is met, representing the meeting point between the known and the unknown, the earthly and the divine. The shore is a place where God reveals His power, provides for His people, and calls them to new purposes.
In summary, the shore in the Bible is more than a geographical feature; it is a significant setting for divine action and revelation. Whether as a site of deliverance, calling, or miraculous provision, the shore serves as a powerful symbol of God's interaction with His creation and His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. p.) of Shear.
2. (v.) imp. of Shear.
3. (n.) A sewer.
4. (n.) A prop, as a timber, placed as a brace or support against the side of a building or other structure; a prop placed beneath anything, as a beam, to prevent it from sinking or sagging.
5. (v. t.) To support by a shore or shores; to prop; -- usually with up; as, to shore up a building.
6. (n.) The coast or land adjacent to a large body of water, as an ocean, lake, or large river.
7. (v. t.) To set on shore.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SHOREshor:
(1) choph, always of the Mediterranean, variously translated "haven," "beach," "shore," "sea-shore," "coast," "sea coast" (Genesis 49:13 Deuteronomy 1:7 Joshua 9:1 Judges 5:17 Jeremiah 47:7 Ezekiel 25:16).
(2) saphah, literally, "lip"; compare Arabic shafat, "lip"; of the sand upon the seashore, a figure of multitude (Genesis 22:17 Exodus 14:30 Joshua 11:4 Judges 7:12 1 Samuel 13:5 1 Kings 4:29); the shore of the Red Sea or Gulf of `Aqabah by Ezion-geber (1 Kings 9:26 2 Chronicles 8:17); the brink of the River Nile (Genesis 41:3, 17); the edge (the King James Version "brink") of the valley of Arnon (Deuteronomy 2:36).
(3) qatseh, literally, "end," "extremity," the uttermost part (the King James Version "shore") of the Salt Sea (Joshua 15:2); qetsh ha-'arets, "the end of the earth" (Psalm 46:9); compare Arabic 'aqaci-l-'ard, "the uttermost parts of the earth."
(4) cheilos, literally, "lip," "as the sand which is by the seashore" (Hebrews 11:12).
(5) aigialos, the beach (the King James Version "shore") of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 13:2, 48 John 21:4); of the Mediterranean (Acts 21:5; Acts 27:39, 40).
(6) asson parelegonto ten Kreten, doubtful reading, "sailed along Crete, close in shore" (the King James Version "sailed along by Crete") (Acts 27:13).
See COAST; HAVEN; SAND.
Alfred Ely Day
Greek
966. Bethsaida -- "house of fish," Bethsaida, the name of two ... ... 965, 966. Bethsaida. 967 . "house of fish," Bethsaida, the name of two
cities on the
shore of the Sea of Galilee. Part of Speech
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/966.htm - 6k1082. Gennesaret -- Gennesaret, a fertile plain on W. shore of the ...
... Gennesaret, a fertile plain on W. shore of the Sea of Galilee. Part of Speech: Proper
Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Gennesaret Phonetic Spelling: (ghen-nay ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1082.htm - 6k
5491. cheilos -- a lip, an edge
... a lip, an edge. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: cheilos Phonetic Spelling:
(khi'-los) Short Definition: a lip, mouth, shore Definition: a lip ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5491.htm - 6k
123. aigialos -- the seashore
... Transliteration: aigialos Phonetic Spelling: (ahee-ghee-al-os') Short Definition:
sea-coast, beach Definition: sea-coast, (sandy) beach; shore (of sea ... shore. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/123.htm - 6k
4358. prosormizo -- to bring (a ship) to anchor at
... Word Origin from pros and hormos (an anchorage) Definition to bring (a ship) to
anchor at NASB Word Usage moored (1). draw to the shore, anchor. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4358.htm - 6k
495. antipera -- on the opposite side
... side. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: antipera Phonetic Spelling:
(an-tee-per'-an) Short Definition: on the opposite side or shore Definition: on ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/495.htm - 6k
1877. epanago -- to put out (to sea), to return
... Verb Transliteration: epanago Phonetic Spelling: (ep-an-ag'-o) Short Definition:
I put out, go up Definition: (a) nautical: I put out (from the shore), (lit: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1877.htm - 6k
2718. katerchomai -- to come down
... Short Definition: I come down Definition: I come down from sky to earth, or from
high land to lower land (or to the coast), or from the high seas to the shore. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2718.htm - 7k
99. Adrias -- the Adriatic, the name of a sea
... Adria. From Adria (a place near its shore); the Adriatic sea (including the Ionian) --
Adria. (adria) -- 1 Occurrence. 98, 99. Adrias. 100 . Strong's Numbers
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/99.htm - 6k
1826. exeimi -- to go forth
... depart, get to land, go out. From ek and eimi (to go); to issue, ie Leave (a place),
escape (to the shore) -- depart, get (to land), go out. see GREEK ek. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1826.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
2348. choph -- shore, coast... 2347, 2348. choph. 2349 .
