Topical Bible: The Sea: Darkness the Swaddling Band of

◄ The Sea: Darkness the Swaddling Band of ►

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In the biblical narrative, the sea often symbolizes chaos, mystery, and the unknown. It is a powerful force of nature that God alone can control, as seen in various passages throughout Scripture. One of the most evocative descriptions of the sea is found in the book of Job, where it is depicted with darkness as its swaddling band.

Biblical Reference:

The concept of the sea being wrapped in darkness is vividly portrayed in Job 38:8-9 : "Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band." Here, God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind, reminding him of the divine power and wisdom that established the boundaries of the sea. The imagery of the sea being clothed in darkness underscores its primordial and untamed nature, as well as God's sovereign control over it.

Symbolism and Themes:

1. Chaos and Order: In ancient Near Eastern thought, the sea often represented chaos and disorder. By describing the sea as having darkness as its swaddling band, the Bible emphasizes the chaotic potential of the sea, which God has subdued and ordered. This imagery reinforces the theme of God bringing order out of chaos, a recurring motif in the creation narrative.

2. Divine Sovereignty: The passage in Job highlights God's authority over creation. The sea, with its vastness and power, is contained and controlled by God. The use of "swaddling band" suggests a nurturing yet firm restraint, indicating that even the most formidable elements of nature are subject to God's command.

3. Mystery and the Unknown: Darkness often symbolizes the unknown and the mysterious. By associating darkness with the sea, the Bible acknowledges the sea's enigmatic nature. This serves as a metaphor for the mysteries of God's creation and the limits of human understanding.

4. Protection and Boundaries: The imagery of swaddling, typically associated with the care and protection of an infant, suggests that God has set boundaries for the sea, ensuring it does not overstep its limits. This reflects God's protective care over the world, maintaining balance and preventing chaos from overwhelming creation.

Theological Implications:

The depiction of the sea with darkness as its swaddling band invites reflection on the nature of God's relationship with creation. It underscores God's omnipotence and the divine ability to bring order and purpose to the natural world. For believers, this imagery serves as a reminder of God's control over the forces of nature and the assurance that, despite the apparent chaos and darkness in the world, God remains sovereign and purposeful in His governance of creation.

Related Biblical Passages:

· Genesis 1:2 : "Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters."
· Psalm 104:6-9 : "You covered it with the deep like a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At Your rebuke the waters fled; at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away— the mountains rose and the valleys sank to the place You appointed for them. You set a boundary they cannot cross, that they may never again cover the earth."
· Jeremiah 5:22 : "Do you not fear Me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross? The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it."

These passages collectively affirm the biblical portrayal of the sea as a symbol of chaos that is ultimately under the dominion of God, who establishes its limits and ensures the stability of His creation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 38:9
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling cloth for it,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Creator's Joy in his Creation
... up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, and issued out of the womb; When I made
the cloud the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling band for it ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii the creators joy in.htm

The First Christmas Carol
... Do not the fishes in the sea praise him? ... brightness in arrows of light piercing the
midnight darkness? ... King made his appearance, the swaddling band with which ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the first christmas carol.htm

Letter Xlvi. Paula and Eustochium to Marcella.
... and valleys, [948] and stands high above the sea. ... hath reserved in everlasting chains,
under darkness, unto the ... here He was wrapped in swaddling clothes; here ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xlvi paula and eustochium.htm

Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna
... time, that He, who though wrapped in swaddling clothes, was ... light to those that sat
in darkness [3051] and ... it were, in safety from that virginal sea, and let ...
/.../the writings of methodius fragments/oration concerning simeon and anna.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... of good genii to combat this deformed and vicious band. ... Voices resounded at night
in the darkness of the sanctuaries ... the earth:"it falls upon the sea, and the ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

The First Theban Empire
... the thirty-seven Asiatics, men, women, and children, to cross the Red Sea and the ...
it as representing Abraham, the sons of Jacob, or at least a band of Jews ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm