The Spiritual Significance of Water – Inspired By Junea 365

Genesis 1:26 (CJB)

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth.

According to this scripture, there are stages or aspects that encompass the process of what it takes for a believer to be able to say that they have “DOMINION over the earth!” In order for us to be able to see the “greater works” that Jesus spoke of in John 14:12, we must have complete dominion over the earth and not just pieces, portions, or certain aspects of dominion; our RULE must be over the entire earth.

The first aspect or stage of dominion that the Father wanted us to have over the earth is dominion over the sea. Water in scripture is one of the most symbolic naturally, and spiritually rich elements in the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God uses water to communicate and get His point across in the earth.

Whoever gains control over the water has the power to then be able to conquer all of the other aspects or stages (air, animals, earth, crawling creatures or spirits) necessary to have complete dominion over the earth.

The reason why it is important that we control the water first is because water contains the answer to everything we could need in order to subdue, conquer and have dominion in the earth.

Ecclesiastes 10:19 (CJB)

“Parties are made for having a good time, wine adds cheer to life, and money has an answer for everything.”

Let’s put this verse in context:

It is important that we understand that Ecclesiastes is a book where Solomon is often describing life “under the sun” — meaning life from a human or earthly viewpoint, not always from a spiritual or eternal viewpoint.

This verse is part of a larger passage about foolish rulers, poor decision-making, and how the world operates on a practical level. So, the last portion of that scripture is not talking about money in a “spiritual” aspect but in a “natural” one! Solomon was referring to how money provides access and influence. He was also referring to how money solves problems and even controls the “flow” of the world’s systems. Why do you think that we call money CURRENCY!? You will be absolutely SURPRISED at how much influence the water has over the land! Think about it, the majority of the earth’s wealth is in the sea!

So below, I list some of the things that water represents in scripture.

The First thing that Water does is it Represents Life!

Water sustains natural life — and is a divine picture of God as the ultimate sustainer of both our spiritual and natural life. Think about the life that is sustained in the earth’s waters itself! Then there is water that is necessary to sustain humanity that starts from conception in the womb and it continues on throughout the years of our life here on earth. Next, you have water representing our spiritual life. You have to be “born again” in order to become a part of the Kingdom of God and this rebirth takes place by water baptism. This is why I love the book: “Baptism: A Weapon For Deliverance” by Apostle Derek Talbird (available on Amazon – click the link to check it out) about the significance of water baptism because it breaks down how water is essential for starting a new life in Christ! Finally, below are some scripture references regarding the spiritual aspects of water in the life of the believer.

John 4:10-14 – Jesus offers “living water” that becomes a well springing up to eternal life.
Revelation 22:1 – The river of the water of life flows from the throne of God.
Psalm 1:3 – The blessed man is like a tree planted by streams of water.

The Second thing Water does is it Represents the Word of God!

God’s Word cleanses, refreshes, and nourishes the spirit. In scripture, the use of water is a direct metaphor or representation of how the Word works. The Word performs in the spirit what water does in the natural! I hope this makes sense! For example, Water washes away dirt from the body and the Word washes away impurities from the soul. Just like living things die without water, the spirit man starves without the Word of God. Water causes seeds to grow just like the Word of God causes faith to grow. You tracking with me? So below are some scriptures that show in scripture how water represents the Word of God.

Ephesians 5:26 – The washing of water by the Word.
- “In order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion in the mikveh (a collection or gathering of water), so to speak, (CJB)
Isaiah 55:10-11 – Water causing growth is compared to God’s Word accomplishing His purpose.
- For just as rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return there, but water the earth, causing it to bud and produce, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so is my word that goes out from my mouth – it will not return to me unfulfilled; but it will accomplish what I intend, and cause to succeed what I sent it to do. (CJB)
1 John 5:6-8 – Water bearing witness in the earth.
- He is the one who came by means of water and blood, Yeshua the Messiah – not with water only, but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses – the Spirit, the water and the blood – and these three are in agreement. (CJB)

The Third thing Water does is it Represents the Holy Spirit!

