Sea — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

The seas are mentioned in the very beginning of the Bible. In Genesis 1:1-2 we read that in the beginning all was shapeless, empty, and dark, “and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.” Then God spoke and out of the chaos came order. Thus the voice of the Lord is powerful over all the waters of chaos. Psalm 29 celebrates this. From the account of the Creation in Genesis 1, two things stand out: (1) that the sea, like everything else in earth and heaven, was created by God; and (2) that by the word of God division was made between sea and land. These two facts are amplified in the Bible in a number of ways. Psalm 33:7 speaks of how “He made the oceans, pouring them into his vast reservoirs.” Eloquently, God’s ordaining of the limits of sea and land is expressed in the words of the Lord to Job: “Who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth from the womb; . . . and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?” (Jb 38:8-11, rsv).

Show passage in OET: GEN 1:1–2

OET-RV GEN 1:1

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

OET-RV GEN 1:2

2 The earth was formless and empty and darkness covered the surface of the deep waters and God’s spirit was hovering over the waters’ surface.

OET-LV GEN 1:1

1 In_beginning god he _created DOM the_heavens and_DOM the_earth/land.

OET-LV GEN 1:2

2 And_the_earth it _was formlessness and_emptiness and_darkness was_over the _surface _of the _deep and_spirit god was_hovering over the _surface _of the_waters.

Show passage in OET: PSA 29:1–11

OET-RV PSA 29:1

29 Acknowledge Yahweh you sons of the mighty one,
⇔ acknowledge that greatness and power are his alone.

OET-RV PSA 29:2

2 Honour the authority of Yahweh,
⇔ worship him in his pure beauty.

OET-RV PSA 29:3

3 The voice of Yahweh commands the oceans,
⇔ his power thunders over many waters.

OET-RV PSA 29:4

4 Yahweh’s voice is so powerful,
⇔ his voice sounds so majestic.

OET-RV PSA 29:5

5 Yahweh’s voice splits huge trees,
⇔ it shatters the cedar trees in Levanon.

OET-RV PSA 29:6

6 He makes them skip around like a calf,
⇔ Levanon and Siryon acting like a wild, young bull.

OET-RV PSA 29:7

7 Yahweh’s voice produces flames of fire.

OET-RV PSA 29:8

8 Yahweh’s voice makes the land shake,
⇔ he shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

OET-RV PSA 29:9

9 Yahweh’s voice makes the deer give birth in fright,
⇔ it strips the leaves from the trees,
⇔ while all the people in his temple praise him.

OET-RV PSA 29:10

10 Yahweh sits on his throne conquering the flood,
⇔ he reigns forever from his seat as king.

OET-RV PSA 29:11

11 Yahweh gives strength to his people,
⇔ he grants tranquil peace to his own.

OET-LV PSA 29:1

29 A _song of_Dāvid ascribe to/for_YHWH Oh _sons _of gods ascribe to/for_YHWH glory and_strength.

OET-LV PSA 29:2

2 Ascribe to/for_YHWH the _glory _of his/its_name bow _down to/for_YHWH in_adornment _of holiness.

OET-LV PSA 29:3

3 The _voice _of YHWH is_over the_waters the _god _of (the)_glory he _thunders YHWH is_over waters many.

OET-LV PSA 29:4

4 The _voice _of YHWH is_with_strength the _voice _of YHWH is_with_majesty.

OET-LV PSA 29:5

5 The _voice _of YHWH is_breaking cedars and_ YHWH _he _broke _in _pieces DOM the _cedars _of (the)_Ləⱱānōn.

OET-LV PSA 29:6

6 And_he_made _them _leap _about like a _calf Ləⱱānōn and_Shiryōn like a _young _one _of wild _oxen.

OET-LV PSA 29:7

7 The _voice _of YHWH is_striking flames _of fire.

OET-LV PSA 29:8

8 The _voice _of YHWH it _causes _to _tremble the_wilderness YHWH he _causes _to _tremble the _wilderness _of Qādēsh.

OET-LV PSA 29:9

9 The _voice _of YHWH it _causes _labour _pains _to does and_it _stripped _bare forests and_in_temple _of_his of _it _of_all is_saying glory.

