Water in scripture can have several meanings as most things in scripture have multiple meanings. The main meaning of water is life as seen with Jesus being the living water. Cultures throughout the world even today see water as representative of life. Many wars have been fought over water. Most large cities (such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, London, Paris, and Shanghai) are located next to a body of water such as the ocean, lake or river. Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen and as we all know we need oxygen to live. Water can also represent cleansing, destruction, healing, fear, sin, people, and many other things.
One meaning of water in scripture is seen as a cleansing agent. We know water cleans and see that even today when we use water to bathe or to wash our eyes if something gets in them or wash our hands before we eat. Scripture refers to the word of God as cleansing by water. Jesus mentions cleansing of the church in (Ephesians 5:26-27 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.) In Nehemiah’s day they were repairing the gates to Jerusalem and we see they repaired the water gate which represents the word of God or the Holy Bible. (Nehemiah 3:26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.) Nehemiah reads the word of God at the water gate (had twelve to choose from). (Nehemiah 8:3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.) See also (Ezekiel 36:25 ¶ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.) and (Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.).
We see how water was used to cleanse people when they were unclean such as lepers or other diseases. Remember how Naaman the captain of the king of Syria was cleansed of leprosy after dipping himself seven times in the Jordan river. If any man had a running issue out of his flesh, he was to wash in water and be clean at evening time or a man whose seed of copulation go out of him. (Leviticus 15:5 And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.) (Leviticus 15:16-17 16 And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. 17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.) Those who touched the dead had to wash. We now know washing helps kill germs. The cleansing of lepers and their houses required a clean bird be used in the cleansing process. (Leviticus 14:50 And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water:)
Prior to sacrifices being made, the animals and the priests had to be washed in water. Ten lavers of brass were filled with water for the priests to use to wash themselves. (Exodus 30:20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:) The water represented being cleansed by Jesus. (Leviticus 1:13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.) (Leviticus 8:21 And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour, and an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.)
Water is seen healing in John 5:4 (man with infirmity at the pool of Betheseda) and in John 9:7 (blind man at pool of Siloam that Jesus anointed his eyes with clay he had spit on). (John 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.) [John 9:7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.] Even the water in the spittle of Jesus has cleansing and healing powers. [Note also that man was made from the dust of the ground and Jesus used clay to heal him.]
In Solomon’s Temple there was a molten sea that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. I believe this sea was a type or symbol of the sea that is between the second (outer space) and third heavens (God’s throne). There is still water in outer space and there used to be a water layer between the first (atmosphere) heaven and the second heaven that was destroyed in the flood. See (Genesis 1:6-8 6 ¶ And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.) (Psalm 148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.) I also believe this is the sea of glass John sees in Revelation 4:6 and Revelation 15:2. (Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.) (Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.) I believe it appears as glass since it is frozen ice and is calm and reflects Jesus. This sea along with the earthly sea will be no more with the new heaven and new earth. (Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.) I believe God removes it since there is no reason to keep separation from people as sin is no longer around. The sea of glass separated sin from heaven and seas here on earth divide people from other lands. We see water is blue such as the saying “sailed the ocean blue”. Blue represents division or separation. This is seen in priests clothes separated for God or the blue veil in the temple separating the holy of holies or the blue sky separating us from outer space. No longer needed with Jesus. The word blue is not mentioned in the New Testament.
Seas often time represented evil in olden times. I think that is why when Jesus walked on the water, he not only showed he was God and his control over the world, but also represented his triumph over evil. I believe God allowed Satan to bring forth this storm to try and destroy his Apostles. This is also seen when the Israelites crossed the Red sea and the flooded Jordan river. The water (evil) tried to separate God’s people from the Promised Land.
Water quenches fire, but not the fires of hell. The people of hell have rejected the living water of Jesus and therefore cannot even get a drop of water to quench their thirst as seen in the true story of the rich man in Luke 16:19-31. (Luke 16:19-31 19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.) This is not a parable. The rich man is still in hell desiring a drop of water he will never get.