The Spirit is frequently symbolized by flowing, life-giving water. Another thing that the Father just dropped in my spirit is when He confirmed Jesus’ ministry through John baptizing Him. Even though Jesus was God in the flesh, He had to be fully immersed in natural waters so that He could begin to walk out those steps in the natural and give the blueprint to how believers will be able to regain their access back to right standing with the father, but how He also showed how to walk out the steps to regaining our dominion back over the earth like I mentioned in the beginning of this teaching. That flesh suit named Jesus had to be “reborn” like everyone else who would follow. Jesus had to give a visual to everyone who was “willing and obedient” to follow His directions, to point us back into right standing with the Father.

John 7:38 – Rivers of living water refer to the Holy Spirit.
- Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being! (CJB)
Isaiah 44:3 – God will pour His Spirit on the thirsty land.
- For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, my blessing on your offspring. (CJB)

The Fourth thing Water does is it Represents Cleansing and Purification.

Beyond physical washing, water symbolizes inner transformation. Water represents cleansing and purification in scripture because it is God’s chosen symbol for removing impurities and restoration back to holiness. Just as water washes away physical dirt, God uses it spiritually to illustrate how He cleanses His people from sin and uncleanliness. In the Old Testament, the people had to wash themselves with water which marked a transition from being unclean to being acceptable before God (Leviticus 15:5; Numbers 19:7). This shows us now about how cleansing was necessary then before approaching His presence and it is necessary now.

Psalm 51:2,7 – David cried out to God for cleansing because he understood that only God can purify the inner man.
- (2) Wash me completely from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.
- (7) Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me,and I will be whiter than snow. (CJB)
Acts 22:16 – Baptism as symbolic washing of sins.
- So now, what are you waiting for? Get up, immerse yourself and have your sins washed away as you call on His name. (CJB)

The Fifth thing Water does is it Represents Judgment and Deliverance.

God uses water to defeat enemies but also to save His people. He uses water to destroy what opposes Him as well as using it to preserve what belongs to Him. When you think about it, water is a dividing line, a tool that the Father uses to separate righteousness from wickedness. In the days of Noah, the flood waters were God’s judgment on a corrupted world, yet those same waters lifted the ark and delivered Noah and his family into a new beginning (Genesis 7–8). In this, water becomes a symbol of God wiping away sin but also rescuing the faithful from its consequences.

In the New Testament, baptism carries this same double meaning. Going down into the water represents death to the old sinful life — judgment on the flesh — while rising out of it represents new life and deliverance through Christ (Romans 6:3–4). Water testifies that God deals decisively with sin while preserving those who turn to Him.

So spiritually, water shows that God is both Judge and Savior. It reveals His power to confront evil, erase what is corrupt, and at the same time, open up a way of escape and new beginnings for His people. The same water that brings destruction to sin brings salvation to the righteous — depending on where you stand with God.

Genesis 6–9 – The flood: judgment on the wicked, salvation for Noah.
Joshua 3 – Israel crossed over into the Promised Land through water.
Exodus 14 – Red Sea: pathway of deliverance for Israel; destruction of Pharaoh.
Romans 6:3-4 – Baptism by water testifies of how God deals with sin while preserving those who accepts Him.

The Sixth thing Water does is it Represents New Birth.

Water represents new birth in scripture because it symbolizes the transition from an old life into a new spiritual existence. For those who truly come to the understanding in knowing what REALLY took place when they were baptized, their journey into spiritual awakening will be never-ending! The water serves as a visible sign that a believer has chosen to put off their sinful nature and put on a new identity that represents Christ in every area of their lives. In Scripture, God always uses water to symbolize a new beginning, a coming forth, or a cleansing. Water symbolizes that God has closed a door to what was and has opened a door to what will be the new pages in the chapters of our lives moving forward.

In baptism, going down into the water signifies a burial of the old life, while coming up from the water symbolizes resurrection and rebirth (Romans 6:3–4). It is a prophetic act that demonstrates that everything that once held us is left behind in the “grave” of the water, and we emerge with a fresh start empowered by the Holy Spirit. Just as natural birth involves water breaking and a child entering the world, spiritual birth involves the living water of God cleansing and bringing forth kingdom life. Below, are some scripture references to show how water represents rebirth!

