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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Waters
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wô´tẽrz (מי×, mayim, plural of *מי, may, “waterâ€; in the New Testament Ï…Ì”ÌδωÏ, huÌdoÌ„r, “waterâ€; κινδυÌνοις ποταμῶν, kinduÌnois potamoÌ„Ìn (), the King James Version “perils of waters,†is in the Revised Version (British and American) “perils of riversâ€): In the New Testament there is frequent reference to the water of baptism. Pilate washes his hands with water to signify his guiltlessness. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman of the living water. The Lamb shall guide the redeemed unto fountains of waters of life.
The uses of mayim are well classified in BDB, especially the figurative references, as follows: a symbol of distress, “when thou passest through the waters†(); of force, “like the breach of waters†(); of that which is overwhelming, “a tempest of mighty waters overflowing†(); of fear, “The hearts of the people ... became as water†(); of transitoriness, “Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away†(); of refreshment, “as streams of water in a dry place†(); of peace, “He leadeth me beside still waters†(); of legitimate pleasures, “waters out of thine own cistern†(); of illegitimate pleasures, “Stolen waters are sweet†(); of that which is poured out abundantly, blood (), wrath (), justice (), groanings ().