UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: waterless, dry

Semantic entry: 2.8

Semantic domains: Natural Substances

Subdomains: Water

Definition: pertaining to the absence of water or moisture

Notes: See also 1.86: ἐρημία / 1.86: ἔρημος for ἄνυδρος τόπος ‘lonely place.’|In the NT ἄνυδρος occurs in the figurative expressions ‘waterless springs’ (RV PE2 2:17 · LV PE2 2:17 · Read together PE2 2:17) and ‘waterless clouds.’ A phrase such as ‘waterless springs’ may be rendered simply as ‘springs in which there is no water,’ but in some languages such a phrase would seem to be a complete contradiction, since a term for ‘spring’ would imply the existence of water. It may therefore be necessary to translate ‘waterless springs’ as ‘springs which have ceased to produce water.’ ‘Waterless clouds’ are often best rendered as ‘clouds which will not produce rain’ or ‘clouds from which no rain will fall.’ In RV JDE 1:12 · LV JDE 1:12 · Read together JDE 1:12 the phrase ‘waterless clouds’ is a description of persons whose teaching and behavior are of no value in building up the faith of believers. Such a metaphor must often be changed into a simile, for example, ‘they are like clouds which do not produce rain.’