Dictionary of Bible Themes » 4000 Creation » 4200 Places » 4293 water
The colourless, odourless liquid that is essential for sustenance of life in human beings and animals. God is described as the spring of living water, being the source of life and salvation to those who come to him.
Water for drinking
For human beings
2 Samuel 23:15-16 pp 1 Chronicles 11:17-18 See also Genesis 21:14-19 God provides water for Hagar and Ishmael; Exodus 15:22-27; Exodus 17:1-3; Numbers 20:1-11; Deuteronomy 2:28; Judges 4:19; Judges 5:25; 1 Samuel 30:11-12; 1 Kings 17:10 Elijah asks the widow at Zarephath for a drink of water; 2 Kings 6:22; 2 Chronicles 18:25-26; Nehemiah 9:20; Job 6:19; Isaiah 33:16; Daniel 1:8-16 Daniel's resolve to live on vegetables and water; Hosea 2:5; Matthew 10:42 pp Mark 9:41; John 4:7; 1 Timothy 5:23
For animals
2 Kings 3:9 See also Genesis 24:13-19; Genesis 29:1-10; Exodus 2:15-16; Exodus 17:3; 2 Kings 3:17; Psalm 104:10-11; Isaiah 43:20; Luke 13:15
Water as a general descriptive term for liquid
Exodus 23:25 See also 1 Samuel 25:11; 1 Kings 13:6-22; Kings 18:4; Job 22:7; Proverbs 25:21
Abstention from water during fasting
Deuteronomy 9:9 See also Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:18; Ezra 10:6
Water for washing
For general hygiene
Genesis 18:4 See also Genesis 24:32; Genesis 43:24; Luke 7:44; John 13:1-17
For ritual cleansing
Leviticus 17:15 See also Exodus 30:17-21; Leviticus 1:3-9; Leviticus 16:20-24; Numbers 19:7-9; John 2:6; Hebrews 10:22
Water for cooking
Exodus 12:9-10 See also Ezekiel 24:3-5
Rainwater
Judges 5:4 See also Genesis 7:11-12; Job 5:10; Job 37:13; Job 38:25-28,37; Psalm 77:17; Ecclesiastes 11:3; Hosea 6:3
Sources and stores of water
Wells
Genesis 26:19-20 See also Genesis 21:19; Genesis 24:11; Isaiah 37:25; John 4:6
Springs
James 3:11-12 See also Joshua 15:15-19 pp Judges 1:11-15; Revelation 8:10-11; Revelation 14:7; Revelation 16:4
Cisterns
Jeremiah 2:13 See also Leviticus 11:36; 2 Kings 18:31 pp Isaiah 36:16; Proverbs 5:15-16; Jeremiah 14:3; Jeremiah 38:6
Abundance of water as a sign of blessing
Deuteronomy 8:7 See also Numbers 24:7; Deuteronomy 10:7; Psalm 1:1-3; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Ezekiel 17:5-6; Ezekiel 19:10-11
Baptism in water
Matthew 3:11 pp Mark 1:8 pp Luke 3:16 See also Matthew 3:13-17 pp Mark 1:9-11 pp Luke 3:21-22 pp John 1:31-34; John 1:26-27; John 3:23; Acts 1:5; Acts 8:36-39; Acts 10:47; Acts 11:16; 1 Peter 3:20-22
Living water
Jeremiah 17:13 See also Zechariah 14:8-9; John 4:4-26; John 7:37-39; Revelation 7:13-17; Revelation 21:6-8; Revelation 22:1-2,17
Metaphorical references to water
As a symbol of affliction
2 Samuel 22:17; Psalm 69:1; Isaiah 30:20; Isaiah 43:2
As a symbol of salvation
Isaiah 12:3; Isaiah 49:10; Isaiah 55:1; Ezekiel 36:25; John 7:38
As a symbol of life
John 4:14; John 7:37-39; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:17
Other metaphorical references
Songs 4:15; Isaiah 30:20; Isaiah 35:6; Isaiah 44:12; Jeremiah 9:1; Ephesians 5:25-26; 2 Peter 2:17
See also
3120 Holy Spirit, descriptions 4236 fountain 4260 rivers & streams 4266 sea 4278 spring of water 4296 wells 4844 rain 5580 thirst 7342 cleanliness 7416 purification 7478 washing 7903 baptism