Understanding βυθίζω (bythizō) Strong’s G1036: The Divine Power that Submerges, Sinks, and Overwhelms

Pronunciation Guide: boo-THEE-zoh (with the ‘th’ as in “this”)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1036: βυθίζω (bythizō) means to cause to sink, to submerge, or to plunge into the depths. It describes the action of something being completely overwhelmed by water or another substance to the point of sinking down or being fully immersed. In Scripture, this powerful verb often carries implications of danger, overwhelming circumstances, or complete transformation through immersion.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Verb
• Root word: βυθός (bythos) – “deep place,” “depth,” or “sea bottom”
• Language origin: Classical Greek
• Primary usage: Narrative sections, particularly in contexts describing danger or overwhelming circumstances
• Voice: Active and passive forms
• Tense: Present and aorist forms most common

βυθίζω Morphology:

• βυθίζω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I sink/submerge
• βυθίζεις (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you sink/submerge
• βυθίζει (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it sinks/submerges
• βυθίζομεν (present active indicative, 1st person plural) – we sink/submerge
• βυθίζουσιν (present active indicative, 3rd person plural) – they sink/submerge
• βυθίζεσθαι (present middle/passive infinitive) – to be sunk/submerged
• ἐβύθισα (aorist active indicative, 1st person singular) – I sank/submerged
• βυθισθῆναι (aorist passive infinitive) – to be sunk/submerged

Origin & History

The term βυθίζω derives from the Greek noun βυθός (bythos), which refers to the depths, particularly the deep sea or ocean floor – places unreachable and mysterious to ancient peoples. In classical Greek literature, Homer uses related terms to describe the deepest parts of the sea in the Iliad, while Herodotus employs similar language when describing ships sinking in naval battles. The word carried connotations of the mysterious, dangerous deep that could swallow ships and sailors.

In the Septuagint (LXX), the concept appears in passages like Psalm 69:2 (68:3 LXX), “I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold,” though different Greek terms are used. The concept of sinking into depths became a powerful metaphor in Jewish thought for overwhelming trouble or danger, as seen in writings like the Psalms of Solomon and other intertestamental literature. By New Testament times, βυθίζω had developed a range of literal and metaphorical applications relating to being completely overwhelmed or submerged.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To cause to sink beneath the surface of water
• To submerge completely until hidden from view
• To overwhelm or weigh down until unable to stay afloat
• To bring down into depths, literally or figuratively
• To plunge into a state or condition where one is completely enveloped

βυθίζω Translation Options:

• Sink – Most appropriate when describing ships or objects being pulled beneath water due to weight or damage
• Plunge – Emphasizes the suddenness and completeness of the submersion
• Submerge – Highlights the complete covering by water or circumstance
• Overwhelm – Best for metaphorical uses where pressure or circumstance is like the weight of deep waters
• Drown – When βυθίζω is used in contexts where life is threatened by submersion

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, βυθίζω appears only twice but in highly significant contexts. Its first appearance is in Luke 5:7, where the disciples’ boats begin to sink under the miraculous catch of fish provided by Yeshua. This demonstrates how divine abundance can sometimes overwhelm our limited human containers. The second usage is in 1 Timothy 6:9, where Paul metaphorically describes how the desire for wealth plunges people into ruin and destruction – a powerful warning about the spiritual dangers of greed.

Though rare in its exact form in Scripture, the concept of sinking or being overwhelmed by depths appears throughout the Bible, particularly in the Psalms, where writers often describe their spiritual and emotional state as “sinking in deep waters” or being “overwhelmed by floods.” The divine rescue from such depths becomes a powerful theme of God’s salvation.

• “And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink [βυθίζεσθαι].” Luke 5:7
• “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown [βυθίζουσιν] men in destruction and perdition.” 1 Timothy 6:9

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, the deep sea (βυθός) represented one of the most dangerous and feared environments. Unlike modern ocean exploration, ancient peoples had no way to survive in or explore these depths. Ships that sank were irretrievable, and sailors who went under typically did not return. This gave βυθίζω powerful connotations of finality and complete transformation through overwhelming circumstances.

The cultural understanding of βυθίζω is further illuminated by ancient Jewish traditions around water. While water was life-giving and purifying in controlled contexts (like ritual immersion pools called mikvaot), large bodies of water like the Mediterranean Sea represented chaos, danger, and the dwelling place of monsters in Hebrew thought. This is why in Revelation 21:1, the promise that in the new heaven and new earth “there was no more sea” would have been understood as the elimination of chaos and danger. When something was described as βυθίζω in this cultural context, it carried overtones of being overwhelmed by chaotic forces beyond human control.

Theological Significance

The concept of βυθίζω carries profound theological implications related to God’s sovereignty over the depths. In Scripture, only יהוה (Yahweh) has complete mastery over the deep waters that threaten to overwhelm and sink His people. This theme begins in Genesis where God’s Spirit hovers over the chaotic deep waters, continues through the parting of the Red Sea, and culminates in Yeshua’s authority over the stormy sea of Galilee. When Yeshua causes the miraculous catch that begins to sink (βυθίζω) the disciples’ boats in Luke 5, He demonstrates His divine identity through mastery over both abundance and the threats posed by deep waters.

The metaphorical use of βυθίζω in 1 Timothy 6:9 reveals God’s wisdom in warning us about spiritual dangers. Just as physical sinking leads to destruction, Paul shows how certain desires and attitudes can cause spiritual submersion leading to destruction. This demonstrates God’s compassionate character in warning His people about hidden dangers before they are overwhelmed. The image reminds us that spiritual forces can pull us downward as powerfully as physical gravity pulls objects into the depths of the sea, but God’s redemptive power is greater still.

Personal Application

When we face circumstances that threaten to overwhelm us—whether emotional distress, spiritual attacks, financial pressures, or relationship conflicts—we can remember that the concept of βυθίζω (sinking) is well-known to our God. Just as Yeshua demonstrated His power over sinking boats through a miracle of abundance, He can transform our overwhelming circumstances into testimonies of His provision and rescue.

Consider areas in your life where you feel you might be “sinking.” Rather than struggling in your own strength, call upon the One who walks on water and commands the depths. The same Lord who rescued Peter when he began to sink in the waves reaches out His hand to us when we cry to Him from our depths. Nothing in our lives is so deep that His arm cannot reach, no circumstance so overwhelming that His power cannot transform it.

Related Words

• καταποντίζω (katapontizō) (kah-tah-pon-TEE-zoh) – to throw into the sea, to sink, to drown; a more violent form of submersion often with an active agent causing the sinking. Used when Peter began to sink in the water while walking to Jesus. See G2670
• βυθός (bythos) (boo-THOS) – the deep, the deep sea, the sea bottom; the root noun from which βυθίζω derives. Paul uses this when describing being “a night and a day in the deep” after shipwreck. See G1037
• καταδύω (katadyō) (kah-tah-DOO-oh) – to go down, to sink down, to set (as the sun); emphasizes the downward movement rather than the submersion itself. See G2570
• πνίγω (pnigō) (pnee-GO) – to choke, strangle, drown; focuses on the fatal result of submersion rather than the act itself. See G4155
• βαπτίζω (baptizō) (bap-TID-zoh) – to dip, immerse, submerge for cleansing or ritual purposes; a more positive and transformative submersion than βυθίζω. See G907

Did you Know?

• Did you know that ancient Mediterranean sailors had a special dread of being βυθίζω (sunk)? Unlike modern shipwrecks where rescue might be possible, ancient sinking ships usually meant certain death for those aboard. This context makes the disciples’ reaction to the sinking boats in Luke 5:7 all the more understandable – they weren’t just concerned about lost property but were experiencing genuine fear for their lives in the face of divine power displayed through abundance.
• Did you know that in modern Greek, the word βυθίζω has expanded beyond its original meaning and is now commonly used to describe immersing oneself in activities like reading, study, or meditation? This linguistic development parallels how in spiritual life, we can be “submerged” in God’s Word and presence in ways that transform rather than destroy us – unlike the negative connotations βυθίζω carried in New Testament times.
• Did you know that the concept behind βυθίζω has influenced Christian baptismal theology throughout church history? While βαπτίζω is the primary term for baptism, the concept of being completely overwhelmed and transformed through submersion connects both words. Early church fathers like John Chrysostom drew parallels between these concepts, teaching that in baptism, the old sinful nature “sinks” (βυθίζω) while the new creation rises in Christ – a deliberate submersion that leads to salvation rather than destruction.

Remember This

When life threatens to sink you with overwhelming circumstances, remember that in the kingdom of God, what appears to be βυθίζω (sinking) can become the very place where you experience His miraculous rescue and transforming power.