Deuteronomy 12:24 — Word Study
WLCלֹ֖א תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ עַל־ הָאָ֥רֶץ תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ כַּמָּֽיִם׃
BSAYou must not eat [the blood]ʼâkal▸ [under no circumstances, as food, for sustenance] pourshâphak▸ it onʻal [shed, drain] the groundʼerets [the earth, land] like watermayim [as a liquid, a source of refreshment]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹ֖א | not | Particle |
| תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ | you must eat it | Verb qal imperfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
| עַל־ | on | Preposition |
| הָאָ֥רֶץ | the ground | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ | you will pour out it | Verb qal imperfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
| כַּמָּֽיִם׃ | like water | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. |
| KJV | Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water. |
| ASV | Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water. |
| YLT | thou dost not eat it, on the earth thou dost pour it as water; |
| WEB | You shall not eat it. You shall pour it out on the earth like water. |
| BBE | Do not take it for food but let it be drained out on the earth like water. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of the key phrases, but all translations agree on the core message.
The verse is structured with a main command followed by two subordinate phrases detailing the actions to be taken.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 12:24
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Laws Regarding Blood and Sacrificegenerated
Deuteronomy 12:24 is part of a larger section where Moses instructs the Israelites on proper sacrificial practices. The prohibition against consuming blood highlights its sacredness, as blood is seen as the life force. This command is rooted in the understanding that blood belongs to God and should be treated with respect, reflecting the seriousness of their covenant relationship with Him.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 12:16 | but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 15:23 | But you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ, to.khe.Le.nugenerated
The verb אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and indicates the act of consuming food. In this context, it is a prohibition against eating blood, which is considered sacred. The parsing as a second person masculine singular verb indicates that this command is directed specifically at the Israelites.
This command emphasizes the seriousness of the prohibition. The use of the phrase 'you must not' indicates a strong negation, underscoring the importance of adhering to God's laws regarding blood.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree that the verse prohibits eating blood and instructs pouring it on the ground.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, with two main actions: the prohibition against eating blood and the instruction to pour it out. The finite verb תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ governs the first clause, while תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ governs the second.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the actions being commanded, with the prohibition stated first, followed by the instruction to pour out the blood.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the Hebrew תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ as φάγεσθε, which means 'you must eat.' This reflects a direct translation of the command's intent.
The choice of ἐπὶ for עַל indicates a similar emphasis on the action of pouring out, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 12:24 tells us that the Israelites must not eat blood but should pour it out on the ground like water. This command emphasizes the sacredness of blood in the context of their sacrificial practices and their relationship with God.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Consuming blood is prohibited because it is considered sacred, representing life itself, which belongs to God.
Pouring the blood on the ground signifies a proper respect for its sacredness and acknowledges that it is not to be consumed.
This command is part of a broader set of laws regarding sacrifices and dietary restrictions, emphasizing the holiness of life and blood.
This command teaches us about the importance of respecting what is sacred and understanding the significance of life in our spiritual practices.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the prohibition against consuming blood teach us about the sanctity of life?
- How can we show respect for the sacred aspects of our faith today?
- In what ways do we acknowledge the importance of God's commands in our daily lives?
- How can understanding these laws enhance our relationship with God?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 12:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou shalt not eat it,.... Neither with the flesh, nor separately: thou shall pour it upon the earth as water; as the blood of sacrifices was poured upon the altar, the blood of common flesh was to
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 12 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryOnly be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 12 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesI. First Division of the Laws: on Worship and Religious Institutions—Deuteronomy 12:2 to Deuteronomy 16:17, Deuteronomy 16:21 to Deuteronomy 17:7 Some 16 laws occupying because of their subject the premier place in the Code. 2–28. The Law of the One Altar and its Corollary As we have seen the law of One Sanctuary for Israel was, in the circumstances of that people in the 7th century, an inevitable consequence from the prophetic proclamation of One God for Israel. For the practice of worshipping Him at many shrines, sanctioned by Himself in the earlier period of Israel’s settlement, had, especially as many of the sites chosen were those of the Canaanite worship of local Ba‘alim, tended to…
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 12 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
You must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.
