In biblical literature, "waters" often symbolize peoples, nations, and multitudes. This metaphorical usage is prevalent throughout both the Old and New Testaments, providing a rich tapestry of imagery that conveys the vastness, diversity, and sometimes tumultuous nature of human societies.

Old Testament References

The imagery of waters representing nations is rooted in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 17:12-13, the prophet describes the nations as roaring seas: "Oh, the raging of many nations—they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples—they roar like the roaring of great waters. Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters, when He rebukes them, they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before a gale." Here, the tumultuous and uncontrollable nature of the sea is likened to the chaotic and often rebellious nature of the nations.

Similarly, in Jeremiah 47:2, the Lord speaks of an impending invasion using the imagery of rising waters: "Behold, waters are rising from the north and will become an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and everything in it, the cities and those who dwell within. The people will cry out, and all who dwell in the land will wail." This passage illustrates how the overwhelming force of invading nations is depicted as a flood, emphasizing the power and inevitability of God's judgment through these nations.

New Testament References

The Book of Revelation, rich in symbolic language, frequently uses the imagery of waters to represent peoples and nations. Revelation 17:1, 15 provides a clear interpretation: "Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.'... Then the angel said to me, 'The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.'" This passage explicitly identifies the waters as a symbol for the diverse and widespread influence of the nations.

In Revelation 13:1, the beast rising out of the sea is another instance where the sea, or waters, symbolizes the origin of chaotic and oppressive powers: "Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads." The sea here represents the tumultuous and unstable nature of the political and social systems from which such powers emerge.

Theological Implications

The use of waters as a metaphor for peoples and nations underscores the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over the chaotic and often rebellious human world. Just as God controls the physical waters, setting their boundaries and calming their storms, He also exercises authority over the nations. This imagery serves as a reminder of God's ultimate power and the transient nature of human endeavors in contrast to His eternal kingdom.

The metaphor also highlights the diversity and interconnectedness of humanity. Just as waters can be vast and encompassing, so too are the multitudes of peoples and nations that inhabit the earth. This imagery invites reflection on the unity and diversity within God's creation, as well as the divine plan that encompasses all nations and peoples.

In summary, the biblical use of "waters" as a symbol for peoples and nations is a powerful and evocative image that conveys the complexity, diversity, and often tumultuous nature of human societies, all under the sovereign control of God.