Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, December 11th, 2024
the Second Week of Advent
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Dictionaries
River (2)

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
River
Next Entry
Roads
Resource Toolbox

RIVER (ποταμός).—‘River’ (Mark 1:5 etc.), ‘flood’ (Matthew 7:25), ‘stream’ (Luke 6:48), and ‘waters’ (2 Corinthians 11:26) stand for the same Greek word ποταμός. ‘Stream’ in Luke 6:48 corresponds to ‘flood’ in Matthew 7:25.

The Jordan is the one true river in Palestine. The name occurs frequently in the Gospels, but only once connected with ‘river’ (Mark 1:5). See Jordan.

The ‘stream’ (Luke 6:48) or ‘flood’ (Matthew 7:25) is evidently the rushing torrent raised by wintry rains. From Revelation 12:15-16 we gather that ποταμός may signify any great volume of water rolling over the land. St. Paul’s ‘perils of rivers’ (1 Corinthians 11:26) were doubtless such as the Eastern traveller has perpetually to face in fording bridgeless streams in times of rain and melting snow.

To one reared in Palestine, where only water is required to turn the wilderness into a garden, a river, with its beautifying and fertilizing power, might well seem an apt symbol of life (Revelation 22:1-2).

W. Ewing.

Bibliography Information
Hastings, James. Entry for 'River (2)'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hdn/​r/river-2.html. 1906-1918.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile