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• ܥܽܘܡܩܳܐ
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• גָּבוֹל גָּדוֹל, , הַגְּדוֹלִים
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1. In contradistinction to "rock," which is used figuratively for "a refuge" (Isaiah 33:16; Psalms 27:5, 2, 61:3), the "deep" ("ma'amaḳḳim") is a metaphorical expression for misfortune or sorrow (Psalms 692,15; 130:1). Thus the "deep valley" ("'emeḳ") designates a "place of affliction and judgment" (Joel 4:2,12,14, Hebr.), and the phrase "deep pit" and similar words are used in the sense of "great danger" (Proverbs 22:14, 23:27; Isaiah 24:17,22; Zechariah 9:11; Psalms 55:23, 71:20, 86:13, 88:6, 107:20; Lamentations 3:47,53; 4:20; compare the Arabian saying. "They live in a valley that is at the mercy of torrents." Hence "the depths of Shcol" (Proverbs 9:18) is an image of utter affliction.
2. "Deep" is also an expression for the unfathomableand inscrutable. Therefore hardened sinners are said to make deep—that is, heap up—their sins (Isaiah 31:6; Hosca 5:2, 9:9), and "deep" is synonymous with "inexhaustible quantity" (Romans 11:33; 2 Corinthians 8:2). The Bible also speaks of people who are "deep"; that is, are cautious in speech (Isaiah 33:19; Ezekiel 33:5 et seq.). The Bible applies the word "deep" also to the heart (Psalms 64:7; Judith 8:14), and to a man's words (Proverbs 18:4), or to his plans (Proverbs 20:5), while it finds "deep things" (secrets) in the universe (Job 12:22), in the nature of things (Ecclesiastes 7:24), and in history (Daniel 2:22). Hence the word "deep" is used in the sense of "inscrutable" in reference to God's thoughts (Psalms 92:6). As a further consequence of these metaphorical applications, "to make deep" came to be an equivalent for "to conceal" or "to deceive" (Isaiah 29:15). It is interesting to note that in the cuneiform texts wisdom is designated as "the deep" ("nimeḳu"), and is characterized thereby as something difficult of attainment and seldom found.