Ideas and images drawn from seafaring are used in Scripture to illustrate important aspects of the Christian life. Although Israel was not a seafaring nation, ships and sailing played a part in her history, as they did in the spreading of the gospel in the NT.

Genesis 49:13

Israel's harbours

See also

Judges 5:17
Ezekiel 27:3-9

The art of shipbuilding

Genesis 6:1-9:17

Ships used for various purposes

Deliverance from danger: Noah's ark

1 Kings 9:27-28

Trade

Ezekiel 27:25

See also

pp 2Ch 8:18

1 Kings 10:11,22
1 Kings 22:48-49

pp 2Ch 9:21

Deuteronomy 28:68

pp 2Ch 20:35-37

Revelation 18:11-13

Slavery

Numbers 24:24

See also

Invasion

Ezekiel 30:9
Daniel 11:30,40
Isaiah 60:9

To carry refugees

Jonah 1:3
Matthew 9:1

To carry passengers

Acts 13:4

See also

Matthew 14:13; 15:39
Mark 3:9
Acts 13:13; 14:26; 15:39; 16:11; 18:18
Acts 18:21; 20:3,6,13-16; 21:1-3,6-7; 27:1-8; 28:11-13

Paul sails for Syria with Aquila and Priscilla

Psalms 107:23-30

Seafarers

2 Corinthians 11:25

See also

1 Kings 22:48
Jonah 1:3-15
Matthew 8:23-27

pp 2Ch 20:37

Matthew 14:22-33

pp Mk 4:35-41

pp Lk 8:22-26

Acts 27:9-44

pp Mk 6:45-53

pp Jn 6:16-21

Isaiah 23:1

Judgment on seafarers

See also

Isaiah 2:16; 23:14; 33:21-23; 43:14
Ezekiel 27:26-36
Revelation 18:17-19
Ephesians 4:14

Metaphorical references to ships and seafaring

Spiritual immaturity as a ship tossed at sea

1 Timothy 1:19

Abandoning sound teaching as shipwreck

Hebrews 6:19

Faith as an anchor

James 3:4-5

See also

Other seafaring analogies

Psalms 48:7
Proverbs 31:14
James 1:6
1 Peter 3:20

See also

Noah's ark as a symbol of Jesus Christ

4230 desert
4251 moon
4269 Sinai, Mount
4645 fleece
4852 thunder
5246 captivity
5587 trade
5590 travel
7206 community