Deep (the representative in the A. V. of several Heb. words, especially תּהוֹם, tehom', Ge 1:2, etc. an abyss, often rendered "depth;" ἄβυσσος, Lu 8:31; Ro 10:7, elsewhere "bottomless pit'). The deep, or the great deep, in its literal sense, signifies, chiefly in Scripture —
1. Hell, the place of punishment, the bottomless pit (Lu 8:31; Re 9:1; Re 11:7).
2. The common receptacle of the dead; the grave, the deep or depths of the earth, under which the body is deposited: the state of the soul corresponding thereto, still more unseen, still deeper, still further distant from human inspection, is that remote country, that "bourne from whence no traveler returns" (Ro 10:7).
3. The deepest parts of the sea.(Ps 49:15; Ps 107:26).
4. The chaos, which, in the beginning of the world, was unformed and vacant (Ge 1:2). SEE ABYSS.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More