shore, coast. Transliteration: choph Phonetic Spelling:
(khofe) Short Definition: seacoast.
... coast of the sea, haven,
shore, seaside
... /hebrew/2348.htm - 6k 5872. En Gedi -- "spring of a kid," a place on W. shore of the ...
... En Gedi. 5873 . "spring of a kid," a place on W. shore of the Dead Sea.
Transliteration: En Gedi Phonetic Spelling: (ane geh'-dee) Short Definition: Engedi. ...
/hebrew/5872.htm - 6k
6100. Etsyon Geber -- a city on the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
... a city on the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba. Transliteration: Etsyon Geber Phonetic
Spelling: (ets-yone' gheh'ber) Short Definition: Ezion-geber. ...
/hebrew/6100.htm - 6k
4334. mishor -- a level place, uprightness
... 4333, 4334. mishor or mishor. 4335 . a level place, uprightness. Transliteration:
mishor or mishor Phonetic Spelling: (mee-shore') Short Definition: plain. ...
/hebrew/4334.htm - 6k
8193. saphah -- lip, speech, edge
... 10), binding (2), brim (9), edge (17), empty (2), gossip* (1), language (6), lip
(1), lip service (1), lips (100), mere (1), seashore* (7), shore (1), speech ...
/hebrew/8193.htm - 6k
3381. yarad -- to come or go down, descend
... to descend, to go downwards to a lower region, as the shore. A primitive root;
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally ...
/hebrew/3381.htm - 7k
8270. shor -- umbilical cord
... 8269, 8270. shor. 8271 . umbilical cord. Transliteration: shor Phonetic
Spelling: (shore) Short Definition: body. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/8270.htm - 6k
4231. machoz -- a city
... haven. From an unused root meaning to enclose; a harbor (as shut in by the shore) --
haven. 4230, 4231. machoz. 4232 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4231.htm - 5k
7794. shor -- a head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.)
... 7793, 7794. shor. 7795 . a head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.). Transliteration:
shor Phonetic Spelling: (shore) Short Definition: ox. ...
/hebrew/7794.htm - 6k
7097. qatseh -- end, extremity
... variety of applications and idioms; compare qets) -- X after, border, brim, brink,
edge, end, (in-)finite, frontier, outmost coast, quarter, shore, (out-)side ...
/hebrew/7097.htm - 5k
Library
For Travellers on the Sea-Shore
... For Travellers On the Sea-Shore. IV. On the Sea-Shore 10,10,10,4. Wie sch??umt
so feierlich. [231]de la Motte Fouqu??. Thou, solemn ...
/.../for travellers on the sea-shore.htm
The Missionary on the Sea Shore.
... THE MISSIONARY ON THE SEA SHORE. THE MISSIONARY ON THE SEA SHORE.
10,10,10,4. "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There ...
/.../borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/the missionary on the sea.htm
Afar Upon a Foreign Shore
... No. 107 Afar upon a foreign shore. SAINTS, St. Ursula Afar upon a foreign shore.
Ancient Breton Melody Arr. by NA M. Andante religioso. ...