John 3:5 – Born of water and Spirit to enter the Kingdom.
- Yeshua answered, Yes, indeed I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. (CJB)
Titus 3:5 – The washing of regeneration and renewal by the Spirit.
- He delivered us. It was not on the ground of any righteous deeds we had done, but on the ground of His own mercy. He did it by means of the mikveh (a collection or gathering of water) of rebirth and the renewal brought about by the Ruach HaKodesh, (CJB)
Ephesians 4:22-23 – Putting off the old, rotting nature and putting on the new nature of Christ.
- Then, so far as your former way of life is concerned, you must strip off your old nature, because your old nature is thoroughly rotted by its deceptive desires; and you must let your spirits and minds keep being renewed, and clothe yourselves with the new nature created to be godly, which expresses itself in the righteousness and holiness that flow from the truth. (CSB)

The Seventh thing Water does is it Represents God’s Presence and Provision.

Where water flows, God is near. Wherever water appeared in scripture, it signified that God was present and actively sustaining His people. From the time when God revealed Himself to the Israelites in the wilderness, to the time when David made us to know that He was the Good Shepherd in the Psalms, all the way to the New Testament when John told us about the Rivers of Living Waters that His spirit represent; all throughout the scriptures the Father shows us how He and water will always have a lasting relationship. So spiritually, water is not just a resource but a revelation: God is here. God sustains. God provides. Where He is, lack cannot remain. His presence breaks dryness, restores life, and ensures that His people have everything they need to flourish, prosper and be in health, even as their souls prosper. Below are some scripture references for how water represents God’s presence and provision.

Exodus 17:6 – Water from the rock: supernatural supply in dryness.
- I will stand in front of you there on the rock in Horev. You are to strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so the people can drink. Moshe did this in the sight of the leaders of Isra’el. (CJB)
Psalm 46:4 – A river makes glad the city of God.
- There is a river whose streams gladden the city of God, the holy habitation of Elyon – (CJB)
1 Corinthians 10:4 – The Rock was Christ.
- And they all drank the same drink from the Spirit – for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah. (CJB)

The Eighth thing Water does is it Represents Healing.

God moves His healing power through water in unique ways. Jesus builds on this symbolism by calling Himself the giver of “living water” — the Holy Spirit — who brings inner healing, deliverance, and renewal to the deepest places of the heart. This shows that healing isn’t only physical; God heals the soul, the emotions, the mind, and the spirit. Water becomes the symbol of His ability to cleanse what is infected, revive what is dying, and make whole what has been broken.

So in scripture, water embodies the truth that where God flows, healing follows. His healing may come through divine intervention, through obedience, or through the outpouring of His Spirit — but the image remains the same: God heals by sending living water into the places that need life restored. Below are some scripture that reference how water represents healing in the scriptures.

2 Kings 5:10-14 – Naaman is healed in the Jordan River.
John 5:1-9 – Pool of Bethesda heals the sick.
John 7:38-39 – Rivers of Living Water

The 9th thing that Water does is it Represents Alignment with God’s Purposes

Crossing water is often a covenant moment of transition: Water represents alignment with God’s purposes because it symbolizes moving in the direction of His will rather than resisting it. Water naturally flows where it is guided — following the shape of the riverbanks, responding to the pull of gravity, and yielding to the One who controls its course. In scripture, God often uses water to show that His people must allow their lives to be carried where He leads. When God’s people are in alignment with Him, we become channels through which His Spirit and His plans flow. Spiritually, water teaches us that God’s will is not stagnant but always moving, always advancing His Kingdom. To be aligned with Him is to surrender — not in weakness, but in trust — allowing Him to shape our direction and speed. When we align with the flow of His Spirit, we stop striving and start thriving. Water reminds us that we were never meant to be rigid or resistant, but yielded and responsive, positioned to carry God’s purpose wherever He desires to move. Below are some scriptures that reference how water represents alignment with God’s purposes.

Joshua 3–4 – Crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land.
Mark 1:9-11 – Jesus baptized in the Jordan before launching His ministry.

The Conclusion of the Matter!

Water in scripture is far more than a symbol; it is God’s own language inviting us into the depths of His heart. It cleanses us from what was, heals wounds we cannot reach, and births us into a new identity filled with His Spirit. It becomes a dividing line where judgment destroys the old while deliverance ushers in God’s promise. It flows as provision in every dry place, proving that His presence is always enough. And like a river guided by His hand, water teaches us to yield and align our lives with His purpose, trusting that where He leads, life and transformation will follow.

So keep seeking the deeper waters of God. Don’t settle for the surface or sip lightly from what He offers. Dive into the truth of His Word and the flow of His Spirit, because the more you explore the depths of who He is, the more you will discover that every drop of His presence is a well of life — and there will always be more to find.

Blessings,

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