What does מַיִם (mayim) mean in the Bible?
מַיִם (mayim) is the ordinary Hebrew noun for water or waters. Its grammatical form is plural, while context determines whether English uses a singular mass noun or a plural expression.
Hebrew · H4325
מַיִם
Water ; figuratively, juice ; by euphemism, urine , semen
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מַיִם H4325
Pronunciation mayim
What does מַיִם (mayim) mean in the Bible?
מַיִם (mayim) is the ordinary Hebrew noun for water or waters. Its grammatical form is plural, while context determines whether English uses a singular mass noun or a plural expression.
Reader summary
Full entry for מַיִם (H4325) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4325?
The BSB source-word alignment has 579 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include water (116), the waters (78), waters (42), with water (39), of water (36).
Where does מַיִם (mayim) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 1:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (56), Genesis (54), Psalms (53), Ezekiel (48).
What This Word Actually Means
מַיִם (mayim) is the ordinary Hebrew noun for water or waters. Its grammatical form is plural, while context determines whether English uses a singular mass noun or a plural expression. Scripture uses the same word for creation's waters, drinking water, wells, rivers, floodwaters, and water supplied in the wilderness.
Because water is necessary for life, biblical writers also use it in images of provision, cleansing, danger, judgment, and renewed creation. Isaiah 55:1 invites the thirsty to the waters as part of a free summons to receive God's covenant provision. Isaiah 44:3 places poured water beside the promise that God will pour out his Spirit, making the comparison explicit without making every occurrence of mayim a reference to the Spirit.
The canonical pattern is broad rather than mechanically symbolic. The sea can become the setting of deliverance in Exodus 14, water from the rock sustains Israel in Numbers 20, quiet waters picture the shepherd's care in Psalm 23, and Ezekiel 47 describes life spreading wherever the temple river goes. These passages should be read in their own settings before their themes are brought together.
Lexical sourcePassage contextCanonical synthesis
How the Bible Uses It
Mayim names literal water across the Hebrew Bible and therefore participates in many different narrative and poetic settings. Its theological importance comes from what God does with water in particular passages, not from a hidden meaning carried by the noun itself.
- Gen.1.2
The Spirit of God hovers over the face of the waters before the ordered divisions described in the following creation account.
- Exod.14.21
God divides the sea waters so Israel can cross, making the waters the setting of deliverance and of judgment on the pursuing army.
- Num.20.11
Water comes abundantly from the rock for the congregation and livestock even as the larger episode records Moses' disobedience.
- Isa.55.1
The prophet calls everyone who thirsts to come to the waters and receive without money, using water within an invitation to God's abundant provision.
- Ezek.47.9
The visionary river flowing from the temple brings fresh water and life wherever it goes.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It water 116× Genesis 18:4, Genesis 24:13, Genesis 24:17, Genesis 24:43
the waters 78× Genesis 1:6, Genesis 1:7, Genesis 1:21, Genesis 1:22
waters 42× Exodus 15:10, Joshua 3:13, Joshua 4:7, 2 Samuel 22:17