OET-LV PSA 29:10

10 YHWH to_flood he _sat and_ YHWH _he/it _sat _down//remained//lived king forever_perpetuity.

OET-LV PSA 29:11

11 YHWH strength to_people _of_his he _will _give YHWH he _will _bless DOM people _of_his with_peace.

Show passage in OET: PSA 33:7

OET-RV PSA 33:7

7 He gathers the waters of the sea together like a heap.
⇔ ≈ He puts the oceans into storehouses.

OET-LV PSA 33:7

7 He_is_gathering like_heap the _waters _of the_sea he_is_putting in_storehouses the _deeps.

Show passage in OET: JOB 38:8–11

OET-RV JOB 38:8

⇔  8 Who was the one who confined the ocean with gates
⇔ when it burst its way out from the womb?

OET-RV JOB 38:9

9 I covered it with clouds as its clothing,
⇔ ≈ and thick darkness as its tight blanket.

OET-RV JOB 38:10

10 I assigned my boundaries for the ocean,
⇔ and put a latch on its gates,

OET-RV JOB 38:11

11 and I said, ‘You can only come this far and no further.
⇔ ≈ Your proud waves will be stopped here.’

OET-LV JOB 38:8

8 And_he _shut _off with_doors the_sea when_it_burst _forth from_the_womb it _came _forth.

OET-LV JOB 38:9

9 When_made_I cloud[s] clothing _of_its and_thick _darkness swaddling-band _of_its.

OET-LV JOB 38:10

10 And_I _broke on/upon/above_him/it boundary _of_my and_I _set _in _place a _bar and_doors.

OET-LV JOB 38:11

11 And_I _said to here you _will _come and_not you _will _add and_here someone _will _fix in_the _pride _of your(pl)_waves _of_your.

Jump to OET GEN 1:1–2 section.

Jump to OET PSA 29:1–11 section.

Jump to OET PSA 33:7 section.

Jump to OET JOB 38:8–11 section.

God’s control over the waters of the sea is described when the Bible says that God “trampled the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8). So in his life on earth, Jesus, the God-man, walked on the sea (Mk 6:48). He also stilled the storm, so that the disciples in awe and wonder asked, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” (Mk 4:41).

Show passage in OET: JOB 9:8

OET-RV JOB 9:8

8 The one who stretches out space all by himself,
⇔ and treads on the tops of the waves in the sea.

OET-LV JOB 9:8

8 one _who_stretches _out the_heavens for_him/it_being _alone and_one _who_treads on the_high _places _of the_sea.

Show passage in OET: MRK 6:48

OET-RV MRK 6:48

48 He saw them struggling to row against the wind, and some time after 3am he came out to them, walking on the lake surface as if to walk past them.

OET-LV MRK 6:48

48 And having _seen them being _tormented in the time to _be _rowing, because/for the wind was contrary to _them, about the_fourth watch of _the night he _is _coming to them, walking on the sea, and was _wanting to _pass _by them.

Show passage in OET: MRK 4:41

OET-RV MRK 4:41

41 But now they were very afraid again, and asked each other, “Who could this man be that both the wind and the waves obey him?”

OET-LV MRK 4:41

41 And they _were _afraid with_ great _fear and they _were _saying to one _another:
Who consequently is this, that both the wind and the sea is _submitting to _him?

Jump to OET JOB 9:8 section.

Jump to OET MRK 6:48 section.

Jump to OET MRK 4:41 section.

The Hebrew people had a healthy respect for the sea and its power. Perhaps because of the lack of good natural harbors, and because they did not control the coastline for much of their history, they were not a seafaring people like the Phoenicians. It is only in the time of Solomon that we read of their having a fleet of their own (1 Kgs 9:26). The restless sea was to them a picture of the wicked (Is 57:20). “Breakers rolling upon a beach” (Is 17:13) or “the roaring of the sea” (5:30) made them think of forces able to do incalculable harm to men. In Daniel 7:3 and Revelation 13:1, powers hostile to God are pictured as beasts coming up out of the sea.

Show passage in OET: KI1 9:26

OET-RV KI1 9:26

26 King Shelomoh constructed a fleet of ships in Etsyon-Gever, which is near Eylot on the shore of the Red Sea in the Edom region.

OET-LV KI1 9:26

26 And_ship[s] the_king Shəlomoh he _made at_ˊEʦyon- geⱱer which is_with ʼĒylōt on the_shore _of the_sea _of reed[s] in_land of _ʼEdōm.

