In the Bible, the concept of thirst is often used both literally and metaphorically to convey a deep longing or need, particularly for God and His righteousness. Thirst is a fundamental human experience, and Scripture uses it to illustrate spiritual truths and the human condition in relation to God.

Literal Thirst

Literal thirst is a common theme in the Bible, often highlighting human dependence on God for sustenance. In the wilderness, the Israelites experienced physical thirst, which God satisfied by providing water from a rock. Exodus 17:6 recounts, "Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink." This event underscores God's provision and care for His people.

Metaphorical Thirst

Metaphorically, thirst represents a deep spiritual longing for God. Psalm 42:1-2 beautifully captures this sentiment: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?" Here, the psalmist expresses an intense desire for communion with God, likening it to a deer's need for water.

Thirst for Righteousness

Jesus speaks of spiritual thirst in the Beatitudes, emphasizing the blessedness of those who yearn for righteousness. Matthew 5:6 states, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." This verse highlights the promise of satisfaction for those who earnestly seek God's will and righteousness.

Jesus, the Living Water

In the New Testament, Jesus identifies Himself as the source of living water, offering eternal satisfaction to those who believe in Him. In John 4:13-14 , Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life." This passage reveals Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of spiritual thirst, providing eternal life and satisfaction.

The Invitation to the Thirsty

The Bible concludes with an invitation to those who thirst. Revelation 22:17 extends this call: "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let the one who hears say, 'Come!' And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely." This invitation emphasizes the accessibility of God's grace and the fulfillment found in Him.

Thirst in the Psalms and Prophets

The Psalms frequently express a longing for God, often using the imagery of thirst. Psalm 63:1 declares, "O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land without water." Similarly, the prophets use thirst to describe Israel's spiritual condition and need for repentance. Isaiah 55:1 invites, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy and eat!"

Throughout Scripture, thirst serves as a powerful metaphor for the human soul's longing for God, His righteousness, and the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ.1372. dipsao -- to thirst
... Word Origin from dipsa (thirst) Definition to thirst NASB Word Usage am thirsty
(1), thirst (5), thirsts (1), thirsty (9). be thirsty. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1372.htm - 7k6771. tsame -- thirsty
... Word Origin from tsame Definition thirsty NASB Word Usage dry (1), thirsts
(1), thirsty (6), thirsty man (1). that thirsts,. From ...
/hebrew/6771.htm - 6k

6770. tsame -- to be thirsty
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be thirsty NASB Word Usage became...thirsty
(1), thirst (3), thirsted (1), thirsts (2), thirsty (3). be suffer thirsty. ...
/hebrew/6770.htm - 6k

The Great Proclamation
... We are all dependent upon external things for being and for wellbeing. There
are thirsts which infallibly point to their true objects. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the great proclamation.htm

Thirst and Satisfaction
... 'My soul thirsts; my soul is satisfied; my soul follows hard after Thee.' The three
phases of emotion follow one another so swiftly that they are all wrapped ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/thirst and satisfaction.htm

The Divine Hunger and Thirst
... For just in as far as a man hungers and thirsts after righteousness and truth, he
will hunger and thirst after nothing else. ... He thirsts for truth. ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon ii the divine hunger.htm

The Fifth Word from the Cross
... Well, this is possible too. Jesus still says, "I thirst." He thirsts for love. He
thirsts for prayer. He thirsts for service. He thirsts for holiness. ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter xviii the fifth word.htm

John 7:37-38. "Let any Man Come. "
... (a) He that thirsts and wants relief must come to Christ Himself. ... (b) Again: he that
thirsts and wants relief from Christ must actually come to Him. ...
/.../chapter vii john 7 37-38 let.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... false cravings therein, and filling it with sickly appetites, the native appetite
of a heaven-born spirit returns; it hungers and thirsts after righteousness ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 22 upon our lords.htm

Epistle Lxxii. To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics.
... The Lord cries aloud, that "whosoever thirsts should come and drink of the rivers
of living water that flowed out of His bosom." [2859] Whither is he to come ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxxii to jubaianus concerning.htm

God's Family.
... The more he hungers and thirsts the more blessed is he; the more room is there in
him to receive that which God is yet more eager to give than he to have. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/hope of the gospel/gods family.htm

The Nature of Spiritual Hunger
... He hungers and thirsts after spiritual things (Isaiah 26:9; Psalm 73:25). ... So a man
that hungers and thirsts after righteousness says, Give me Christ or I die. ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/13 the nature of spiritual.htm

Psalm XXXVI.
... Let him then who thirsts now, lay up hope: whoso thirsts now, let him have hope;
when inebriated, he shall have possession: before he have possession, let him ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xxxvi.htm

Thirsts (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Thirsts (5 Occurrences). ... I will give to him that thirsts
of the fountain of the water of life freely. (DBY NAS). ...
/t/thirsts.htm - 7k

Thirsting (7 Occurrences)

/t/thirsting.htm - 8k

Thirsty (38 Occurrences)

/t/thirsty.htm - 18k

Yearns (8 Occurrences)
... God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh
longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water. (See NAS). ...
/y/yearns.htm - 8k

Longs (11 Occurrences)
... God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh
longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water. (WEB NIV). ...
/l/longs.htm - 9k

Faints (8 Occurrences)
... God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh
longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water. (See RSV). ...
/f/faints.htm - 8k

Thirst (40 Occurrences)
... desire. The soul thirsts for God (Psalm 42:2; Psalm 63:1). Jesus meets the
soul's thirst with water of life (John 4:13; 6:35; 7:37). ...
/t/thirst.htm - 20k

Appetite (22 Occurrences)
... the vital principle," "life"; therefore in certain expressions referring to the
sustaining of life the nephesh hungers (Proverbs 10:3), thirsts (Proverbs 25:25 ...
/a/appetite.htm - 15k

Ho (15 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 55:1 "Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters, and he who has no money;
come, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without ...
/h/ho.htm - 10k

Parched (37 Occurrences)
... (See RSV NIV). Psalms 143:6 I spread forth my hands to you. My soul thirsts
for you, like a parched land. Selah. (WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/p/parched.htm - 20k

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