You asked

where else in the bible does 'the deep' or 'waters' appear as a symbol of threat or chaos?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Genesis 1:2

“The earth was waste and void; and darkness was on the surface of the deep. God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

This verse opens the book of Genesis, the foundational book of the Hebrew Bible, written to an ancient Israelite audience. It describes the state of the world before God's creative acts began, setting the stage for the ordering of creation.

How does this ancient image of chaos resonate with our own experiences of disorder or things 'out of control'?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Psalm 69:1-2
The psalmist cries out from deep waters threatening to engulf them, a metaphor for distress.
Jonah 2:3-5
Jonah recounts being cast into the deep, with the floods surrounding him, symbolizing imminent death and God's judgment.
Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating power over chaotic natural forces that threaten his disciples.

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