Topical Bible: Depths

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical literature, the term "depths" often refers to the profound and mysterious aspects of creation, both physical and spiritual. It is used to describe the vastness of the sea, the mysteries of the earth, and the unfathomable nature of God's wisdom and judgments.

1. Physical Depths:
· The term "depths" is frequently associated with the sea, representing its vast and immeasurable nature. In Genesis 1:2, the "deep" is mentioned as part of the primordial chaos before creation: "Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters" . Here, the "deep" signifies the unformed and chaotic state of the earth before God's creative order was established.
· The depths of the sea are also depicted as a place of danger and mystery. In Psalm 107:23-24, those who "go down to the sea in ships" witness the wonders of God in the "depths": "Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep" .

2. Spiritual and Metaphorical Depths:
· The depths are often used metaphorically to describe the profound nature of God's wisdom and knowledge. In Romans 11:33, Paul exclaims, "O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!" . This passage highlights the incomprehensible and infinite nature of God's attributes.
· The depths can also symbolize the severity of human sin and the need for divine redemption. In Psalm 130:1, the psalmist cries out from a place of despair: "Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!" . This plea reflects a deep sense of need and reliance on God's mercy and forgiveness.

3. Judgment and Deliverance:
· The depths are sometimes associated with divine judgment. In Exodus 15:5, the Egyptians are swallowed by the sea: "The depths have covered them; they sank there like a stone" . This imagery underscores God's power to execute judgment and deliver His people.
· Conversely, the depths can also be a place of deliverance and salvation. Jonah, in the belly of the great fish, prays from the depths of the sea, acknowledging God's power to save: "To the roots of the mountains I descended; the earth beneath me barred me in forever! But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God!" (Jonah 2:6).

4. Creation and God's Sovereignty:
· The depths are a testament to God's creative power and sovereignty over the universe. In Proverbs 8:27-28, wisdom speaks of being present at creation: "I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth" . This passage emphasizes God's authority over the natural world and His role as the Creator.

In summary, the concept of "depths" in the Bible encompasses both the physical and spiritual realms, illustrating the vastness of creation, the profound nature of God's wisdom, and the depths of human experience in relation to divine judgment and salvation.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SATAN, DEPTHS OF

(ta bathea tou Satana): Found in Revelation 2:24, and has reference to false teaching at Thyatira. It is a question (that perhaps may not be decided) whether tou Satana, "of Satan," represents the claim of the false teachers, or is thrown in by the Lord. Did those false teachers claim to know "the depths" of Satan? Or was it that they claimed to know "the depths" of Deity, and the Lord said it was rather "the depths of Satan"? In either case the antithesis to "depths of Satan" is "depths of God," as referred to in Romans 11:33 1 Corinthians 2:10.

E. J. Forrester

Greek

1537. ek -- from, from out of
... Greek propositions -- often being confined to the meaning "by." 1537 () has a
two-layered meaning (" and ") which makes it oriented (out of the depths of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1537.htm - 7k

899. bathos -- depth
... plans. Word Origin from bathus Definition depth NASB Word Usage deep (1),
deep water (1), depth (5), depths (1). deepness, depth. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/899.htm - 6k

901. bathus -- deep
... deep (lit. and met.); in the depths of the early morning, while still
very early; profound. Word Origin a prim. word Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/901.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

4615. maamaqqim -- depths
... 4614, 4615. maamaqqim. 4616 . depths. Transliteration: maamaqqim Phonetic
Spelling: (mah-am-awk') Short Definition: depths. Word ...
/hebrew/4615.htm - 6k

8482. tachti -- lower, lowest
... Word Origin from tachath Definition lower, lowest NASB Word Usage beneath (3), depths
(3), foot (1), lower (4), lower parts (3), lowest (2), lowest part (1 ...
/hebrew/8482.htm - 6k

8415. tehom -- deep, sea, abyss
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition deep, sea, abyss NASB Word Usage deep
(22), deeps (8), depths (4), ocean depths (1), springs (1). ...
/hebrew/8415.htm - 6k

4688. metsolah -- depth, deep
... depth, deep. Transliteration: metsolah or metsolah or metsulah or metsulah
Phonetic Spelling: (mets-o-law') Short Definition: depths. ...
/hebrew/4688.htm - 6k

4278. mechqar -- a range (an area to explore)
... 4277, 4278. mechqar. 4279 . a range (an area to explore). Transliteration:
mechqar Phonetic Spelling: (mekh-kawr') Short Definition: depths. ...
/hebrew/4278.htm - 6k

8328. shoresh -- a root
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a root NASB Word Usage base (1), deep
root (1), depths (1), line (1), pretext (1), root (17), roots (10), soles (1). ...
/hebrew/8328.htm - 6k

