βυθός (buthos)
buthos
the deep
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun buthos refers to the bottom or the profound depths of the sea. In classical usage and the Septuagint, it often describes the abyssal regions where waters are deepest, evoking a sense of immense, unfathomable distance below the surface.
In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in 2 Corinthians 11:25. Paul uses it to describe being "deep-sea" or cast into the deep during a shipwreck he endured. This specific context highlights not just physical danger, but the terrifying vastness of the ocean’s lowest reaches, emphasizing the peril and helplessness of his situation.
The term carries a weight of mystery and danger, distinct from simple water references. By choosing buthos, Paul underscores the extreme nature of his suffering, placing himself in a realm where rescue seemed impossible. This single usage anchors the word in a narrative of survival against overwhelming natural forces.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word buthos describes the crushing weight of the ocean's deepest trenches, a place where light fades and rescue feels impossible. When Paul mentions spending a night and a day in the deep, he is not just listing hardships; he is standing in the darkest corner of human vulnerability. It reminds us that there are moments when our own strength reaches its absolute limit.
Yet this terrifying depth is also where we learn the true extent of divine support. Being cast into the abyss does not mean abandonment. History shows us that even in the most hopeless physical circumstances, grace remains present. This word invites us to trust that no situation is too deep for God's reach to find us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- deep [sea]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βυθῷ1×
Key Verses
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II Corinthians 11:25
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.
Paul uses this term to emphasize the extreme peril of his shipwreck, highlighting a moment where natural survival seemed impossible.