with water 39× Exodus 29:4, Exodus 30:20, Exodus 40:12, Leviticus 1:9
of water 36× Genesis 16:7, Genesis 21:19, Exodus 14:22, Exodus 14:29
. . . 34× Genesis 6:17, Genesis 7:6, Genesis 21:14, Genesis 21:19
the water 34× Exodus 2:10, Exodus 4:9, Exodus 7:17, Exodus 7:20
and water 23× Genesis 24:32, Deuteronomy 23:4, Joshua 9:21, Joshua 9:23
like water 14× Deuteronomy 12:16, Deuteronomy 12:24, Deuteronomy 15:23, Joshua 7:5
in the water 6× Leviticus 11:9, Leviticus 11:10, Leviticus 11:12, Leviticus 11:46
of the waters 6× Genesis 1:2, Genesis 7:18, Joshua 3:8, Joshua 15:9
- 5× Leviticus 11:10, 1 Kings 18:5, 1 Kings 18:35, 2 Kings 3:20
and the waters 5× Genesis 7:17, Genesis 7:24, Genesis 8:1, Genesis 8:5
for water 5× Exodus 7:24, Exodus 17:3, Jeremiah 14:3, Amos 4:8
at the waters 4× Numbers 20:24, Deuteronomy 32:51, Joshua 18:15, Psalms 106:32
vvv 4× Exodus 7:19, Job 24:19, Isaiah 54:9, Ezekiel 47:4
your water 4× Exodus 23:25, Numbers 20:19, Deuteronomy 29:11, Ezekiel 12:18
As water 3× Job 14:11, Job 14:19, Proverbs 27:19
in water 3× Numbers 19:7, Numbers 19:8, Numbers 19:19
of the water 3× Exodus 32:20, Job 24:18, Hosea 10:7
to the waters 3× Joshua 16:1, Isaiah 55:1, Ezekiel 48:28
[and] 2× Joshua 3:13, Ezekiel 47:5
as the waters 2× Genesis 49:4, Habakkuk 2:14
by the waters 2× Genesis 9:11, Ezekiel 31:14
flood 2× 2 Samuel 5:20, 1 Chronicles 14:11
in the waters 2× Deuteronomy 4:18, Joshua 3:13
its water 2× Numbers 20:8, Jeremiah 6:7
Let the waters 2× Genesis 1:9, Genesis 1:20
of tears 2× Psalms 119:136, Lamentations 3:48
of waters 2× Genesis 1:10, Jeremiah 31:9
or in the waters 2× Exodus 20:4, Deuteronomy 5:8
so that the waters 2× Exodus 14:26, Proverbs 8:29
So the waters 2× Genesis 7:18, Exodus 14:21
to the water 2× Exodus 7:15, Exodus 8:20
were the waters 2× Numbers 20:13, Numbers 27:14
whose waters 2× Isaiah 58:11, Jeremiah 46:7
with the water 2× Numbers 8:7, Numbers 31:23
[and] his water 1× Isaiah 33:16
[and] storm 1× Psalms 18:11
[even to go] for water 1× Nehemiah 4:23
[it] 1× Ezekiel 47:9
[they] 1× Exodus 15:25
a flood 1× Proverbs 17:14
and [it] 1× 2 Kings 3:22
and be like water 1× 2 Samuel 14:14
and it 1× Numbers 5:24
and its waters 1× Jeremiah 46:8
and its waves 1× Isaiah 57:20
and made water 1× Psalms 78:16
and the water 1× Isaiah 30:20
And the waters [there] 1× 2 Kings 2:22
and the watery 1× Job 37:10
and waterless [land] 1× Deuteronomy 8:15
and you waters 1× Psalms 148:4
brought the waters 1× Exodus 15:19
But the water 1× 2 Kings 2:19
by the Water 1× Nehemiah 8:16
causes the water 1× Isaiah 64:2
Finally, the waters 1× Genesis 7:19
floodwaters 1× Isaiah 8:7
for preparing the water 1× Numbers 19:9
for the waters 1× Isaiah 22:11
from the line 1× Isaiah 48:1
from the waters 1× Genesis 1:6
give him water 1× Proverbs 25:21
He made the waters 1× Deuteronomy 11:4
He made water 1× Isaiah 48:21
her waters 1× Jeremiah 50:38
I will let her waters 1× Ezekiel 32:14
if the waters 1× Genesis 8:8
in the watering 1× Genesis 30:38
in the waters above 1× Psalms 104:3
into raging waters 1× Nehemiah 9:11
it in the water 1× Numbers 19:18
it in water 1× 2 Kings 8:15
it only as waters 1× Job 11:16
like a flood 1× Job 27:20
like a river 1× Amos 5:24
must be rinsed with water 1× Leviticus 11:32
must we bring you water 1× Numbers 20:10
of the sea 1× Psalms 18:15
of the Spring 1× 2 Chronicles 32:30
of water [as well] 1× Judges 1:15
or water 1× Numbers 21:5
pool 1× Jeremiah 41:12
regarding the waters 1× Numbers 27:14
rise 1× Psalms 32:6
