Word Research
What Are Waters?
In the prophetic sense, “waters” often symbolizes various concepts depending on the context. Some of the common symbolic meanings of “waters” in a prophetic sense include:
Peoples, Nations, and Multitudes:
Revelation 17:15: “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”
Isaiah 17:12: “Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!”
These verses define waters as representing large groups of people, nations, and different languages.
Divine Judgment:
Isaiah 8:7-8: “Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.”
Waters are used metaphorically to describe the coming invasion and judgment by Assyria.
Spiritual Nourishment and Blessing:
Isaiah 55:1: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
Waters here symbolize spiritual sustenance and blessings provided by God.
The Presence and Knowledge of God:
Habakkuk 2:14: “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”
Waters symbolize the widespread presence and knowledge of God.
In English
Waters
In Hebrew
מים (mayim)
In Greek
ὕδωρ (húdōr)
Word Count
The terms “waters” and “water” are used multiple times throughout the KJV Bible:
“Water” is mentioned approximately 396 times.
“Waters” is mentioned approximately 82 times.
Waters Explained
In summary, “waters” in the Bible can represent peoples and nations, divine judgment, spiritual nourishment, and the immersive knowledge of God. The context in which the term is used helps determine its specific symbolic meaning. When reading Bible prophecy, waters will be used to describe peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.