6011. omeq -- depth
... depth. Transliteration: omeq Phonetic Spelling: (o'-mek) Short Definition: depth.
Word Origin from amoq Definition depth NASB Word Usage depth (1), depths (1). ...
/hebrew/6011.htm - 6k

6009. amoq -- to be deep
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be deep NASB Word Usage deep (1), deeply
(2), depths (2), gone deep (2), made it deep (1), make it deep (1). ...
/hebrew/6009.htm - 6k

2714. cheqer -- a searching, a thing (to be) searched out
... Word Origin from chaqar Definition a searching, a thing (to be) searched out NASB
Word Usage depths (1), inquiry (1), inscrutable* (1), recesses (1), search (1 ...
/hebrew/2714.htm - 6k

Library

Out of the Depths
... Out of the Depths. Heinrich Suso 2 Corinthians 4:17. "O Father! not my will,
but Thine be done!". Thus with my lips I say; Yet lags ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen suso and others/out of the depths.htm

Out of the Depths
... No. 117 Out of the depths. THE HOLY SOULS Out of the depths De Profundis. S. Webbe.
With devotion. 1. Out of the depths to Thee, O Lord, I cry, Lord! ...
/.../various/the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 117 out of the.htm

Fifth Sunday in Lent. Out of the Depths have I Called unto Thee, O ...
... Out of the depths have I called unto Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice. ... Out of
the depths have I called unto Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice. ...
/.../winkworth/lyra germanica the christian year/fifth sunday in lent out.htm

O'erwhelmed in Depths of Woe
... No. 25 O'erwhelmed in depths of woe. LENT AND PASSIONTIDE O'erwhelmed in depths
of woe Saevo dolorum turbine. Tr. Rev. E. Caswall Nicola A. Montani. Moderato. ...
/.../the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 25 oerwhelmed in depths.htm

Silent Depths. February 21.
... Silent Depths. February 21. Our mightiest feelings are always those which
remain most unspoken. The most intense lovers and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /silent depths february 21.htm

Such Endless Depths Live in the Divinity
... THE FIRST CENTURY 15 Such endless depths live in the Divinity. Such endless
depths live in the Divinity, and in the wisdom of God ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/15 such endless depths live.htm

Book one in God's Searching Presence, Augustine Undertakes to ...
... The Confessions of Saint Augustine BOOK ONE In God's searching presence, Augustine
undertakes to plumb the depths of his memory to trace? ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book one in gods searching.htm

And So one who Severely Studies the Depths of the Mystery...
... IV."Apologetic Works. Chapter III. And so one who severely studies the
depths of the mystery? And so one who severely studies ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter iii and so one.htm

Testimonies to the Unity of God.
... Mountains and earth, with the profoundest depths. Of ocean, and the highest
peaks of hills,. ... But rather turn the depths of thine own heart. ...
/.../justin on the sole government of god /chapter ii testimonies to the unity.htm

The Word in Eternity, in the World, and in the Flesh
... New Testament. The threefold utterance in verse 1 carries us into the depths
of eternity, before time or creatures were. Genesis ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the word in eternity in.htm

Thesaurus

Depths (56 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SATAN, DEPTHS OF. (ta bathea ... Did those
false teachers claim to know "the depths" of Satan? Or was ...
/d/depths.htm - 22k

Depth (22 Occurrences)
... who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should
be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the ...
/d/depth.htm - 13k

Sunk (20 Occurrences)
... who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should
be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the ...
/s/sunk.htm - 12k

Seas (40 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 78:15 He split rocks in the
wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths. (See NIV). ...
/s/seas.htm - 18k

Deeps (13 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Deeps (13 Occurrences). Exodus 15:5 The deeps cover them.
They went down into the depths like a stone. (WEB JPS ASV NAS). ...
/d/deeps.htm - 9k

Billows (18 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Jonah 2:3 For you threw me into the depths, in the heart of the seas.
The flood was all around me. All your waves and your billows passed over me. ...
/b/billows.htm - 11k

Caves (17 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 49:8 Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, inhabitants of Dedan; for I
will bring the calamity of Esau on him, the time that I shall visit him. ...
/c/caves.htm - 11k

Fountains (29 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 8:7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks
of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills ...
/f/fountains.htm - 15k

Cleaved (36 Occurrences)
... the sea Thou hast cleaved before them, and they pass over into the midst of the
sea on the dry land, and their pursuers Thou hast cast into the depths, as a ...
/c/cleaved.htm - 16k

Satan (50 Occurrences)
... interpreter. Louis Matthews Sweet. SATAN, DEPTHS OF. (ta bathea ... Did those false
teachers claim to know "the depths" of Satan? Or was it ...
/s/satan.htm - 53k

Resources

Did Jonah die while he was in the belly of the fish (Jonah 2)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that deep calls to deep (Psalm 42:7)? | GotQuestions.org

I am a Hindu, why should I consider becoming a Christian? | GotQuestions.org

Depths: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Depths (56 Occurrences)

