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Theological Significance of Waves in the Bible

The concept of "waves" in the Bible carries diverse theological significance, ranging from literal descriptions of natural phenomena to symbolic representations of divine power, human instability, and ritualistic offerings. The Hebrew word for wave, H1530H, can refer to a heap, spring, or billow, and is sometimes used figuratively for God's chastisement [12].

One prominent use of "waves" is in the context of divine power and judgment. The Psalms declare that God "stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations" [2], illustrating God's sovereignty over chaotic forces, both natural and human. This power is evident in narratives such as the flood, which was a divine punishment for humanity's wickedness, brought about by incessant rain and the "fountains of the great deep" [11]. The prophet Jonah's experience further highlights this, as God sent a "great wind into the sea" causing a "great tempest" [21]. Jonah describes being cast into the "heart of the seas" where "all Thy billows and Thy waves went over me," interpreting this as being "thrust away from Thine eyes" [14]. John Gill interprets such afflictions as the "wrath of God" falling upon Christ as a surety for his people [18].

Waves also serve as a metaphor for human instability and the challenges of life. The Epistle of James warns against wavering faith, stating that "he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" [5]. This imagery suggests a lack of steadfastness and conviction. Patristic writers like Augustine connect the tossing ship on the sea to the human heart, where "many thoughts" arise, and "when Christ is absent, the ship is tossed by the waves of this world, and by tempests manifold" [13]. Origen similarly describes the disciples in the midst of the sea, struggling with "waves in the temptations, and of the contrary winds," unable to overcome them "without Jesus" [17]. The name Seleucia, meaning "shaken or beaten by the waves," further underscores this association of waves with instability and hardship [7].

In contrast to the tumultuous nature of earthly waves, the book of Revelation presents a "sea of glass" before God's throne [4]. This "calm, glass-like sea, which is never in storm," is interpreted by some as representing "the counsels of God, those purposes of righteousness and love which are often fathomless but never obscure, always the same, though sometimes glowing with holy anger" [4]. This imagery suggests divine tranquility and unwavering purpose, standing in stark opposition to the chaotic waves of the world.

Beyond metaphorical uses, "wave offerings" (Hebrew: tenuphah) were a significant part of Israelite ritual practice. These offerings involved the priest waving certain parts of sacrifices "to and fro" [20] before the Lord, symbolizing a special presentation to God [1]. For instance, parts of peace offerings, such as the breast and shoulder, were waved and then became the property of the priests [1, 10, 20]. The first-fruits, including a sheaf of barley at Pentecost and wheat-bread at Passover, were also presented as wave offerings [1]. The book of Numbers states that the wave offering would be "reckoned to you, as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the wine press" [6], indicating its significance and value. Rabbinic tradition, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud, derives the halakha (Jewish law) of waving from Leviticus 7:29–30, specifying that "the sons of Israel wave, but the daughters of Israel do not wave" [15, 16]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, suggests that the "twofold action" of the wave offering (agitated to and fro) and the heave offering (up and down) might represent "the figure of the cross, on which the great Peace-offering between God and man was offered" [20].

The destructive power of waves is also depicted in the Bible. The "wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame" in Jude 1:13 describe those who are morally corrupt and destined for "the blackness of darkness" [8]. In the Gospels, a "big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled" [9], illustrating the real and immediate danger posed by powerful waves. Tertullian, a patristic writer, distinguishes between being "sprinkled or intercepted by the violence of the sea" and the act of baptism, suggesting that while the apostles experienced the former, it was not equivalent to the latter [19].