seas 1× Ezekiel 27:26
So the water 1× 1 Kings 18:35
some water 1× Exodus 4:9
streams 1× Isaiah 44:4
that the waters 1× Isaiah 54:9
the floods 1× Psalms 124:4
the floodwaters 1× Genesis 7:10
the rain 1× 2 Samuel 21:10
the river 1× 2 Samuel 17:21
the sea 1× Psalms 74:13
the water [supply] 1× 2 Samuel 12:27
The water is ours 1× Genesis 26:20
the water there 1× Ezekiel 47:8
the water’s 1× Joshua 3:15
the waters {upright} 1× Psalms 78:13
their water 1× Ezekiel 12:19
their waters 1× Psalms 105:29
then the water 1× Numbers 5:27
though their waters 1× Psalms 46:3
through the water 1× Numbers 31:23
through the waters 1× Isaiah 43:2
water in it 1× Exodus 40:7
waterpots 1× 1 Kings 18:34
were a spring of water 1× Jeremiah 9:1
When the water 1× Genesis 21:15
when the waters 1× Job 38:30
will the waters 1× Genesis 9:15
with tears 1× Lamentations 1:16
with water [from that pot] 1× Leviticus 11:34
you with water 1× Ezekiel 16:9
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 1:2 הַמָּֽיִם׃ to of the waters Article | Noun - masculine plural Genesis 1:6 הַמָּ֑יִם to the waters Article | Noun - masculine plural Genesis 1:6 מַ֖יִם to the waters Noun - masculine plural Genesis 1:6 לָמָֽיִם׃ to from the waters Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural Genesis 1:7 הַמַּ֙יִם֙ to the waters Article | Noun - masculine plural Genesis 1:7 הַמַּ֔יִם to the waters Article | Noun - masculine plural Genesis 1:9 הַמַּ֜יִם to Let the waters Article | Noun - masculine plural Genesis 1:10 הַמַּ֖יִם to of waters Article | Noun - masculine plural Genesis 1:20 הַמַּ֔יִם to Let the waters Article | Noun - masculine plural Genesis 1:21 הַמַּ֜יִם to the waters Article | Noun - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 1:2
Aligned rows 579
Books represented 33
Genesis 54 Exodus 44 Leviticus 43 Numbers 45 Deuteronomy 21 Joshua 23 Judges 13 1 Samuel 8 2 Samuel 10 1 Kings 19 2 Kings 23 1 Chronicles 3 2 Chronicles 4 Ezra 1 Nehemiah 10 Job 24 Psalms 53 Proverbs 14 Ecclesiastes 2 Song Of Solomon 3 Isaiah 56 Jeremiah 29 Lamentations 5 Ezekiel 48 Daniel 3 Hosea 3 Joel 2 Amos 5 Jonah 2 Micah 1 Nahum 3 Habakkuk 3 Zechariah 2
Source forms
מַ֖יִם 37x ma·yim Genesis 1:6, Genesis 7:6, Genesis 8:9, Genesis 24:17
מָֽיִם׃ 33x mā·yim Genesis 24:13, Genesis 26:32, Genesis 37:24, Exodus 15:22
מָ֑יִם 31x mā·yim Genesis 21:19, Deuteronomy 8:15, Joshua 15:19, Judges 1:15
מַ֣יִם 28x ma·yim Exodus 7:24, Numbers 20:11, 2 Kings 19:24, Job 14:9
מַ֥יִם 24x ma·yim Genesis 26:19, Leviticus 14:5, Leviticus 14:50, Numbers 5:17
הַמַּ֔יִם 19x ham·ma·yim Genesis 1:7, Genesis 1:20, Genesis 8:3, Genesis 8:8
מַ֙יִם֙ 19x ma·yim Genesis 6:17, Genesis 43:24, Exodus 15:23, Leviticus 11:38
מַ֔יִם 17x ma·yim Genesis 18:4, Genesis 21:19, Exodus 15:8, Numbers 21:5
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine plural 244x Genesis 1:6, Genesis 6:17, Genesis 7:6, Genesis 8:9
Article | Noun - masculine plural 96x Genesis 1:2, Genesis 1:6, Genesis 1:7, Genesis 1:9
Noun - masculine plural construct 61x Genesis 7:7, Exodus 7:19, Exodus 8:6, Exodus 15:19
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural 57x Exodus 12:9, Exodus 20:4, Exodus 29:4, Exodus 40:12
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural 22x Genesis 24:32, Exodus 34:28, Numbers 20:5, Deuteronomy 2:28
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine plural 18x Genesis 49:4, Deuteronomy 12:16, Deuteronomy 12:24, Deuteronomy 15:23
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct 8x Numbers 19:9, Numbers 20:24, Joshua 16:1, Isaiah 22:11