Water can be destructive as seen in the global flood of Noah’s day as seen in Genesis 6-10. All life was destroyed except the eight people on board (Noah, his three sons and their wives) and the animals on board. The water of the flood also cleansed the earth by removing the sin and wickedness covering the earth. The earth was given a new birth and beginning with those on the ark. This is similar to when true Christians are baptized in water by immersion. (There is also baptism by fire when one receives the Holy Ghost. This was seen on the day of Pentecost. See (Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:) and (Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.) and (Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.) Being baptized represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and shows publicly we are followers of him. It shows when we are submerged the death of our old sinful nature and the rising out of the water represents the resurrection of our new born again bodies. Just as washing with water washes dirt away, baptism washes away symbolically our sins. It does not save anyone, but represents our new birth just as a baby is born from water in the mother’s womb. When the water sac breaks, the birth of the baby is near. [Side note that abortion is always murder as it is a baby in the womb. It is murder even if the child is from rape or incest or if the health of the mom is endangered. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin as did Phinehas’s wife when giving birth to Ichabod. God is in control if he wants them both to live. Killing one person to save another is still murder, as is physician assisted suicide.] Jesus told Nicodemus we must be born again. (John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.) (I Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.) This is why baptism must be by immersion and not sprinkling. One does not drown or die by sprinkling and the word baptizo from which baptism comes from, means immersion. John also mentions again that we must be born twice (natural and spiritual). (John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.) One must be born twice and die once for eternal life. Those who are born once and die twice will spend eternity in hell and the lake of fire.
We see Jesus in the cloud (made of rain drops) that led the Israelites by day in the wilderness and kept them cool in the heat of the day by giving them shade and gave them life by helping prevent dehydration. We also see Jesus in the Rock that Moses struck when the children of Israel murmured while wandering in the wilderness. I Corinthians tells us that Rock was Jesus. (I Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.) The people murmured again and this time Moses was told to speak to the Rock, but in his anger with the people he struck the Rock. God did bring forth water, but because of his disobedience God did not allow Moses to enter the Promised Land. The Rock as Jesus represented the first time Moses struck it as the first coming of Jesus as a beaten and scorned man. The second time Moses was to speak to the Rock as it represented the Second Coming of Jesus in all his glory as King of kings. Moses destroyed the image of the type for the people and thus brought about his premature death. We see when Jesus was pierced on the cross, water and blood came out.
We see water representing life. Our physical bodies need water to survive, even more frequently than food. We see in scripture how the people wandering in the wilderness or desert searched for water and the cities such as Jerusalem had elaborate water canals to collect water. Our bodies are made of about 57-60% water. A lack of water causes many illnesses and disease as well as hunger and fatigue and even death if too little. Severe dehydration may cause one to see a mirage of water such as in a desert. Just as one needs to drink approximately 64 ounces of water a day for their physical body, they need to water their spiritual bodies daily by reading the word of God.
Water reflects light such as seen in a rainbow. Jesus is the light of the world and the colors of the rainbow represent the gospel and the salvation message of Jesus that the light represents. (John 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.) Frozen water or ice is also reflective.
We see the abundance of life in the sea, far more than on land and notice that sea animals were created a day before the land animals. Flood waters once receded bring forth great crops as seen in such places as in Dutchtown in our local floods and allow food for life by regenerating the soil. Rain brings forth life by bringing forth food to live.
Ice (frozen water) freezes from top to bottom, whereas all other liquids freeze from bottom to top. God did this so that animals living in water may have life. If it froze from the bottom up, the animals would die. Again water represents life.
Snow which is another form of frozen water often represents purity and cleanliness in scripture. Fresh snow is pure white and is nature’s way of showing the purity and cleanliness of Jesus and as a form of water it also represents Jesus as the living water. The blood of Jesus makes us whiter than snow. The blood of Jesus can make the filthiest person clean and whiter than snow. (Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.) Wool of sheep is also white and pure of which Jesus is our passover lamb. God the Father’s garment was white as snow and his hair like pure wool. (Daniel 9:7 ¶ I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.) We see the raiment (clothing) of Jesus is also white as snow when he was transfigured on the mount before Peter, James, and John as well as when John saw him in Revelation 1 the hair of Jesus is white as snow. (Mark 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.) (Revelation 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;) The angel that appeared after the resurrection of Jesus was also in white raiment like snow. Jesus makes one pure. (Matthew 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:)
Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter 4 (four represents the gospel) who came looking to fulfill her physical thirst that what she needed was living water which he would give her if she asked. Jesus said he would give a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Jesus told her she would thirst again with her water, but with the water he would give, she would never thirst again, nor will anyone else who drinks of it. (John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.) (John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.) Just as water quenches your thirst, Jesus quenches your soul. Jesus said those who believe in him shall have rivers of the living water. [John 7:38-39 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)] The Holy Ghost is the living water that Jesus gives us. We see the Holy Ghost moving over the water in Genesis 1:2 bringing forth life. (Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.) (Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.)
We see in the Old Testament that the Jews rejected the living water of Jesus. (Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.) and (Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.)
The new heaven has a pure river of water of life flowing from God’s throne, just as God provided rivers of water for Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. God is the living water and he is pure. (Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.) Jesus told John that all who thirst for the living water will receive it. (Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.) The Holy Ghost sends one last plea for the lost to come and receive of this living water (Jesus) (Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.) Just as our physical bodies need water; our spiritual bodies need the living water of Jesus.
