901. bathus
Lexical Summary
bathus: Deep, profound

Original Word: βαθύς
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: bathus
Pronunciation: bä-thoos'
Phonetic Spelling: (bath-oos')
KJV: deep, very early
NASB: deep, deep things
Word Origin: [from the base of G939 (βάσις - feet)]

1. profound (as going down)
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
deep

From the base of basis; profound (as going down), literally or figuratively -- deep, very early.

see GREEK basis

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
deep
NASB Translation
deep (2), deep things (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 901: βαθέως

βαθέως, adverb, deeply: ὄρθρου βαθέως namely, ὄντος (cf. Bernhardy (1829), p. 338), deep in the morning, at early dawn, Luke 24:1 L T Tr WH; so Meyer at the passage But βαθέως here is more correctly taken as the Attic form of the genitive from βαθύς, which see; cf. Buttmann, 26 (23); (Lob. Phryn., p. 247).

STRONGS NT 901: βαθύςβαθύς, βαθεῖα, βαθύ (cf. βάθος), deep; properly: John 4:11. metaphorically: ὕπνος, a deep sleep, Acts 20:9 (Sir. 22:7; often also in Greek writings); ὄρθρος (see βαθέως), Luke 24:1 ((Aristophanes vesp. 215); Plato, Crito 43 a.; Polyaen. 4, 9, 1; ἔτι βαθέος ὄρθρου, Plato, Prot. 310 a. (cf. also Philo de mutat. nom. § 30; de vita Moys. i. § 32)); τά βαθέα τοῦ Σατανᾶ, Revelation 2:24 (G L T Tr WH; cf. βάθος).

Topical Lexicon
Range of Meaning in Scriptural Contexts

The term translated “deep” appears only four times in the New Testament, yet spans literal, temporal, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. In John 4:11 the Samaritan woman notes, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep,” pointing to measurable physical depth. Luke 24:1 uses the adverbial form to mark “very early in the morning,” describing the still-dark “deep dawn” that frames the resurrection narrative. Acts 20:9 records Eutychus slipping into “a deep sleep,” an intensified state of unconsciousness. Revelation 2:24 speaks of “the so-called deep things of Satan,” exposing concealed doctrinal corruption within the church at Thyatira. Together the occurrences depict depth as something literal, experiential, and moral.

Literal Depth and Human Limitations (John 4:11)

The depth of Jacob’s well confronts human inability to reach life-sustaining water unaided. Christ’s offer of “living water” contrasts finite human resources with divine sufficiency, foreshadowing the Spirit’s indwelling gift (John 7:38-39). The episode underscores that true satisfaction lies beyond human reach unless granted from above.

Temporal Depth: The Stillness before Dawn (Luke 24:1)

“Very early in the morning” captures the liminal hour when darkness still prevails yet daylight is imminent. The women’s devotion in venturing out at “deep dawn” models faith that moves before evidence is visible. The phrase also highlights the historical reality of the empty tomb: the deepest darkness was pierced by the risen Christ.

Depth of Sleep and Human Frailty (Acts 20:9)

Eutychus’ “deep sleep” in the third-story window reveals both youthful weakness and the perils of spiritual inattention. The incident, culminating in his restoration to life, reinforces apostolic authority and God’s mercy toward physical and spiritual lethargy. Ministers today draw cautionary lessons on engagement, environment, and compassion for the weary flock.

Moral and Spiritual Depths (Revelation 2:24)

“The deep things of Satan” indict hidden esoteric teachings masquerading as superior insight. The Lord contrasts such counterfeit depth with genuine knowledge of Himself. By refusing to burden the faithful remnant further, Christ emphasizes grace while affirming that discernment is essential to resist seductive doctrines (compare 1 Timothy 4:1).

Depth as a Canonical Motif

Although the word group is rare, Scripture often speaks of depth metaphorically:

• “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).
• “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33).

These texts set the infinite depth of God’s wisdom against the destructive “depths” of Satan, urging believers to pursue the former and reject the latter.

Historical Witness and Early Church Usage

Early Christian writers exploited the contrast between divine and demonic “depths” to warn against Gnosticism and other secretive movements. The episode of Eutychus was cited by Irenaeus and later by Chrysostom to illustrate both pastoral patience and the resurrection power resident in the church.

Implications for Christian Ministry

1. Preaching should draw on the well of Christ rather than the shallow pools of human speculation.
2. Corporate worship that begins “early” nurtures expectancy; believers gather before the world awakens to celebrate resurrection power.
3. Pastors must remain alert to the twin dangers of physical exhaustion in congregants and seductive teaching that claims hidden depth.
4. Discipleship invites believers into the profound riches of God’s wisdom, fostering a healthy appetite for truth that inoculates against counterfeit profundity.

Pastoral Counseling and Discipleship Applications

• Encourage believers to acknowledge personal limits (“the well is deep”) and to depend on Christ’s sufficiency.
• Promote rhythms of rest lest “deep sleep” overtake spiritual vigilance.
• Equip the flock to test teachings, rejecting any claim to special revelation that contradicts apostolic doctrine.

Prayer and Worship Themes

Prayers may celebrate the fathomless grace of God (“your judgments are like the great deep,” Psalm 36:6) and lament humanity’s inability to plumb those depths without His self-disclosure. Worship songs can contrast the shallow promises of the world with the profound satisfaction found in Christ.

Summary

In four strategic texts the New Testament employs “deep” to show physical limitation, pre-dawn faith, human frailty, and sinister deception. The believer is called away from false profundity into the inexhaustible depths of God’s wisdom and love, confident that Christ alone can draw living water from the deepest well and raise sleepers, even the dead, to new life.

Forms and Transliterations
βαθεα βαθέα βαθει βαθεί βαθεῖ βαθεία βαθείαν βαθεως βαθέως βαθυ βαθύ βαθύς βαθύτερα βαθύφωνον βαθύχειλον βαίθ βαίνειν bathea bathéa bathei batheî batheos batheōs bathéos bathéōs bathu bathy bathý
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 24:1 Adj-GMS
GRK: σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέως ἐπὶ τὸ
INT: week morning very early to the

John 4:11 Adj-NNS
GRK: φρέαρ ἐστὶν βαθύ πόθεν οὖν
NAS: with and the well is deep; where
KJV: the well is deep: from whence then
INT: well is deep from where then

Acts 20:9 Adj-DMS
GRK: καταφερόμενος ὕπνῳ βαθεῖ διαλεγομένου τοῦ
NAS: sinking into a deep sleep;
KJV: being fallen into a deep sleep:
INT: overpowered by sleep deep as talked

Revelation 2:24 Adj-ANP
GRK: ἔγνωσαν τὰ βαθέα τοῦ Σατανᾶ
NAS: have not known the deep things of Satan,
INT: knew the depths of Satan

Strong's Greek 901
4 Occurrences


βαθέα — 1 Occ.
βαθεῖ — 1 Occ.
βαθέως — 1 Occ.
βαθύ — 1 Occ.

900
Top of Page
Top of Page