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural 7x Genesis 7:19, Genesis 8:5, Exodus 14:22, Exodus 14:29
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Distinguish what a water passage says directly from themes supplied by later canonical reflection.
- When teaching Numbers 20, retain both God's provision and the passage's judgment on Moses' disobedience.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that every biblical occurrence of water symbolizes the Holy Spirit, baptism, cleansing, or salvation.
- Do not claim that Genesis 1:2 itself teaches Christian baptism or new birth merely because water and the Spirit appear in the same verse.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Foundational necessity moving from literal substance to bodily fluids; water as life-sustaining element throughout OT narrative and metaphor.
Source Gloss
water ; figuratively, juice ; by euphemism, urine , semen
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Foundational necessity moving from literal substance to bodily fluids; water as life-sustaining element throughout OT narrative and metaphor.
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen BDB: waters Usage: piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Primordial cosmic waters in creation, foundational physical element
Destructive flood waters representing military invasion and divine judgment
Figurative use for deep counsel and wisdom in human heart
Euphemistic reference to semen in context of ritual purity laws
Life-giving moisture representing divine blessing and restoration of dry land
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 582 lexical occurrence verses.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Mayim helps a congregation see that biblical water imagery begins with actual water and the real human need it meets. Creation's waters, the sea crossed by Israel, the wilderness supply, a shepherd's quiet waters, and prophetic rivers are not interchangeable symbols. Each scene discloses something through its own action and context: God orders, restrains, provides, judges, refreshes, or promises renewal.
A faithful sermon can trace those patterns while saying clearly when a passage itself makes a comparison, as Isaiah 44 does with poured water and the Spirit. This approach preserves both the ordinary lexical sense and the richness of canonical synthesis. It also prevents a familiar image from becoming a shortcut that erases narrative differences or imports baptism, cleansing, or the Spirit into every verse containing water.
Anchor passage
Isa.55.1
Doctrinal connections
- Gen.1.2: waters within the opening creation scene
- Exod.14.21: divided waters and deliverance
- Num.20.11: provision from the rock within a warning about disobedience
- Ps.23.2: quiet waters in the shepherd image
- Isa.44.3: an explicit comparison between poured water and the Spirit
- Ezek.47.9: the temple river bringing life
Mayim is plural in grammatical form and appears in absolute and construct expressions. Translation must follow the local syntax and setting rather than forcing the English plural waters in every verse.
From Old to New Testament
John 4 and John 7 use living-water language in relation to Jesus and the Spirit, while Revelation 22 presents the river of the water of life. These texts develop water imagery canonically without changing the lexical sense of Hebrew mayim.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain