Topical Encyclopedia In the Bible, waves are often used metaphorically to describe the power and majesty of God, the tumultuous nature of life, and the instability of human emotions. The imagery of waves is prevalent throughout Scripture, illustrating both the might of God's creation and the challenges faced by humanity.Creation and God's Sovereignty The Bible frequently uses the imagery of waves to highlight God's sovereignty over creation. In the book of Job, God questions Job about the creation of the world, emphasizing His control over the sea: "Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’?" (Job 38:8-11). This passage underscores God's authority over the natural world, including the powerful and often unpredictable waves of the sea. Symbol of Chaos and Danger Waves are also symbolic of chaos and danger in the Bible. In the book of Psalms, the psalmist describes the perilous nature of the sea: "The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken. The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; Your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked" (Psalm 77:16-18). Here, the waves are depicted as part of a tumultuous and fearsome natural event, reflecting the overwhelming challenges that can confront individuals. Metaphor for Human Emotions and Instability Waves are often used metaphorically to describe human emotions and the instability of life. James warns against being double-minded, comparing such a person to a wave: "But let him ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6). This imagery conveys the idea of instability and lack of direction, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith. Jesus and the Calming of the Storm One of the most significant New Testament accounts involving waves is the account of Jesus calming the storm. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority over nature: "Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We are perishing!' 'You of little faith,' Jesus replied, 'Why are you so afraid?' Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm" (Matthew 8:23-26). This miracle not only reveals Jesus' power over the natural world but also serves as a reminder of His ability to bring peace and calm to the storms of life. Eschatological Imagery In eschatological contexts, waves are used to describe the upheaval of the end times. In the book of Revelation, the sea is depicted as a place of turmoil and chaos, from which the beast emerges: "And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads" (Revelation 13:1). This imagery serves to illustrate the tumultuous events that will occur before the ultimate establishment of God's kingdom. Throughout Scripture, waves serve as a powerful symbol of both the majesty and the unpredictability of God's creation, as well as the challenges and instabilities faced by humanity. The biblical use of waves underscores the need for faith and reliance on God's sovereignty in the midst of life's storms. Greek 2831. kludonizomai -- to be tossed by waves ... to be tossed by waves. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kludonizomai Phonetic Spelling: (kloo-do-nid'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I am tossed by waves ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2831.htm - 6k 928. basanizo -- to torture 123. aigialos -- the seashore 2949. kuma -- a wave 4950. Surtis -- "shoal," Syrtis, the name of two large sandbanks ... 4366. prosregnumi -- to break against 5269. hupozonnumi -- to undergird 4494. rhipizo -- to fan, generally to make a breeze 2830. kludon -- a billow (of water) 1796. enubrizo -- to insult Strong's Hebrew 1796. doki -- a pounding (of waves)... 1795, 1796. doki. 1797 . a pounding (of waves). Transliteration: doki Phonetic Spelling: (dok-ee') Short Definition: waves. Word ... /hebrew/1796.htm - 6k 1530. gal -- a heap, wave, billow 4867. mishbar -- a breaker (of the sea) 1116. bamah -- a high place 7280. raga' -- to disturb Library Peter on the Waves The Waves of Time A River of Peace and Waves of Righteousness Walking the Waves --The Two Kingdoms. On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiv. 24, "But the Boat was Now ... Comparison of Christ's Power Over Winds and Waves with Moses' ... Again on Matt. xiv. 25:00:00 of the Lord Walking on the Waves of ... Nisibene Hymns. Hymn i. O God of Mercies who Didst Refresh Noah ... The Disciples in Conflict. Jesus Walks Upon the Waters. Argument: Octavius, Displeased at the Act of this Superstitious ... Thesaurus Waves (43 Occurrences)...Waves (43 Occurrences). Matthew 8:24 Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves, but he was asleep. ... /w/waves.htm - 18k Calm (18 Occurrences) Storm (62 Occurrences) Roar (53 Occurrences) Roaring (28 Occurrences) Raging (26 Occurrences) Beat (85 Occurrences) Swell (9 Occurrences) Seas (40 Occurrences) Rolling (32 Occurrences) Resources What does it mean that deep calls to deep (Psalm 42:7)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did Jesus mean when He said, “Peace, be still”? | GotQuestions.org What is the significance of the Sea of Galilee in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Waves (43 Occurrences)Matthew 8:24 Matthew 8:26 Matthew 8:27 Matthew 14:24 Matthew 14:25 Matthew 14:26 Mark 4:37 Mark 4:39 Mark 4:41 Luke 8:24 Luke 8:25 Luke 21:25 Acts 27:41 2 Corinthians 2:14 Ephesians 4:14 James 1:6 Jude 1:13 Exodus 15:5 Exodus 15:8 2 Samuel 22:5 Job 9:8 Job 38:11 Psalms 42:7 Psalms 65:7 Psalms 69:2 Psalms 88:7 Psalms 89:9 Psalms 93:3 Psalms 93:4 Psalms 107:25 Psalms 107:29 Isaiah 48:18 Isaiah 51:15 Isaiah 57:20 Jeremiah 5:22 Jeremiah 31:35 Jeremiah 51:42 Jeremiah 51:55 Ezekiel 26:3 Ezekiel 27:28 Jonah 2:3 Habakkuk 3:10 Zechariah 10:11 Subtopics Related Terms |