Show passage in OET: ISA 57:20

OET-RV ISA 57:20

20 But the wicked are like the ocean in a storm,
⇔ because it’s unable to stay calm, but rather it stirs up slush and mud.

OET-LV ISA 57:20

20 And_the _wicked_people are_like_sea which_is_tossed if/because to _be _quiet not it _is _able and_ waters _of_its _they _have _tossed _up mire and_mud.

Show passage in OET: ISA 17:13

OET-RV ISA 17:13

13 Yes, the nations rumble like many rivers,
⇔ but he’ll scold them and they’ll flee away.
⇔ and be chased like how the wind chases chaff over the hills
⇔ and like whirling dust blown ahead of a storm.

OET-LV ISA 17:13

13 Nations like_the_uproar _of waters many they_are _in _an _uproar and_he _will _rebuke in/on/over_him/it and_it _will _flee from_a _distance and_it _will _be _chased like_chaff _of mountains to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before a _wind and_like_whirling _dust to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before a _storm-wind.

Show passage in OET: ISA 5:30

OET-RV ISA 5:30

⇔  30 They will roar above their prey on that day,
⇔ ≈ like the roaring of the ocean.
⇔ If someone looks across the land they’d only see darkness and distress.
⇔ ≈ The light has been darkened by the clouds.

OET-LV ISA 5:30

30 And_it _will _growl on/upon/above_him/it in _the_day (the)_that like_the_growling _of the_sea and_someone _will _look to_land and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE darkness distress and_light it _has _become _dark by_clouds _of_its.

Show passage in OET: DAN 7:3

OET-RV DAN 7:3

3 and four huge creatures, each one different from the other, were coming up out of it.

OET-LV DAN 7:3

3 And_four beasts great were_coming _up from the_sea they_were_different this_one from this_one.

Show passage in OET: REV 13:1

OET-RV REV 13:1

13 and I saw a wild creature coming up out of the water. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten crowns, and anti-God names were written on each of its heads.

OET-LV REV 13:1

13 And I _saw out _of the sea a_wild _animal going _up, having ten horns and seven heads, and on the horns of _it ten crowns, and on the heads of _it a_name of _slander.

Jump to OET KI1 9:26 section.

Jump to OET ISA 57:20 section.

Jump to OET ISA 17:13 section.

Jump to OET ISA 5:30 section.

Jump to OET DAN 7:3 section.

Jump to OET REV 13:1 section.

Yet, as we have seen, God controls the seas. He is able to rescue those who trust in him “out of many waters” (Ps 18:16). He is able to protect those who go out into the seas (107:23-31). It was always remembered that God had made a way in the sea for his people to pass when they came out of Egypt (Ex 15:19). Psalmists (Pss 74:13; 77:16; 78:13; 106:9) and prophets alike (e.g., Is 43:16-17) recalled this. See Dead Sea; Mediterranean Sea; Red Sea; Sea of Galilee.

Show passage in OET: PSA 18:16

OET-RV PSA 18:16

16 He reached down from above and took hold of me.
⇔ ≈ He pulled me out of the surging waters.

OET-LV PSA 18:17

17  He _stretched _out from_a _high _place he_took _hold _of _me he_drew _me from_waters many.

Show passage in OET: PSA 107:23–31

OET-RV PSA 107:23

23 Some travel across the ocean in ships
⇔ and do business overseas.

OET-RV PSA 107:24

24 Those people saw Yahweh’s activities
⇔ and his miracles on the oceans,

OET-RV PSA 107:25

25 because he spoke out his command
⇔ and aroused the windstorm that stirred up the waves.