You shall not eat it. You shall pour it out on the earth like water.
You must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.
You must not eat it! You must pour it out on the ground like water.
Tyndale line
Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.
Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.
Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.
Thou shalt not eat it: thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.
Therefore thou shalt not eat it, but powre it vpon the earth as water.
Strictly literal
thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water:
thou dost not eat it, on the earth thou dost pour it as water;
you do not eat it—you pour it on the earth as water;
Thou shalt not eat it: upon the earth shalt thou pour it out like water.
You will not eat it; you will pour it out on the earth like water.
From the Latin
But thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water,
Simplified
You must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground.
Do not take it for food but let it be drained out on the earth like water.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word on this verse, indicating a consistent tradition in the transmission of this command. The Septuagint also matches the Hebrew closely in its word-for-word correspondence.
לֹ֖א תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ עַל־ הָאָ֥רֶץ תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ כַּמָּֽיִם׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
לא תאכלנו על הארץ תשׁפכנו כמים
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 12:24
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
HTn — ParticleHTn
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperfect second person masculine singular · suffixHVqi2ms/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep — PrepositionHR
On
Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…
(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…
See HELIOPOLIS.
pain; force; iniquity
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
שָׁפַךְ (shaphak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pour out or spill. It encompasses a range of actions, including pouring liquids, shedding blood, and even expressing emotions like anger. The word can also imply figurative uses, such as expending life or resources. Various forms of the verb exist, indicating different nuances, such as being poured out or pouring oneself out.
שָׁפַךְ 113 vb. pour out, pour
Qal
lit.
fig.
Niph. be poured out
Pu. be poured out
Hithp. my soul pours itself out upon me
base
H8210 שָׁפַךְ pour out, pour
8210 shaphak shaw-fak'
a primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid
metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also (figuratively)
to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc.); intensively,
to sprawl out:--cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed(-der,
out), slip.
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: pour.
: pour
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to be poured out
1d2) to pour out oneself
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: kill.
: kill/shed(blood/life)
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to be poured out
1d2) to pour out oneself
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: build siege mound.
: build_siege_mound
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperfect second person masculine singular · suffixHVqi2ms/Sp3ms
מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.
[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
base
H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
4325 mayim mah'-yim
dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+
piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
מַי (ma.yim) — water.
1) water, waters
1a) water
1b) water of the feet, urine
1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)
מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).
This name means water, refreshment
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHRd/Ncmpa
wo'-ter (mayim; hudor):
(1) The Greek philosophers believed water to be the original substance and that all things were made from it. The Koran states, "From water we have made all things." In the story of the creation (Ge 1:2) water plays an elemental part.
(2) Because of the scarcity of water in Palestine it is especially appreciated by the people there. They love to go and sit by a stream of running water. Men long for a taste of the water of their native village (1Ch 11:17). A town or village is known throughout the country for the quality of its water, which is described by many adjectives, such as "light," "heavy," etc.
(3) The rainfall is the only source of supply of water for Palestine. The moisture is carried up from the sea in clouds and falls on the hills as rain or snow.…
See CISTERN and WELLS.
In Isa 35:7, the Hebrew word for "parched ground" that shall become a pool of water, is the same with the Arabic term for the mirage, a peculiar optical illusion by which travelers in hot and dry deserts think they see broad lakes and flowing waters; they seem to discern the very ripple of the waves, and the swaying of tail trees on the margin in the cool breeze; green hills and houses and city ramparts rise before the astonished sight, recede as the traveler advances, and at length melt away in the hot haze. Not so the blessings of the gospel; they are no alluring mockery, but real waters of everlasting life, Isa 55:1 Joh 4:14 Re 22:1. Compare
→ Creation of Ps 148:4,5
→ Covered the whole earth Ge 1:9
→ Daily allowance of Eze 4:11
→ City waterworks 2Ki 20:20
→ Vision of, by Ezekiel Eze 47:1-5
→ Of separation Nu 19:2-22