Psalms 69:14 — Word Study
WLCהַצִּילֵ֣נִי מִ֭טִּיט וְאַל־ אֶטְבָּ֑עָה אִנָּצְלָ֥ה מִ֝שֹּֽׂנְאַ֗י וּמִמַּֽעֲמַקֵּי־ מָֽיִם׃
BSAIʼănîy prayertᵉphillâh The LordYᵉhôvâh timeʻêth acceptancerâtsôwn Godʼĕlôhîym abundancerôb kindnesschêçêd to dwellʻânâh truthʼemeth salvationyeshaʻ
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הַצִּילֵ֣נִי | deliver me | Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| מִ֭טִּיט | from [the] mud | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְאַל־ | and may not | Conjunction, particle |
| אֶטְבָּ֑עָה | I sink | Verb, Qal, infinitive construct first person common singular |
| אִנָּצְלָ֥ה | may I be delivered | Verb, Niphal, infinitive construct first person common singular |
| מִ֝שֹּֽׂנְאַ֗י | from [those who] hate me | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| וּמִמַּֽעֲמַקֵּי־ | and from depths of | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| מָֽיִם׃ | water | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters. |
| KJV | Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. |
| ASV | Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. |
| YLT | Deliver me from the mire, and let me not sink, Let me be delivered from those hating me, And from deep places of waters. |
| WEB | Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. |
| BBE | Take me from the grip of the sticky earth, so that I may not go down into it; let me be lifted up from the deep waters. |
Where they part company is הַצִּילֵ֣נִי — see How Translations Differ.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by two subordinate clauses, emphasizing the psalmist's urgent plea for rescue.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbעֵת
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 69:14
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Cry for Helpgenerated
Psalm 69:14 is a heartfelt plea from the psalmist seeking deliverance from dire circumstances. He feels trapped in mire and surrounded by enemies, expressing a deep need for God's intervention. This verse captures the essence of desperation and the hope for salvation, which resonates throughout the psalms, as seen in Psalm 40:1-3 and Psalm 25:18-19.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 40:1–3 | I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 38:6–13 | So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern, which had no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. |
| 3 | Lamentations 3:55 | I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the depths of the Pit. |
| 4 | Psalm 25:18–19 | Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins. |
| 5 | Psalm 35:19 | Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הַצִּילֵ֣נִי, ha.tzi.Le.nigenerated
The verb הַצִּילֵ֣נִי (ha.tzi.Le.ni) is a hiphil imperative, meaning 'deliver me' or 'rescue me.' It is derived from the root נָצַל (natsal), which conveys the idea of snatching away from danger. This word emphasizes the urgency of the psalmist's request for divine intervention.
As a second person masculine singular form, the imperative indicates a direct appeal to God, highlighting the psalmist's reliance on divine help in his time of need. The use of this verb in the context of distress illustrates the intimate relationship between the psalmist and God, as he seeks immediate rescue from peril.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb הַצִּילֵ֣נִי governs the entire verse, with several phrases detailing the psalmist's plea. The structure emphasizes the urgency of the request, as the psalmist seeks deliverance from both physical and spiritual threats.
The sentence is built around the central plea for rescue, with prepositional phrases specifying the sources of danger: מִ֭טִּיט (from the mud) and מִ֝שֹּֽׂנְאַ֗י (from those who hate me), illustrating the depth of the psalmist's distress.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הַצִּילֵ֣נִי as ἐγὼ (egō), which shifts the focus slightly to a first-person perspective. This choice reflects the psalmist's personal appeal to God for deliverance.
The LXX maintains the urgency of the original Hebrew, though the shift in perspective may suggest a more direct personal engagement with God.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 69:14 expresses a deep cry for help from the psalmist, who feels trapped in mud and surrounded by enemies. He asks God to rescue him from these overwhelming troubles, highlighting his urgent need for divine intervention.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The term 'mire' refers to sticky mud or clay, symbolizing a difficult situation from which the psalmist seeks rescue.
The psalmist feels threatened by those who hate him, and he seeks God's help to be freed from their hostility and danger.
The 'deep waters' symbolize overwhelming circumstances that threaten to engulf the psalmist, representing both physical and emotional turmoil.
This verse reflects a common theme in the psalms, where the psalmist cries out for help in times of distress, similar to pleas found in Psalm 40:1-3 and Psalm 25:18-19.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I feel trapped, like the psalmist in the mire?
- How can I seek God's help in my own moments of distress?
- What does it mean to rely on God for deliverance from my enemies?
- How can I better understand the depths of my own struggles and seek God's rescue?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse, highlighting the psalmist's plea for rescue from the mire and the significance of God's deliverance.
"Save Me from the mire, that I may not stick" [Psalms 69:14]. From that whereof above he had spoken, "Fixed I am in the clay of the deep, and there is no substance." Furthermore,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 69 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 69:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDeliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink,.... In which he was sinking, Psalms 69:2; and accordingly he was delivered out of it, Psalms 11:2; even out of all the mire of sin, the sins of his
Read John Gill on Psalms 69 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBut as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 69 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThem that hate me; whereby he explains his meaning in these metaphors of mire, and waters, and deep, and pit.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 69 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 69:14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.Ver. 14. Deliver me out of the mire] i.e. De civitate Gehennae, from the state of hell, saith the Hebrew scholiast; out of that deadly danger whereof he had complained, Psalms 69:2. Alphonsus, king of Arragon, by a gracious condescension, helped a laden ass out of the mire with his own hand, and is renowned for it in history (Val. Max. Christ. 41). God helpeth his out full oft, and little notice is taken of it. One who writes explanatory notes upon an author; esp. an ancient commentator upon a classical writer.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 69 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13–18. From the hardheartedness of men he turns to the mercy of God.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 69 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleDeliver me out of the mire - Out of my troubles and calamities. See Psalms 69:1-2. And let me not sink - As in, mire. Let me not be overwhelmed by my sorrows. Let me be delivered from them that hate me - All my enemies.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 69 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.
Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.
Rescue me from the mud! Don’t let me sink! Deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep water!
Tyndale line
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Deliuer mee out of the myre, that I sinke not: let me be deliuered from them that hate me, and out of the deepe waters.
Strictly literal
Deliver me out of the mire, let me not sink; let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the depths of waters.
Deliver me from the mire, and let me not sink, Let me be delivered from those hating me, And from deep places of waters.
Deliver me from the mire, and do not let me sink, || Let me be delivered from those hating me, || And from deep places of waters.
(69:15) Deliver me out of the mire, that I may not sink: let me be delivered from those that hate me, and out of the depths of the waters.
Pull me out of the mire, and do not let me sink; let me be taken away from those who hate me and rescued out of the deep waters.
Simplified
Please rescue me from the mud—don't let me sink! Save me from those who hate me and from drowning in the deep waters!
Take me from the grip of the sticky earth, so that I may not go down into it; let me be lifted up from the deep waters.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads הַצִּילֵ֣נִי מִ֭טִּיט וְאַל־ אֶטְבָּ֑עָה אִנָּצְלָ֥ה מִ֝שֹּֽׂנְאַ֗י וּמִמַּֽעֲמַקֵּי־ מָֽיִם׃, and it is consistent with the Septuagint, which matches word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align closely with the Masoretic Text, showing minor restorations but no significant variations.
הַצִּילֵ֣נִי מִ֭טִּיט וְאַל־ אֶטְבָּ֑עָה אִנָּצְלָ֥ה מִ֝שֹּֽׂנְאַ֗י וּמִמַּֽעֲמַקֵּי־ מָֽיִם׃
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ואני תפלת׳י למה יהוה עתה רצון אלהים [ברב] חסד׳כה ענ׳ני באמת ישע׳כה
9 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 69:14
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word נָצַל (natsal) is built from a primitive root meaning to snatch away, with various usages across different stems. It covers a range of meanings including to rescue, deliver, plunder, and strip. The word appears in contexts of delivering oneself or being delivered, as well as rescuing from enemies or sin.
[נָצַל] 212 vb. not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
Niph.
reflex. tear oneself away, deliver oneself
passive, be torn out or away
Pi.
strip off, spoil
deliver
Hiph.
take away, snatch away
rescue, recover
deliver from
deliver from sin and guilt
Hoph. as a brand plucked out of the burning
Hithp. and they stripped themselves of their ornaments.
base
H5337 נָצַל not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
5337 natsal naw-tsal'
a primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad
sense:- X at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, X without
fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save,
spoil, strip, X surely, take (out).
נָצַל (na.tsal) — to rescue.
1) to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder
1a)(Niphal)
1a1) to tear oneself away, deliver oneself
1a2) to be torn out or away, be delivered
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to strip off, spoil
1b2) to deliver
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to take away, snatch away
1c2) to rescue, recover
1c3) to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death)
1c4) to deliver from sin and guilt
1d) (Hophal) to be plucked out
1e) (Hithpael) to strip oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsal (נְצַל "to rescue" H5338)
HVhv2ms/Sp1bs — Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVhv2ms/Sp1bs
טִיט (tiyt) refers to mud, mire, or clay, and is derived from a root that suggests stickiness. It can also figuratively denote calamity. The term appears in various contexts, including poetic uses for clay. There is an Aramaic equivalent, טִין (tin), meaning 'common.'
טִיט n.m. mud, mire, clay
base
H2916 טִיט mud, mire, clay
2916 tiyt teet
from an unused root meaning apparently to be sticky (rath.
perb. a demon. from 2894, through the idea of dirt to be swept
away); mud or clay; figuratively, calamity:--clay, dirt, mire.
see HEBREW for 02894
טִיט (tit) — mud.
1) mud, clay, mire, damp dirt
1a) mud, mire
1b) clay (poetical)
Aramaic equivalent: tin (טִין "common" H2917)
HR/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.
אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
base
H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
408 'al al
a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified
negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,
nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing
(worth), rather than.
see HEBREW for 03808
אַל (al) — not.
1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)
Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
HC/Tn — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
The Hebrew word טָבַע (taba`) primarily means to sink or to settle down. It can refer to sinking in a physical sense, such as drowning or being planted, and also has connotations of being fastened or settled. The entries indicate various grammatical forms, including intransitive and passive uses.
טָבַע vb. sink, sink down
Qal sink, sink down, intrans.
Pu. be sunk
Hiph. be sunk; of pedestals of the earth, as settled, planted
base
H2883 טָבַע sink, sink down .sink, sink down, intrans.
. be sunk
. be sunk; of pedestals of the earth, as settled, planted
2883 taba` taw-bah'
a primitive root; to sink:--drown, fasten, settle, sink.
טָבַע (ta.va) — to sink.
1) to sink, sink into, sink down, pierce, settle down, drown, be settled, be planted
1a) (Qal) to sink, sink down
1b)(Pual) to be sunk
1c) (Hophal) to cause to sink
HVqc1cs — Verb · Qal · infinitive construct first person common singularHVqc1cs
The Hebrew word נָצַל (natsal) is built from a primitive root meaning to snatch away, with various usages across different stems. It covers a range of meanings including to rescue, deliver, plunder, and strip. The word appears in contexts of delivering oneself or being delivered, as well as rescuing from enemies or sin.
[נָצַל] 212 vb. not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
Niph.
reflex. tear oneself away, deliver oneself
passive, be torn out or away
Pi.
strip off, spoil
deliver
Hiph.
take away, snatch away
rescue, recover
deliver from
deliver from sin and guilt
Hoph. as a brand plucked out of the burning
Hithp. and they stripped themselves of their ornaments.
base
H5337 נָצַל not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
5337 natsal naw-tsal'
a primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad
sense:- X at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, X without
fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save,
spoil, strip, X surely, take (out).
