מְצוֹלָה (me.tso.lah)
me.tso.lah
depth
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mĕṣôlâ refers to a profound depth, specifically describing the deep sea or abyssal waters. In the biblical text, it conveys a sense of immense vertical distance and overwhelming volume, often evoking the chaotic or untamed aspects of the ocean rather than its surface calm.
This word appears in five verses across Psalms, Nehemiah, and Zechariah. The sources highlight its use in Psalm 69:15, where the psalmist pleads to be delivered from sinking into the mire, a context that emphasizes personal peril and the threat of being swallowed by overwhelming forces. It also appears in Nehemiah 9:11 when describing how the Israelites passed through the sea on dry ground, contrasting human deliverance with the terrifying depth they traversed.
Etymologically, mĕṣôlâ is related to roots suggesting enclosure or being surrounded by water. While often translated simply as "depth" or "deep," its specific nuance in these texts points to a place of danger and obscurity. Translators typically render it as "the deep" or "depths," preserving the image of a vast, submerged reality that stands in contrast to the stability of dry land.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mĕṣôlâ describes a profound depth, often evoking the chaotic and overwhelming power of the deep sea or abyssal waters. In the biblical text, it conveys immense vertical distance and volume, pointing to places of danger and obscurity rather than calm surfaces. When you feel surrounded by forces beyond your control, this imagery captures that sense of being submerged in trouble.
Yet Scripture also shows God’s power over these depths. In Nehemiah 9:11, the Israelites passed through the sea on dry ground while their pursuers were cast into the deep. This contrast reminds us that what seems like an insurmountable barrier can become a path of deliverance when God acts. The depth is not just a place of peril but also a stage for divine intervention.
When life feels overwhelming, remember that God sees your situation clearly. He is able to part the waters and provide stability where there was once chaos. Trust in His ability to bring order from disorder, knowing that no depth is too great for His reach.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ [the] depths2×
- in/ [the] depths of1×
- in/ [the] deep1×
- [the] depths of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְצוּל֣וֹת1×
- בִּ/מְצוּלָֽה\׃1×
- בִּ/מְצֻל֥וֹת1×
- בִ/מְצוֹלֹ֛ת1×
- בִ/מְצוֹלֹ֖ת1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 107:24
these see Yahweh’s deeds, and his wonders in the deep.
The psalmist highlights God's wonders in the deep, showing that even in chaotic waters, divine power is at work.
-
Nehemiah 9:11
You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
This verse contrasts the deliverance of Israel walking on dry ground with the destruction of pursuers cast into the depths, emphasizing God's control over chaos.
-
Micah 7:19
He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Here, sins are cast into the depths of the sea, illustrating complete removal and forgiveness through God's compassion.