Water — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

One of the essentials of life, which covers much of the earth’s surface and is the primary component of the human body. Life cannot be sustained more than a few days without it.

In the beginning, water covered the earth. Then God brought up the dry land from the water (Gn 1:9-10). As Peter said, “God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth up from the water and surrounded it with water” (2 Pt 3:5, NLT).

Show passage in OET: GEN 1:9–10

OET-RV GEN 1:9

9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered to one place, and let the dry ground appear.” Everything happened exactly as he commanded,

OET-RV GEN 1:10

10 and he named the ground that appeared land, and he named the gathered waters seas, and he saw that what he had done was good.

OET-LV GEN 1:9

9 And_ god _he/it _said the_waters let _them _be _gathered from_under the_heavens to a _place one and_ the_dry _ground _let _it _appear and_he/it _was so.

OET-LV GEN 1:10

10 And_ god _he/it _called to _the_dry _ground earth and_to _the_collection the_waters he _called seas and_ god _he/it _saw if/because _that it_was_good.

Show passage in OET: PE2 3:5

OET-RV PE2 3:5

5 But because of their desires, the truth is hidden from them that the universe came into being long ago by God’s spoken command and the earth was formed out of water and through water

OET-LV PE2 3:5

5 For/Because this is _escaping _notice them willing, that the_heavens were anciently, and the_earth having _consisted out _of water and through water by _the message of_ the _god,

Jump to OET GEN 1:9–10 section.

Jump to OET PE2 3:5 section.

When the Lord created the Garden of Eden, he made a river to water it. This river divided into four rivers, of which two are identified with certainty, the Euphrates and the Tigris, which have sustained agricultural life in the Mesopotamian area both in antiquity and today (Gn 2:10-14). The Bible also relates that early in the history of the earth there was no rain but only a mist that watered the earth (vv 5-6). In the time of Noah, the Lord used an overwhelming mass and movement of water to destroy “the world that then existed” (2 Pt 3:6), as punishment for its wickedness.

Show passage in OET: GEN 2:10–14

OET-RV GEN 2:10

10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and then from there it split into four rivers.

OET-RV GEN 2:11

11 The first river was named Pishon, and it winds around through the entire region of Havilah, where there’s gold.

OET-RV GEN 2:12

12 The gold from there is very pure, and there’s also a type of fragrant resin and onyx gemstones there.

OET-RV GEN 2:13

13 The second river was named Gihon, and it winds through the entire region of Kush (Ethiopia).

OET-RV GEN 2:14

14 The third river was named Hidekel, and it flowed east of the Ashur (Assyria) region, and then the fourth river was named Perat (Euphrates).

OET-LV GEN 2:10

10 And_river was_going _out from_ˊĒden to_water DOM the_garden and_from_there it _divided and_it _was to_four heads.

OET-LV GEN 2:11

11 The _name _of the_one is_Pishon it the_(one)_going _around DOM all _of the _land _of the_Ḩₐvīlāh where is_there the_gold.

OET-LV GEN 2:12

12 And_gold _of the_earth/land the_that is_good are_there the_bdellium and_stone _of the_onyx/beryl.

OET-LV GEN 2:13

13 And_name _of the_river the_second is_Giyḩōn it the_(one)_going _around DOM all _of the _land _of Kūsh/(Cush).

OET-LV GEN 2:14

14 And_name _of the_river the_third is_Tigris it the_(one)_going the _east _of ʼAshshūr and_the_river the_fourth it is_the_Pərāt.

Show passage in OET: GEN 2:5–6

OET-RV GEN 2:5

5 there weren’t yet any bushes growing on the earth, and no plants had yet sprung up in the countryside, because Yahweh God had not yet made it rain, and nor were there any people yet to till the ground.

OET-RV GEN 2:6

6 However, a mist came up from the ground and watered the entire surface of the land.

OET-LV GEN 2:5

5 And_all/each/any/every (the)_bush[es]_of the_field not _yet it _was in/on _the_earth and_all (the)_vegetation _of the_field not _yet it _was _sprouting if/because not YHWH god he _had _caused _rain on the_earth/land and_human/ʼĀdām there_was_not to_work DOM the_soil.

