Topical Bible: The Sea: Lakes often Called

◄ The Sea: Lakes often Called ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical terminology, the term "sea" is frequently used to describe large bodies of water, including lakes. This usage reflects the linguistic and cultural context of the ancient Near East, where bodies of water were often referred to with broader terms than in modern English. The most notable example of this is the Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake in the region of Galilee.

The Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Gennesaret or the Sea of Tiberias, is a prominent body of water in the New Testament. Despite being a lake, it is consistently referred to as a "sea" in the biblical text. This body of water is approximately 13 miles long and 8 miles wide, making it the largest freshwater lake in Israel. It is situated about 700 feet below sea level, making it one of the lowest-lying lakes in the world.

The Sea of Galilee is central to many events in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. It is the site of several miracles, including Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14:25-26: "During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. 'It’s a ghost!' they said, and cried out in fear.") and the calming of the storm (Mark 4:39: "Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. 'Silence!' He commanded. 'Be still!' And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm."). The lake's surrounding region was also the setting for much of Jesus' teaching and healing ministry.

The Dead Sea

Another significant body of water referred to as a "sea" is the Dead Sea, known in Hebrew as the Salt Sea. Unlike the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea is a saltwater lake, renowned for its high salinity and mineral content. It is located at the lowest point on the earth's surface, approximately 1,400 feet below sea level.

The Dead Sea is mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in the context of the boundaries of the Promised Land (Numbers 34:12: "Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides."). Its inhospitable environment and unique properties have made it a symbol of desolation and judgment, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were located in the region (Genesis 19:24-25).

The Red Sea

The Red Sea, another body of water referred to as a "sea," plays a crucial role in the narrative of the Exodus. It is the site of one of the most dramatic miracles in the Old Testament, where God parted the waters to allow the Israelites to escape from the pursuing Egyptian army (Exodus 14:21-22: "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.").

The Red Sea's crossing is a pivotal event in Israel's history, symbolizing deliverance and divine intervention. It is frequently referenced throughout Scripture as a testament to God's power and faithfulness.

Cultural and Linguistic Context

The use of the term "sea" for lakes and other bodies of water in the Bible reflects the linguistic conventions of the time. In the ancient Near East, large bodies of water were often referred to with terms that might seem imprecise by modern standards. This usage underscores the importance of understanding the cultural and historical context of biblical texts to fully appreciate their meaning and significance.

In summary, the biblical use of "sea" to describe lakes and other bodies of water highlights the rich tapestry of language and imagery in Scripture. These bodies of water, whether freshwater or saltwater, play significant roles in the biblical narrative, serving as settings for divine acts and symbols of God's interaction with His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 3:17
The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even to the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, under Ashdothpisgah eastward.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 8:24,27,32
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, so that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Upon the Gathering Together of the Waters.
... Thus we often see the furious sea raising mighty waves to the heaven, and, when
once it has touched the ... These are lakes, and there is only one sea, as those ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily iv upon the gathering.htm

Concerning the Waters.
... The lakes also were formed in the same manner ... For the sea water is filtered and strained
through the earth ... Moreover, it often happens that water which has been ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter ix concerning the waters.htm

Carthago Veneris
... Augustin is not so modern, although he often seems one of ourselves. ... Stretched out
between her lakes on the edge of the sea, Carthage lounged in the humid ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/i carthago veneris.htm

On the Holy Ghost and his Descent Upon the Apostles
... of them came out of the rivers and lakes, and filled ... his army were on the dry bed
of the sea, between the ... it, even though He loves them and may often have done ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 9 on the holy.htm

The Creation of Moving Creatures.
... was given, and immediately the rivers and lakes becoming fruitful ... to mark their progress,
and are often ignorant of ... I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily vii the creation of.htm

Death of Martha Yeardley, and John Yeardley's Journey to Norway.
... Our road lay occasionally over a wild and stony heath by the sea, sometimes along
the river-banks, lakes, or fiords, but more often among and upon ...
/.../chapter xviii death of martha.htm

The Christian Life
... who, riding by one of the great lakes of Switzerland ... will be careless of the changeful
sea, if the ... is that very old commonplace one, so often forgotten, that ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the christian life.htm

On the Firmament.
... sent forth by rivers, fountains, marshes, lakes, and seas ... and drying up which are
characteristic of the sea. ... We often find the visible region called heaven, on ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily iii on the firmament.htm

The Power and Wisdom of God in the Creation.
... parts of nature, we see the seas, lakes and rivers ... As this is a speculation, which
I have often pursued with ... what is confidently reported of mermaids or sea-men ...
/.../sect ii the power and.htm

Cestius Sends Neopolitanus the Tribune to See in what Condition ...
... Hath not your army been often beaten even by your neighboring ... of Ethiopians, as far
as the Red Sea, these have ... no havens, or by rivers, or by lakes; yet have ...
/.../chapter 16 cestius sends neopolitanus.htm