נָצַל (na.tsal) — to rescue.
1) to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder
1a)(Niphal)
1a1) to tear oneself away, deliver oneself
1a2) to be torn out or away, be delivered
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to strip off, spoil
1b2) to deliver
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to take away, snatch away
1c2) to rescue, recover
1c3) to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death)
1c4) to deliver from sin and guilt
1d) (Hophal) to be plucked out
1e) (Hithpael) to strip oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsal (נְצַל "to rescue" H5338)
HVNc1cs — Verb · Niphal · infinitive construct first person common singularHVNc1cs
שָׂנֵא (sane') is a primitive root meaning 'to hate.' It covers various forms of hatred, including personal animosity and enmity, and can refer to both humans and God. The word appears in different grammatical forms, with uses in Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating actions of hating or being hated. Its Aramaic equivalent is שְׂנָא.
שָׂנֵא 145 vb. hate
Qal 128 hate
Niph. is hated
Pi. enemy
base
H8130 שָׂנֵא hate
8130 sane' saw-nay'
a primitive root; to hate (personally):--enemy, foe, (be)
hate(-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.
שָׂנֵא (sa.ne) — to hate.
1) to hate, be hateful
1a) (Qal) to hate
1a1) of man
1a2) of God
1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst)
1b) (Niphal) to be hated
1c) (Piel) hater (participle)
1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom
Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)
HR/Vqrmpc/Sp1bs — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHR/Vqrmpc/Sp1bs
מַעֲמַקִּים (ma`amaq) refers to 'depths' or 'deep' in Hebrew. It is derived from the root word for 'deep' (H6009) and is used in the plural form. The entries consistently define it as depths, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
מַעֲמַקִּים n.m.pl. depths
base
H4615 מַעֲמַקִּים depths
4615 ma`amaq mah-am-awk'
from 6009; a deep:--deep, depth.
see HEBREW for 06009
מַעֲמַקִּים (ma.a.maq) — deep.
depths
HC/R/Ncmpc — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural constructHC/R/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.
[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
base
H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
4325 mayim mah'-yim
dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+
piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
מַי (ma.yim) — water.
1) water, waters
1a) water
1b) water of the feet, urine
1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)
מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).
This name means water, refreshment
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
wo'-ter (mayim; hudor):
(1) The Greek philosophers believed water to be the original substance and that all things were made from it. The Koran states, "From water we have made all things." In the story of the creation (Ge 1:2) water plays an elemental part.
(2) Because of the scarcity of water in Palestine it is especially appreciated by the people there. They love to go and sit by a stream of running water. Men long for a taste of the water of their native village (1Ch 11:17). A town or village is known throughout the country for the quality of its water, which is described by many adjectives, such as "light," "heavy," etc.
(3) The rainfall is the only source of supply of water for Palestine. The moisture is carried up from the sea in clouds and falls on the hills as rain or snow.…
See CISTERN and WELLS.
In Isa 35:7, the Hebrew word for "parched ground" that shall become a pool of water, is the same with the Arabic term for the mirage, a peculiar optical illusion by which travelers in hot and dry deserts think they see broad lakes and flowing waters; they seem to discern the very ripple of the waves, and the swaying of tail trees on the margin in the cool breeze; green hills and houses and city ramparts rise before the astonished sight, recede as the traveler advances, and at length melt away in the hot haze. Not so the blessings of the gospel; they are no alluring mockery, but real waters of everlasting life, Isa 55:1 Joh 4:14 Re 22:1. Compare
→ Creation of Ps 148:4,5
→ Covered the whole earth Ge 1:9
→ Daily allowance of Eze 4:11
→ City waterworks 2Ki 20:20
→ Vision of, by Ezekiel Eze 47:1-5
→ Of separation Nu 19:2-22