OET-LV GEN 2:6

6 And_vapour it _came _up from the_earth/land and_it _watered DOM all _of the _surface _of the_soil.

Show passage in OET: PE2 3:6

OET-RV PE2 3:6

6 ⇔and these same waters deluged the ancient world which then perished.

OET-LV PE2 3:6

6 through which the then world perished having _been _flooded in _water.

Jump to OET GEN 2:10–14 section.

Jump to OET GEN 2:5–6 section.

Jump to OET PE2 3:6 section.

In the Near East, water is of special importance, for much of the area receives only moderate amounts of rainfall. In Egypt, for example, only two to four inches (5.1 to 10.2 centimeters) of rain falls in the area of Cairo, and at Aswan the average annual rainfall is zero. Egypt is dependent upon the Nile, which is supplied by equatorial rains. By contrast, Palestine is watered well by “the rain from heaven” (Dt 11:10-11).

Show passage in OET: DEU 11:10–11

OET-RV DEU 11:10

10 because it’s not like Mitsrayim (Egypt) where your ancestors came out from, where you planted seed and had to water the fields by hand.

OET-RV DEU 11:11

11 But the land that you’re all about to enter over the river has a terrain of hills and valleys, i.e., it drinks in the rain water.

OET-LV DEU 11:10

10 If/because the_earth/land where you are_about _to _go to_(to) to_take_possession _of _it not is_like_the _land _of Miʦrayim/(Egypt) it where you(pl)_came _out from_there where you _sowed DOM your(ms)_seed/fruit and_you _watered_it with_foot _of_your like _(the)_garden _of (the)_vegetable[s].

OET-LV DEU 11:11

11 And_the_earth where you(pl) are_about _to _pass _over to_(to) to_take_possession _of _it is_a _land _of mountains and_valleys to_the _rain _of the_heavens it _drinks water.

Jump to OET DEU 11:10–11 section.

Water has many symbolic usages in Scripture (quoted below mostly from the NLT). The righteous man is like a tree planted by streams of water (Ps 1:3; Jer 17:8). The longing of the soul after God is likened to thirst for water: “My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water” (Ps 63:1); “I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain” (143:6). Jesus fulfills this need and declares, “If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink!” (Jn 7:37-38). And Jesus said, “The water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life” (4:14). The Spirit of Jesus is that spiritual water that satisfies the thirst of the human spirit (7:38-39). The Word of God is also presented as water by which spiritual cleansing is effected. The Lord speaks of the cleansing of the church by “the washing of water with the word” (Eph 5:26). And Paul said that people are saved “by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit” (Ti 3:5).

Show passage in OET: PSA 1:3

OET-RV PSA 1:3

3 Those people are like trees that are planted by a stream
⇔ and which produce fruit in season.
⇔ Their leaves don’t wither,
⇔ and they prosper in everything they do.

OET-LV PSA 1:3

3 And_it _was like_a _tree planted at streams _of water which fruit _of_its it _gives at_its _appropriate _of_time and_leafage _of_its not it _withers and_all/each/any/every that he _does it _succeeds.

Show passage in OET: JER 17:8

OET-RV JER 17:8

8 That person will be like a tree planted by a stream
⇔ that sends its roots out to the water.
⇔ It has nothing to fear when the heat comes and its leaves stay green.
⇔ It has nothing to be afraid of in a drought year
⇔ and it won’t stop producing fruit.

OET-LV JER 17:8

8 And_it _was like_a _tree planted at water and_which_at a _stream it _sends _out roots _of_its and_not it _will _see if/because heat it _will _come and_it _was leafage _of_its luxuriant and_in_year _of drought not it _will _be _anxious and_not it _will _cease from_producing fruit.

Show passage in OET: PSA 63:1

OET-RV PSA 63:1

63 God, you’re my god. I’m eager to get to know you.
⇔ My inner being thirsts for you, and my body needs you
⇔ in a dry and depressing land where there’s no water,

OET-LV PSA 63:2

2  Oh _god god _of_are_my you I_am _seeking _you _earnestly it _is _thirsty to/for_yourself(m) self _of_my it _longs to/for_yourself(m) flesh _of_my in_land _of dryness and_weary not water.

Show passage in OET: PSA 143:6

OET-RV PSA 143:6

6 I spread my hands out towards you.
⇔ I long for you like a thirsty person longs for water in the desert. (Instrumental break.)

OET-LV PSA 143:6

6 I _have _spread _out hands _of_my to_you throat _of_my like_a _land exhausted to/for_yourself(m) Şelāh.

Show passage in OET: JHN 7:37–38

OET-RV JHN 7:37

37 On the final climax day of the celebrations, Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) stood there and shouted, “Anyone who’s thirsty, come here to me and drink.

OET-RV JHN 7:38

38 Anyone who trusts me will have rivers of living water flowing out from him just like the scriptures say.”

OET-LV JHN 7:37

37 And at the the great last day of _the feast the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) had _stood, and cried _out saying:
If anyone may _be _thirsting, let _him _be _coming to me and let _him _be _drinking.

OET-LV JHN 7:38

38 The one believing in me, as the scripture said:
Rivers of_ living _water will _be _flowing out _of the belly of _him.

Show passage in OET: JHN 4:14

OET-RV JHN 4:14

14 but anyone who drinks the water that I give them will find a well springing up inside them—springing into eternal life.”

OET-LV JHN 4:14

14 but whoever wishfully may _drink of the water that I will _be _giving to _him, by _no _means ˓will˒_ not _be _thirsting, because/for the age, but the water that I _will _be _giving to _him will _be _becoming in him a_spring of _water, springing _up into eternal life.

Show passage in OET: JHN 7:38–39

OET-RV JHN 7:38

38 Anyone who trusts me will have rivers of living water flowing out from him just like the scriptures say.”

OET-RV JHN 7:39

39 He was talking about God’s spirit that the ones who trust him would receive in the future—not yet because Yeshua hadn’t been lifted up to heaven yet.

OET-LV JHN 7:38

38 The one believing in me, as the scripture said:
Rivers of_ living _water will _be _flowing out _of the belly of _him.

OET-LV JHN 7:39

39 But he _said this concerning the spirit, of _whom they _were _going to _be _receiving, the ones having _believed on him, because/for the_spirit was not _yet, because Yaʸsous was _glorified not _yet.

Show passage in OET: EPH 5:26

OET-RV EPH 5:26

26 so that he could separate the church from the world and wash it clean with the water of the good message

OET-LV EPH 5:26

26 in _order _that he _may _sanctify her, having _cleansed her by _the washing of_ the _water by the_message,

Show passage in OET: TIT 3:5

OET-RV TIT 3:5

5 he saved us, not because of the ‘good deeds’ that we did, but out of his mercy. He regenerated us through washing and renewed us by his holy spirit

OET-LV TIT 3:5

5 not by works which in righteousness, that we practiced, but according _to the mercy, of _him he _saved us, through the_washing of _regeneration and renewal of_the_ holy _spirit,

Jump to OET PSA 1:3 section.

Jump to OET JER 17:8 section.

Jump to OET PSA 63:1 section.

Jump to OET PSA 143:6 section.

Jump to OET JHN 7:37–38 section.

Jump to OET JHN 4:14 section.

Jump to OET JHN 7:38–39 section.

Jump to OET EPH 5:26 section.

Jump to OET TIT 3:5 section.

In the closing chapters of the Bible the Lord declares, “To all who are thirsty I will give the springs of the water of life without charge!” (Rv 21:6, NLT). Even in the description of the heavenly Jerusalem there is mention of water—the river of the water of life: “The angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, coursing down the center of the main street” (22:1-2). The final invitation of Scripture comes to us in similar terms: “Let the thirsty ones come—anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge” (v 17).