Topical Encyclopedia Water, a fundamental element in the biblical narrative, is often depicted as a medium through which God's miraculous power is manifested. Throughout Scripture, water is not only a symbol of purification and life but also a conduit for divine healing. Several instances in the Bible illustrate how water, under God's command, becomes an instrument of miraculous healing.1. The Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9): One of the most notable accounts of water's healing power is found in the Gospel of John. The Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem was believed to have healing properties. According to the narrative, a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed—would wait for the stirring of the water. It was believed that an angel would occasionally descend to stir the pool, and the first person to enter the water afterward would be healed. Jesus encounters a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Without the need for the stirred water, Jesus commands him, "Get up, pick up your mat, and walk" (John 5:8), and the man is immediately healed, demonstrating Christ's authority over traditional beliefs about the water's healing properties. 2. Naaman's Cleansing in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:1-14): The account of Naaman, a commander of the army of the king of Aram, highlights another instance where water is used for healing. Naaman, afflicted with leprosy, seeks healing from the prophet Elisha. Elisha instructs him to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Initially resistant, Naaman eventually complies, and his flesh is restored, becoming "like that of a young boy" (2 Kings 5:14). This miracle underscores the power of obedience to God's word and the use of water as a means of divine healing. 3. The Healing of the Blind Man at Siloam (John 9:1-11): In another New Testament account, Jesus heals a man born blind by using a mixture of mud and saliva, which He applies to the man's eyes. Jesus then instructs him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeys, and upon washing, he gains his sight. This miracle, recorded in John 9, illustrates the transformative power of water when combined with faith and obedience to Christ's command. 4. The Bitter Waters of Marah (Exodus 15:22-25): After the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, they encounter bitter waters at Marah, which are undrinkable. Moses cries out to the Lord, who shows him a piece of wood. When Moses throws the wood into the water, it becomes sweet and drinkable. While not a direct healing of a person, this miracle demonstrates God's provision and the transformation of water to meet the needs of His people. 5. Elisha's Healing of the Waters of Jericho (2 Kings 2:19-22): The men of Jericho appeal to Elisha because their water is bad and the land unproductive. Elisha requests a new bowl with salt, which he throws into the spring, declaring, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. No longer will it cause death or unfruitfulness'" (2 Kings 2:21). The water is healed, and the land becomes fruitful, showcasing God's power to purify and restore through His prophet. These accounts collectively highlight the recurring theme of water as a vessel for God's miraculous healing. Whether through direct divine intervention or the obedience of His servants, water serves as a testament to God's power and mercy throughout biblical history. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Kings 5:14Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like to the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. Torrey's Topical Textbook John 5:4 John 9:7 Library The Third Kingdom On the Study of the Evidences of Christianity. Mark. Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes Acts VIII Lives of Faith and Trust Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in ... Period iii. The Critical Period: AD 140 to AD 200 part i part ii Resources What is the water of life? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of bitter water in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean to be born of water? | GotQuestions.org Water: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Water in Times of Scarcity, Sold at an Enormous Price Water of Bitterness or of Jealousy Water of Separation or of Uncleanness Water of the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit Water was Used by Jews for Culinary Purposes Water was Used by Jews for Legal Purification Water was Used by Jews for Washing the Person Water was Used by Jews: As Their Principal Beverage Water: (Covering the Sea) of the General Diffusion of The Water: (Deep) of Counsel in the Heart Water: (Deep) of Severe Affliction Water: (Deep) of the Words of the Wise Water: (Difficulty of Stopping) of Strife and Contention Water: (Its Instability) of a Wavering Disposition Water: (Its Weakness) of Faintness and Cowardice Water: (Many) of a Variety of Afflictions Water: (Many) of Different Nations and People Water: (Noise of Many) of the Word of Christ Water: (Poured Out) Faintness by Terror Water: (Poured Out) the Wrath of God Water: (Pouring, out of Buckets) a Numerous Progeny Water: (Rapidly Flowing Away) the Career of the Wicked Water: (Spilled on the Ground) Death Water: (Still) the Ordinances of the Gospel Water: Artificial Mode of Conveying, Into Large Cities Water: Collected in The Clouds Water: Covered the Whole Earth Water: Drops from the Clouds in Rain Water: Frequently Brackish and Unfit for Use Water: God Originally: Collected Into One Place Water: God Originally: Created Fowls and Fishes From Water: God Originally: Created the Firmament to Divide Water: Kept for Purification in Large Waterpots Water: Miracles Connected With: Brought from the Jaw-Bone of an Ass Water: Miracles Connected With: Brought from the Rock Water: Miracles Connected With: Consumed by Fire from Heaven Water: Miracles Connected With: Divided and Made to Stand on Heap Water: Miracles Connected With: Healing Powers Communicated To Water: Miracles Connected With: Iron Made to Swim In Water: Miracles Connected With: Our Lord Walking On Water: Miracles Connected With: Trenches Filled With Water: Miracles Connected With: Turned Into Blood Water: Miracles Connected With: Turned Into Wine Water: Miraculously Supplied: To Jehoshaphat's Army Water: Miraculously Supplied: To Samson Water: Miraculously Supplied: To the Israelites Water: Necessary to the Comfort and Happiness of Man Water: Necessary to Vegetation Water: One of the Elements of the World Water: Rises in Vapour to the Clouds Water: some Plants Particularly Require Water: The Want of, Considered a Great Calamity Water: The World and Its Inhabitants Once Destroyed By Water: The World not to be Again Destroyed By Water: Wearing the Hardest Substances Related Terms Water-springs (12 Occurrences) |
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