Depth (deep) (899) (bathos) by Greek Word Studies

Depth (deep) (899) (bathos is the noun derived from adjective bathús = deep) literally describes a distance below a surface and to the depth or a deep place. Bathos is used literally for the depths of the earth (Mt 13:5), to the depths of the sea (Lk 5:4). Figuratively bathos describes a great or extreme degree of anything and as a quality in relation to God it describes His inexhaustibility, His profundity, and His inscrutability (Ro 11:33, 1Cor 2:10). The adjective bathus is used to describe the "deep things of Satan (created being)." (Rev 2:24-note) What a contrast Satan's deep knowledge is with the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God (The Creator)! Denney - Bathos is "a universal figure for what is immeasurable or incalculable: cf. 1 Corinthians 2:10, Revelation 2:24, Ephesians 3:18." (Romans 11 - The Expositor's Greek Testament) John Trapp - The Romans dedicated a certain lake, the depth whereof they knew not, to Victory; so should we admire the unsearchable counsels of God. (Romans Commentary) BDAG says bathos refers to "something nonphysical perceived to be so remote that it is difficult to assess...their poverty reaching down into the depths (Strabo 9, 3, 5 =extreme poverty 2Cor 8:2)." Brown on the figurative sense of bathos - "This refers to the unfathomable nature of the ways and judgments of God, as opposed to the mere superficiality of human insight. But it also suggests the richness of the ways and means available to God in the pursuit of his plan of salvation....Similarly, in Eph. 3:18 bathos occurs in conjunction with other spatial terms in order to express the comprehensiveness of God’s grace and of salvation in Christ. Christian faith should not be satisfied with the fragmentary or the superficial...In Rom. 8:39 bathos is linked with hupsoma (cf. Isa. 7:11), and clearly describes some kind of power which oppresses mankind... the powers (of the stars) of the deep have been defeated by the power of the love of God in Jesus Christ." (NIDNTT) TDNTA - bathos means “depth” as a. the depth of a stratum and b. depth as a dimension, also used figuratively for greatness or inscrutability. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological dictionary of the New Testament) NIDNTT - bathos is related linguistically to bessa (Doric bassa), valley floor, cleft. There is also a close connection with abyssos, bottomless (lit. unfathomable. bathos expresses distance from the speaker, but not only downwards. It can be horizontal or even upwards. bathos, therefore, denotes the extension of a thing in any spatial dimension (cf. bathos trichon, length of hair). In military usage bathos indicates the number of men standing behind one another. It is frequently used in conjunction with hupsos (high) to denote the full extent of an object in every dimension. Figuratively, bathos expresses: (a) the completeness, intensity, fullness or greatness of an object (especially in conjunction with hypsos), or of a human quality (wisdom, understanding, soul); and (b) inscrutability and hiddenness. Hellenistic and especially gnostic religion took up the figurative meaning in speaking of the depth of deity. In the OT (LXX) bathos is used chiefly as equivalent of Heb. me?ûlâh. In its lit. meaning bathos is used only of the depth of the sea (Exod. 15:5; Neh. 9:11; Zech. 10:11). In its fig. sense bathos always denotes that which is separated from God. bathos, therefore, stands for the inner need of the man troubled by guilt and → sin (Ps. 130:1 [129:1]) and for the external need of pressing circumstances (Ps. 69:2,14 [68:3,15]). bathos expresses the most extreme separation from God (the depths of the sea, Jon. 2:4; Micah 7:19) in passages where the frontier between literal and figurative meanings is fluid. In Ezek. bathos stands for ta?tî and thus for the underworld (cf. 26:20; 31:14, 18; 32:18f., 24). Here, too, bathos expresses separation from God. Heb. ma‘amaqqîm, depths, is also rendered in the LXX bathos (Isa. 51:10 etc.), while the adj. bathys is used for the words in the ‘amoq group (cf. Job 11:8; 12:22; Ps. 63:6 [64:6]; Prov. 18:4). (Brown, C. New international dictionary of New Testament theology 2:197. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan) How great are Thy works, O LORD! Thy thoughts are very deep. (Ps 92:5) Spurgeon commenting on God's thoughts as very deep writes..."The Lord's plans are as marvellous as his acts; his designs are as profound as his doings are vast. Creation is immeasurable, and the wisdom displayed in it unsearchable. Some men think but cannot work, and others are mere drudges working without thought; in the Eternal the conception and the execution go together. Providence is inexhaustible, and the divine decrees which originate it are inscrutable. Redemption is grand beyond conception, and the thoughts of love which planned it are infinite. Man is superficial, God is inscrutable; man is shallow, God is deep. Dive as we may we shall never fathom the mysterious plan, or exhaust the boundless wisdom of the all comprehending mind of the Lord. We stand by the fathomless sea of divine wisdom, and exclaim with holy awe, "O the depth!" " (Notes) Webster - bathysphere - a strongly built steel diving sphere for deep-sea observation. Depth =Deepness; the distance or measure of a thing from the surface to the bottom, or to me extreme part downwards or inwards. The depth of a river may be ten feet. The depth of the ocean is unfathomable. The depth of a wound may be an inch. In a vertical direction, depth is opposed to height. A deep place in a body of water; a part that is far from the outside or surface ?the depths of the woods?abyss. Unsearchableness; infinity. The breadth and depth of the love of Christ, are its vast extent. Profoundness; extent of penetration, or of the capacity of penetrating; as depth of skill. A profound or intense state (as of thought or feeling) ?the depths of misery?; also : a reprehensibly low condition ?hadn’t realized that standards had fallen to such depths? Bathos - 8v in NT - Matt. 13:5; Mk. 4:5; Lk. 5:4; Ro 8:39; 11:33; 1 Co. 2:10; 2 Co. 8:2; Eph. 3:18. Usage: deep(1), deep water(1), depth(5), depths(1). Matthew 13:5 "Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. Jesus explains this parable - Matthew 13:20 "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no [firm] root in himself, but is [only] temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. (i.e., they were not regenerated or born again by the Word of God). Mark 4:5 "Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. Luke 5:4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Romans 8:39-note nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Haldane commenting on nor height, nor depth writes that "These expressions appear to comprise all that had been said of angels, principalities, and powers, including them altogether to give greater force to the declaration concerning them. Wherever they were, or whatever other power might inhabit heaven above, or hell beneath, if either a part of them, or the whole in combination, were to assail those whom Jesus loves, it would be of no avail. (Romans 8 - Haldane's Exposition on the Epistle to the Romans) Newell - Nor height, nor depth-The astronomers would frighten us with their figures of the vastness of the universe But Christ has passed through all the heavens, and is at the right hand of God! And God has. loved us in Christ-there is no separation from that love. But "depth"-Ah, poor mortals we are afraid, even of earthly cliffs and chasms. Yea, but Christ descended into "the lower parts of the earth, " into "the abyss" at "the heart of the earth" (Eph 4:9; Rom 10:7; Mat 12:40). Moreover, He has said that His Church would not enter the gates of Hades (Mt 16:18). And they shall not! But even if God had arranged that they should, Christ says to John, "Fear not; I am the First and the Last, and the Living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades!" This is indeed a glorious salvation! No "depth" can separate us from God's love in Christ. (Romans 8: Expository Notes Verse by Verse) Matthew Henry takes this as somewhat figurative commenting that "neither the height of prosperity and preferment, nor the depth of adversity and disgrace; nothing from heaven above, no storms, no tempests; nothing on earth below, no rocks, no seas, no dungeons. Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 1 Corinthians 2:10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 2 Corinthians 8:2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. Ephesians 3:18-note may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (Eph 3:19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.) Bathos - 18v in non-apocryphal Septuagint - Job 28:11; Ps 69:2, 14; Pr 18:3; 24" class="scriptRef">Eccl 7:24; Isa 7:11; 51:10; Ezek 26:20; 31:14, 18; 32:18, 24; 43:13-14; Amos 9:3; Jonah 2:3; Mic 7:19; Zech 10:11. Isa 7:11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make [it] deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” Mic 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea. Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary - Bathos translates the Hebrew term m?tsûlah, “deep,” as well as tachtî, “the underworld” (e.g., Ezekiel 26:20; 31:14,18; 32:18-24). Literally bathos can describe the depths of the ocean (e.g., Zechariah 10:11). Figuratively the Septuagint translators employed bathos to denote the distance between God and a person in deep need because of sin.

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Depth (deep) (899) (bathos)

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