The meaning of Stream in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
strem: (1) nachal, English Versions of the Bible "stream," as: "Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed" (Psalms 78:20). Often "valley," as "the valley (the King James Version "river") of the Arnon" (Deuteronomy 2:24); or "brook," as "the brook (the King James Version "river") of Egypt" (Joshua 15:4; see BROOK or EGYPT); or "river," as "the river Kishon" (Judges 4:7). (2) nahar (Aramaic nehar (Daniel 7:10); compare Arabic nahr, "river"): "He bindeth the streams," the King James Version "floods" (Job 28:11); "the River" (Euphrates) (Exodus 23:31, etc.); "Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus" (II Kings 5:12). (3) pelegh, the root palagh, "to split," "to divide," hence, "cleft," "channel": "a tree planted by the streams (the King James Version "rivers") of water" (Psalms 1:3); "There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God" (Psalms 46:4); but: "The king's heart is .... as the watercourses" (the King James Version "rivers of water") (Proverbs 21:1). (4) 'aphiq, the root 'aphaq, "to be strong," hence, "channel," "valley," as holding, confining (BDB): "the streams in the South" (Psalms 126:4); elsewhere "brook," as "the brooks (the King James Version "rivers") of Judah" (Joel 3:18); or "channel," as "the channel of brooks" (Job 6:15); or "watercourses" (the Revised Version margin "ravines," the King James Version "rivers") (Ezekiel 6:3, etc.). (5) ye'or, from Egyptian 'iotr, 'io'r, especially of the Nile, as: "Seven other kine came up after them out of the river" (Genesis 41:3); the Revised Version (British and American) "stream," the King James Version "river" (Exodus 7:19; Exodus 8:5);, the Revised Version (British and American) "stream," the King James Version "brook"; "The streams (margin "canals") of Egypt shall be diminished and dried up" (Isaiah 19:6). (6) yabhal, the root yabhal, "to bear along": "brooks and streams of waters" (Isaiah 30:25); compare yabhal, "river," "that spreadeth out its roots by the river" (Jeremiah 17:8); 'ubhal, "the river Ulai" (Daniel 8:2). (7) nazal, "to flow," "to trickle": "He brought streams also out of the rock" (Psalms 78:16). (8) 'eshedh, "the slope of the valleys," the King James Version "the stream of the brooks" (Numbers 21:15); compare 'ashedhoth, "the slopes" (Joshua 10:40); "the slopes (margin "springs") of Pisgah" (Deuteronomy 3:17). (9) potamos, "The stream brake against that house" (Luke 6:48-49); elsewhere "river," as "the river Jordan" (Mark 1:5). (10) kludon, "stream," the King James Version The Wisdom of Solomon 19:7 (the Revised Version (British and American) "surge").
See BROOK; CANALS; CHANNEL; RIVER; VALE; WATERCOURSE.
Alfred Ely Day
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