The rainbow, which appears after the flood, is presented as a "token of the covenant which God made with Noah... that the waters should no more become a flood to destroy all flesh" [3]. This symbol, appearing when "the sun's rays fell on falling rain," was consecrated by God as a sign of his love and promise [3]. This divine promise stands as a counterpoint to the destructive power of the flood's waters and waves, signifying God's faithfulness and mercy [3].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Wave offerings — Parts of peace-offerings were so called, because they were waved by the priests (Ex. 29:24, 26, 27; Lev. 7:20-34; 8:27; 9:21; 10:14, 15, etc.), in token of a solemn special presentation to God. They then became the property of the priests. The first-fruits, a sheaf of barley, offered at the feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23:17-20), and wheat-bread, the first-fruits of the second harvest, offered at the Passover (10-14), were wave-offerings.”
  2. Psalms “who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. -- Psalms 65:7”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Rainbow — the token of the covenant which God made with Noah when he came forth from the ark that the waters should no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. The right interpretation of (Genesis 9:13) seems to be that God took the rainbow, which had hitherto been but a beautiful object shining in the heavens when the sun's rays fell on falling rain, and consecrated it as the sign of his love and the witness of his promise. Ecclus. 43:11. The rainbow is a symbol of God's faithfulness and mercy. In the "rainbow around the throne," (Revelation 4:3) is seen the symbol ”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sea of glass — A figurative expression used in Rev. 4:6 and 15:2. According to the interpretation of some, "this calm, glass-like sea, which is never in storm, but only interfused with flame, represents the counsels of God, those purposes of righteousness and love which are often fathomless but never obscure, always the same, though sometimes glowing with holy anger." (Comp. Ps. 36:6; 77:19; Rom. 11:33-36.)”
  5. King James Version “[KJV] James 1:6 — But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
  6. Numbers “Your wave offering shall be reckoned to you, as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the wine press. -- Numbers 18:27”
  7. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Seleucia — shaken or beaten by the waves”
  8. Jude “wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. -- Jude 1:13”
  9. Mark “A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. -- Mark 4:37”
  10. Exodus “and it shall be for Aaron and his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel; for it is a wave offering: and it shall be a wave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, even their wave offering to Yahweh. -- Exodus 29:28”
  11. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Deluge, The — Sent as a punishment for the extreme wickedness of man -- Ge 6:5-7,11-13,17. Called the Flood. -- Ge 9:28. Waters of Noah. -- Isa 54:9. Noah forewarned of -- Ge 6:13; Heb 11:7. Long-suffering of God exhibited in deferring -- Ge 6:3; 1Pe 3:20. The wicked warned of -- 1Pe 3:19,20; 2Pe 2:5. Noah, &c, saved from -- Ge 6:18-22; 7:13,14. Date of its commencement -- Ge 7:11. Came suddenly and unexpectedly -- Mt 24:38,39. Produced by Forty days' incessant rain. -- Ge 7:4,12,17. Opening up of the fountains of the great deep. -- Ge 7:11. Increased gradually -- Ge”
  12. STEPBible TBESG “[H1530] H1530H = a Meaning of (H1530G) — : wave<br>1) heap, spring, wave, billow<br>1a) heap (of stones)<br>1a1) over dead body<br>1a2) alone<br>1a3) used in ratifying a covenant<br>1b) waves (fig. of chastisement of Jehovah)<br>1c) spring”
  13. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — THE SEA, DISTRESSED BY THE WAVES." (part 4): came from. For there are many thoughts in the hearts of men; and when Christ is absent, the ship is tossed by the waves of this world, and by tempests manifold. 7. Now the fourth watch of the night, is the end of the night; for each watch consists of three hours. It signifies then, that now in the end of the world the Lord is come to help, and is seen to walk upon the waters. For though this ship be tossed about by the storms of temptations, yet she sees her Glorified God walking above all the swell”
  14. Jonah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Jonah 2:3: 3 Thou castedst me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, And the stream surrounded me; All Thy billows and Thy waves went over me. 4 Then I said, I am thrust away from Thine eyes, Yet I will look again to Thy holy temple. The more minute description of the peril of death is attached by Vav consec., to express not sequence in time, but sequence of thought. Jehovah cast him into the depth of the sea, because the seamen were merely the executors of the punishment inflicted upon him by Jehovah. Metsūlâh, the deep, is defined by "the heart of the seas" as the d”
  15. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 165a.71:17: The Gemara explains that the halakha of waving is derived from the following verse: “Speak to the sons of Israel…and he shall wave” (see Leviticus 7:29–30), which likewise teaches that the sons of Israel wave, but the daughters of Israel do not wave.”
  16. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 36a.17: The Gemara explains that the halakha of waving is derived from the following verse: “Speak to the sons of Israel…and he shall wave” (see Leviticus 7:29–30), which likewise teaches that the sons of Israel wave, but the daughters of Israel do not wave.”
  17. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 5. THE DISCIPLES IN CONFLICT. JESUS WALKS UPON THE WATERS. (part 3): other side, and through victory over them to go beyond critical difficulties; but when they had come into the midst of the sea, and of the waves in the temptations, and of the contrary winds which prevented them from going away to the other side, they were not able, struggling as they were without Jesus, to overcome the waves and the contrary wind and reach the other side. Wherefore the Word, taking compassion upon them who had done all that was in their power t”
  18. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 88:7: The wrath lieth hard upon me,.... So some good men apprehend, when they are under afflictive dispensations of Providence, and are left of God, and have not his immediate presence, and the discoveries of his love; though fury is not in him, nor does any wrath in reality fall upon them, only it seems so to them; see Psa 38:1, but the wrath of God did really lie with all the effects of it upon Christ, as the surety of his people, when he was made sin, and a curse for them; see Psa 89:38, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves; the afflictions of God's people are”
  19. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XII.--OF THE NECESSITY OF BAPTISM TO SALVATION. (part 2): clare, the Lord had exalted John above him (by the testimony) saying," Among them who are born of women there is none greater than John the Baptist."[7] Others make the suggestion (forced enough, clearly "that the apostles then served the turn of baptism whenin their little ship, were sprinkled and covered with the waves: that Peter himself also was immersed enough when he walked on the sea."[8] It is, however, as I think, one thing to be sprinkled or intercepted by the violence of the sea; another thing to”
  20. Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 29:27: The breast of the wave-offering, and the shoulder of the heave-offering - As the wave-offering was agitated to and fro, and the heave-offering up and down, some have conceived that this twofold action represented the figure of the cross, on which the great Peace-offering between God and man was offered in the personal sacrifice of our blessed Redeemer. Had we authority for this conjecture, it would certainly cast much light on the meaning and intention of these offerings; and when the intelligent reader is informed that one of the most judicious critics in the whol”
  21. Jonah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jonah 1:4: But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea,.... He took a wind out of his treasures, and hurled it, as the word (w) signifies, into the sea: "into that sea" (x); that part of it where the ship was Jonah was in. Winds are at the command of God, which he raises at his pleasure, and fulfil his will, and are servants of his that obey his orders: this here was sent in pursuit of Jonah, to stop him in his voyage, when he thought he had got clear off, and was safe enough. The Jews say (y) this was done when he had been one day's voyage: and there was a great tempest in ”
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