OET-RV PSA 107:26

26 Their ships reached up to the sky,
⇔ then they sank down into the troughs.
⇔ Their courage melted away in anguish.

OET-RV PSA 107:27

27 They swayed and staggered like drunkards
⇔ and had run out of sensible ideas.

OET-RV PSA 107:28

28 Then they called out to Yahweh in their time of trouble,
⇔ and he rescued them out of their distress.

OET-RV PSA 107:29

29 He calmed the storm,
⇔ ≈ and the waves were stilled.

OET-RV PSA 107:30

30 Then they celebrated because it had quietened down,
⇔ so he brought them to their desired harbour.

OET-RV PSA 107:31

31 Oh that people would praise Yahweh for his loyal commitment
⇔ and for the amazing things that he’s done for humanity.

OET-LV PSA 107:23

23 Those _who_went _down _of the_sea in_ships who_did _of (of)_business on_the_waters many.

OET-LV PSA 107:24

24 They they _saw the _works _of YHWH and_wonders _of_his in_the_deep.

OET-LV PSA 107:25

25 And_he/it _said and_he _appointed a _wind _of a _storm and_it _lifted _up waves _of_its.

OET-LV PSA 107:26

26 They _went _up the_heavens they _went _down the _deeps soul _of_their in_distress it _melted.

OET-LV PSA 107:27

27 They _staggered and_they _trembled like_drunkard and_all skill _of_their it _was _confused.

OET-LV PSA 107:28

28 And_they _cried _out to YHWH in_distress to/for_them and_from_troubles _of_their he_brought _them _out.

OET-LV PSA 107:29

29 He _raised the_storm into_a _whisper and_ waves _of_their _they _were _still.

OET-LV PSA 107:30

30 And_they _rejoiced if/because they _were _quiet and_he_guided _them to the _harbour _of their _desire _of_their.

OET-LV PSA 107:31

31 Let _them _give _thanks to/for_YHWH loyalty _of_his _covenant and_wonders _of_his to_the_children _of humankind.

Show passage in OET: EXO 15:19

OET-RV EXO 15:19

19 Par’oh’s (Pharaoh’s) horse went into the sea, along with his chariots and horsemen,
⇔ and Yahweh brought the water back over them,
⇔ after the Israelis had walked through on dry ground in the middle of the sea.”

OET-LV EXO 15:19

19 If/because the _horse[s]_of Parˊoh it _came with_chariot[s]_of_his and_with_horsemen _of_his in_sea and_ YHWH _he _brought _back over_them DOM the _waters _of the_sea and_the _sons of _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they _walked on_ground in _the_middle the_sea.

Show passage in OET: PSA 74:13

OET-RV PSA 74:13

13 You divided the sea by your strength.
⇔ ≈ You smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

OET-LV PSA 74:13

13 You you _divided by_strength _of_your the_sea you _shattered the_heads _of sea _monsters on the_waters.

Show passage in OET: PSA 77:16

OET-RV PSA 77:16

16 The waters saw you, God.
⇔ The waters saw you, and they were afraid.
⇔ ≈ The ocean depths trembled.

OET-LV PSA 77:17

17  They_saw _you the_waters Oh _god they_saw _you the_waters they _writhed _in _agony also the _deeps they _trembled.

Show passage in OET: PSA 78:13

OET-RV PSA 78:13

13 He divided the sea and led them across it.
⇔ ≈ He made the water on each side stand up like walls.

OET-LV PSA 78:13

13 He _split _open the_sea and_he_brought _them _through and_he _made _to _stand _up the_waters like a _heap.

Show passage in OET: PSA 106:9

OET-RV PSA 106:9

9 He commanded the Red Sea and it dried up,
⇔ then he led them through its depths as if it was ordinary land

OET-LV PSA 106:9

9 And_he _rebuked (in)_the_sea _of reed[s] and_it _dried _up and_he_led _them in_deeps like_wilderness.

Show passage in OET: ISA 43:16–17

OET-RV ISA 43:16

¶  16 I am Yahweh,
⇔ the one who made a path through the sea
⇔ ≈ and a road through the surging waters.

OET-RV ISA 43:17

17 I enticed the chariots and horses out,
⇔ together with a strong army,
⇔ They fell down together and didn’t rise again.
⇔ They were extinguished like how a wick is quenched.

OET-LV ISA 43:16

16 Thus YHWH who_made in_sea a _way and_in_waters mighty a _path he _says.

OET-LV ISA 43:17

17 Who_sent_out chariotry and_horse[s] an _army and_a _strong_one together they _lay _down not they _rose they _were _extinguished like_wick they _were _quenched.

Jump to OET PSA 18:16 section.

Jump to OET PSA 107:23–31 section.

Jump to OET EXO 15:19 section.

Jump to OET PSA 74:13 section.

Jump to OET PSA 77:16 section.

Jump to OET PSA 78:13 section.

Jump to OET PSA 106:9 section.

Jump to OET ISA 43:16–17 section.