Matthew 11:23
You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until this day.
(See NIV)

Matthew 18:6
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.
(WEB WEY DBY NIV)

Luke 10:15
You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
(See NIV)

1 Corinthians 2:10
For us, however, God has drawn aside the veil through the teaching of the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, including the depths of the divine nature.
(WEY DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Revelation 2:24
But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Revelation 9:1
The fifth angel blew his trumpet; and I saw a Star which had fallen from Heaven to the earth; and to him was given the key of the depths of the bottomless pit,
(WEY)

Revelation 9:2
and he opened the depths of the bottomless pit. And smoke came up out of the pit resembling the smoke of a vast furnace, so that the sun was darkened, and the air also, by reason of the smoke of the pit.
(WEY)

Exodus 15:5
The deeps cover them. They went down into the depths like a stone.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 15:8
And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Deuteronomy 8:7
For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
(KJV JPS WBS YLT)

Deuteronomy 32:22
For a fire is kindled in mine anger, And burneth unto the lowest Sheol, And devoureth the earth with its increase, And setteth on fire the foundations of the mountains.
(See JPS RSV)

Nehemiah 9:11
You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their pursuers you did cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 11:7
"Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
(See NAS)

Job 11:8
They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?
(See NIV)

Job 36:30
Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.
(See JPS NAS NIV)

Job 41:31
He makes the deep to boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
(See NAS NIV)

Psalms 30:1
A Psalm. A Song for the Dedication of the Temple. By David. I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.
(See NIV)

Psalms 33:7
Gathering as a heap the waters of the sea, Putting in treasuries the depths.
(YLT)

Psalms 63:9
But those who seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 68:22
The Lord said, "I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 69:2
I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I am come into the depths of waters, and the flood overfloweth me.
(DBY YLT NIV)

Psalms 69:14
Deliver me out of the mire, let me not sink; let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the depths of waters.
(DBY)

Psalms 69:15
Don't let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don't let the pit shut its mouth on me.
(See NIV)

Psalms 71:20
You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 77:16
The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Psalms 78:15
He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Psalms 86:13
For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 88:6
You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
(WEB YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 95:4
In his hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the mountains are his also.
(See JPS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 106:9
He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; so he led them through the depths, as through a desert.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NIV)

Psalms 107:26
They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 130:1
A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I have cried to you, Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 135:6
The Lord has done whatever was pleasing to him, in heaven, and on the earth, in the seas and in all the deep waters.
(See NIV)

Psalms 139:8
If I go up to heaven, you are there: or if I make my bed in the underworld, you are there.
(See NIV)

Psalms 139:15
My frame wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 148:7
Praise Yahweh from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths!
(WEB NIV)

Proverbs 3:20
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Proverbs 8:24
When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Proverbs 9:18
But he doesn't know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 7:11
Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God: ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.'
(See NIV)

Isaiah 14:15
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Isaiah 29:15
Cursed are those who go deep to keep their designs secret from the Lord, and whose works are in the dark, and who say, Who sees us? and who has knowledge of our acts?
(See NIV)

Isaiah 44:23
Make a song, O heavens, for the Lord has done it: give a loud cry, you deep parts of the earth: let your voices be loud in song, you mountains, and you woods with all your trees: for the Lord has taken up the cause of Jacob, and will let his glory be seen in Israel.
(See RSV)

Isaiah 51:10
Isn't it you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 63:13
who led them through the depths, as a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn't stumble?
(WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 49:8
Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau on him, the time that I shall visit him.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 49:30
Flee, wander far off, dwell in the depths, you inhabitants of Hazor, says Yahweh; for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has taken counsel against you, and has conceived a purpose against you.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Lamentations 3:55
I called on your name, Yahweh, out of the lowest dungeon.
(See RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 26:19
For thus says the Lord Yahweh: When I shall make you a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep on you, and the great waters shall cover you;
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 27:34
In the time that you were broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company did fall in the midst of you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 32:23
whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit, and her company is around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who caused terror in the land of the living.
(See NIV)

Amos 9:2
Though they dig into Sheol, there my hand will take them; and though they climb up to heaven, there I will bring them down.
(See NIV)

Jonah 2:2
He said, "I called because of my affliction to Yahweh. He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried. You heard my voice.
(See NIV)

Jonah 2:3
For you threw me into the depths, in the heart of the seas. The flood was all around me. All your waves and your billows passed over me.
(WEB)

Micah 7:19
He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 10:11
He will pass through the sea of affliction, and will strike the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the Nile will dry up; and the pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Depths

Related Terms

Pilate (60 Occurrences)

Pontius (4 Occurrences)

Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)

Ordinary (17 Occurrences)

Judaeus

Gibeon (39 Occurrences)

Incurred (9 Occurrences)

Friendly (17 Occurrences)

Regemmelech (1 Occurrence)