/.../various/the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 107 afar upon a.htm
Shining Shore. Trochaic.
... 498 Shining Shore. 8s & 7s. Trochaic. ... we stand on Jordan's strand, Our friends are
passing over; And, just before, the shining shore We may almost discover. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/498 shining shore 8s &.htm
Shining Shore. Trochaic.
... 499 Shining Shore. 8s & 7s. Trochaic. Wayfarers. (1147) Wayfarers in the
wilderness, By morn, and noon, and even, Day after day, we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/499 shining shore 8s &.htm
"Pull for the Shore. "
... "Pull for the Shore.". Look at that man in a boat on Niagara River. He is
only about a mile from the rapids. A man on the bank shouts ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/pull for the shore.htm
"Pull for the Shore, Sailor. "
... "Pull for the Shore, Sailor.". A vessel was wrecked off the shore. Eager
eyes were watching and strong arms manned the life-boat. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/pull for the shore sailor.htm
Christ's Kingdom among the Gentiles. 1 Jesus Shall Reign Where'er ...
... 1 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeys run; His kingdom
stretch from shore to shore Till moons shall wax and wane no more. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/284 christs kingdom among.htm
Never Weather-Beaten Sail More Willing Bent to Shore,
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First XXV Never weather-beaten sail more willing
bent to shore,. Never tired pilgrim's limbs affected slumber more, ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/xxv never weather-beaten sail more.htm
But You, Beloved, who Possess this Faith, or who have Begun Now ...
... hear:" and whilst the net which is cast into the sea, and gathers together all kinds
of fishes, as saith the holy Gospel, is being drawn unto the shore, that is ...
/.../augustine/concerning faith of things not seen /11 but you beloved who.htm
Thesaurus
Shore (45 Occurrences)... 5. (vt) To support by a
shore or shores; to prop; -- usually with up; as, to
shore up a building.
... 7. (vt) To set on
shore. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
.../s/shore.htm - 22kSea-shore (11 Occurrences)
Sea-shore. Seashore, Sea-shore. Seaside . Multi-Version Concordance
Sea-shore (11 Occurrences). Hebrews 11:12 wherefore ...
/s/sea-shore.htm - 9k
Seashore (20 Occurrences)
... one were begotten -- and that of one who had become dead -- as the stars of the
heaven in multitude, and as sand that 'is' by the sea-shore -- the innumerable. ...
/s/seashore.htm - 12k
Zarephath (4 Occurrences)
... The site of the ancient town is marked by the ruins on the shore to the South of
the modern village, about 8 miles to the South of Sidon, which extend along ...
/z/zarephath.htm - 11k
Lake (45 Occurrences)
... Matthew 4:18 And walking along the shore of the Lake of Galilee He saw two
brothers--Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew--throwing a drag-net into the ...
/l/lake.htm - 24k
Land (19790 Occurrences)
... 12. (vt) To set or put on shore from a ship or other water craft; to disembark;
to debark. ... (vt) To catch and bring to shore; to capture; as, to land a fish. ...
/l/land.htm - 21k
Haven (8 Occurrences)
... ha'-v'-n (1) choph (Genesis 49:13, the Revised Version margin "beach"; Judges
5:17, the Revised Version margin "shore," the King James Version "seashore," the ...
/h/haven.htm - 11k
Fishing (4 Occurrences)
... (1) With Hooks: Some fishing is done with hooks and lines, either on poles
when fishing from shore, or on trawls in deep-sea fishing. ...
/f/fishing.htm - 13k
Board (47 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:2 when a vast multitude of people crowded round Him. He therefore went
on board a boat and sat there, while all the people stood on the shore. ...
/b/board.htm - 23k
Bethsaida (7 Occurrences)
... The multitude following on foot along the northern shore of the lake would cross
the Jordan by the ford at its mouth which is used by foot travelers to this day ...
/b/bethsaida.htm - 19k
Resources
Was Jonah truly swallowed by a whale? | GotQuestions.orgDoes the Bible say anything about teleportation? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God draws us to salvation? | GotQuestions.orgShore: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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