Watches Of Night
The watches of night were periods assigned to sentries between sunset and sunrise. Jewish usage recognized three watches; under Roman influence the night was divided into four, including evening, midnight, cockcrowing, and morning.
Bible Dictionary
Explore biblical people, places, events, objects, ideas, and other terms. Search the dictionary directly, browse alphabetically, or narrow the list by category or Testament.
132 entries found
Watchings
Watchings means periods of sleeplessness or keeping awake. Paul lists such hardships among the trials endured in Christian service, alongside labor, travel, prayer, and concern for others.
WATER
Water is essential to life and appears throughout Scripture in creation, travel, agriculture, cleansing, worship, and judgment. It may also symbolize refreshment, distress, cleansing, or God’s sustaining provision.
Water of jealousy
The water of jealousy was the water used in the Mosaic procedure for testing a wife suspected of unfaithfulness. It accompanied an oath and curse before the Lord; the water itself was not treated as a natural poison.
Water of purification
The water of purification was used in ceremonial cleansing, including the consecration of the Levites. It symbolized the purity required of those who serve God.
Water of separation
The water of separation was mixed with the ashes of a red heifer to cleanse persons defiled by contact with a dead body. It belonged to Israel’s ceremonial purification under the Mosaic law.
WATERCOURSE
A watercourse is a channel, streambed, river, or conduit through which water flows. Scripture uses the term for natural channels as well as constructed passages carrying water.
WATERFALL
A waterfall is a falling or cascading body of water. In Psalm 42, the term describes the overwhelming sound and force of the waters.
WATERPOT
A waterpot was an earthen jar used to carry or store water. Larger vessels were also used for water connected with Jewish ceremonial purification.
WATERS
“Waters” may refer literally to rivers, seas, or sources of water, and figuratively to distress, overwhelming power, fear, transience, refreshment, peace, or abundant outpouring.
WATERSPOUT
“Waterspout” may describe a waterfall or cataract, though the underlying biblical term is uncertain. In another passage it may refer to sea monsters or the deep waters.
Waterspouts
“Waterspouts” in Psalm 42:7 may refer to waterfalls or cataracts. The image describes overwhelming waters and serves poetically to express deep distress and the floodlike force of God’s judgments or circumstances.
Page 3 of 11
© 2026 AVisitWithJesus
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
