Lake
“Lake, pool”
Summary
A body of standing water, used in the New Testament for the Sea of Galilee and for the 'lake of fire' in Revelation.
☩Sea of Galilee
The Greek word 'limne' (lake) is used in Luke's Gospel for the Sea of Galilee, also called the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1-2; 8:22-23, 33). This inland sea, about 13 miles long and 7 miles wide, was the setting for much of Jesus' Galilean ministry. Other biblical writers typically use 'sea' (thalassa) for this body of water, but Luke, writing for a Greek audience familiar with larger bodies of water, uses the more precise geographical term.
☩Lake of Fire
In Revelation, 'lake' designates the place of final punishment—'the lake of fire burning with brimstone' (Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 14-15; 21:8). Into this lake are cast the beast and false prophet, then the devil, and finally death, Hades, and all whose names are not in the Book of Life. This 'lake of fire' is called 'the second death' (Revelation 20:14; 21:8), representing eternal separation from God.
Related Verses10 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Lake," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Lake," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).