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Biblical Symbolism
How can I recognize and
understand biblical symbolism?
.
We interpret the Bible literally, but this this does not
mean we ignore symbols and metaphorical language - God’s written communication
to the world is a richly textured literary masterpiece and makes full use of
the tools of language, including symbolism, metaphor, simile, and motif
.
Got
Questions Ministries
The language of the Bible is rich with metaphor.
The
biblical writers used familiar, everyday objects to symbolize spiritual truth.
Symbols
are quite common in the poetic and prophetic portions of the Bible.
By its
very nature, poetry relies heavily on figurative language; when Solomon calls
his bride “a lily among thorns” (Song of Solomon 2:2), he is
using symbols to declare the desirability and uniqueness of the Shulamite.
Prophecy,
too, contains much figurative imagery.
Isaiah
often used trees and forests as symbols of strength (e.g., Isaiah 10:18-19; 32:19).
Daniel
saw “a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes” who “came from
the west . . . without touching the ground” (Daniel 8:5), and we interpret this as
a kingdom (Greece) and its king (Alexander the Great) who speedily conquered
the world.
Jesus’
teaching was full of symbolism. He presented Himself as a Shepherd, a Sower, a
Bridegroom, a Door, a Cornerstone, a Vine, Light, Bread, and Water.
He
likened the kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast, a seed, a tree, a field, a
net, a pearl, and yeast.
There
are dozens, if not hundreds, of other symbols in the Bible.
Note
that a literal interpretation of the Bible allows for figurative language.
Here’s
a simple rule: if the literal meaning of a passage leads to
obvious absurdity, but a figurative meaning yields clarity,
then the passage is probably using symbols.
For
example, in Exodus 19:4, God tells
Israel, “I carried you on eagles’ wings.”
The
statement is obviously symbolic; God is emphasizing the speed and strength with
which He delivered Israel.
This
leads to another rule of biblical interpretation: a symbol will have a
non-symbolic meaning.
In
other words, there is something real (a real person, a real historical event, a
real trait) behind every figure of speech.
Here
are a few symbols used in the Bible:
Old
Testament
Walk
with God: To "walk" with someone is to live in
fellowship and harmony with him.
Since
God can only live in a way that reflects His holy character, to "walk
with God" is to live according the path He has laid out, to obey Him. Genesis 5:22; 6:9; Deuteronomy 10:12; Joshua 22:5; 1 Kings 8:23; Micah 6:8
Dust,
stars, sand: The Bible often uses these metaphors to represent the
number of descendants God promised to Abraham.
This
would include Abraham’s physical descendants (Jews and Arabs)
as well as Abraham’s spiritual progeny (those who live by
faith, Galatians 3:7). Genesis 13:16; 15:5; 26:4; 28:14; 32:12; Exodus 32:13; Isaiah 48:19; Jeremiah 33:22; Hebrews 11:12
Flowing
with milk and honey: God often referred to Canaan as "a land flowing
with milk and honey."
An
abundance of milk and honey was symbolic of lush, fertile farmland, plenty of
water, and rich grass for dairy animals and flowers for bees.
Milk
and honey were two of the most prized foods in Old Testament times, and a land "flowing"
with them would be very desirable. Exodus 3:8; 17; 13:5; 33:3; Leviticus 20:24; Numbers 13:27; 14:8; 16:13, 14; Deuteronomy 6:3; 11:9; 26:9, 15; 27:3; 31:20; Josh. 5:6; Song of Solomon 4:11; 5:1; Isaiah 7:22; Jeremiah 11:5, 32:22; Ezekiel 20:6, 15
Circumcised
hearts: Physical circumcision was the sign of the covenant between
God and His chosen people, the Jews.
It was,
of course, an external alteration. What God really wanted, though, was an
internal alteration — a spiritual circumcision, as it were.
To have
one’s heart circumcised was to fully identify with Him.
It is
not enough to obey His Word on the outside; we must be characterized by His
Word on the inside. Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; 2:28-29
Cedars
of Lebanon: In Israel, large trees were hard to come by and very
valuable. The cedars in Lebanon grow up to 130 feet
tall with trunks up to eight feet in diameter.
They
were valued for their resin, which Egyptians used in mummification, and wood,
which was used to build ships.
The
cedars are used symbolically in the Bible to represent strength and stature or
pride. Judges 9:15; 2 Kings 19:23; Psalm 29:5; 72:16; 104:16; Song of Solomon 5:15; Isaiah 2:13; 14:8; 37:24; Hosea 14:5-6; Zechariah 11:1
Hearts
of stone or flesh: A heart of stone is emblematic of a spiritually dead heart
that cannot respond to God’s grace.
God
promises to remove our heart of stone and replace it with a living, loving
heart that can follow Him. Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26
Ephraim
and Judah: In the divided kingdom, the ten tribes in the north were
many times collectively called “Ephraim” after the most prominent tribe
living there.
The
tribes in the south were often referred to as “Judah” after the most
prominent southern tribe.
This
particular figure of speech, in which a part is substituted for the whole, is
called metonymy. Isaiah 7:9, 17; 9:21
New
Testament
Ramah
and Rachel: Ramah was a small town about five miles from Jerusalem.
Rachel was one of Jacob’s wives buried near Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19).
Ramah
mourning and Rachel weeping in the book of Jeremiah are symbols of the sadness
experienced when Judah was conquered by Babylon and sent into exile.
Matthew
quotes Jeremiah and furthers the metaphor, applying it to Herod’s massacre of
the babies in Bethlehem.
Ramah
becomes a symbol of Bethlehem, and Rachel becomes a symbol of the grieving mothers
there. Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18
Shaking
the dust off one’s feet: In New Testament times, a devout Jew would
shake the dust off his feet when he left a Gentile city to symbolically cleanse
himself of ungodly practices.
Jesus
told His disciples to do the same if a Jewish household or village rejected the
message of the Messiah. Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5
Whitewashed
tombs: A whitewashed tomb is a stone crypt that is clean and well
kept on the outside but filled with bones and death.
Jesus
used this image as a symbol to represent hypocrites — religious people who do not
follow God in their hearts. Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:44
Capstone: A
capstone is one of the top stones on a wall. Metaphorically, it is the
finishing touch or the crowning achievement. Jesus used this symbol of Himself.
Mark 12:10; 1 Peter 2:6-7
Slave/servant
of Christ: The New Testament writers use the idea of being a slave or
servant of Christ to symbolize our responsibility to do the will of Christ and
not be self-serving.
It is
sometimes juxtaposed with its alternative of being a slave to sin; a believer
is set free from sin and is now led by the Spirit.
An indentured
servant, after fulfilling his obligation to his master, could volunteer to stay
and serve his master for life — a picture of how we serve Christ willingly. Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Colossians 1:7; 1 Timothy 4:6; Titus 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1; Revelation 1:1
Animals
Serpent: Snakes are mentioned many times in the Bible, and never in a positive light.
Serpent: Snakes are mentioned many times in the Bible, and never in a positive light.
In
Genesis and Revelation, the serpent symbolizes Satan.
The
serpent of Eden is described as crafty — an idea Jesus reiterates in Matthew 10.
In
Hebrew, the noun for “serpent” is related to the verb for “divining
and fortune-telling.” Genesis 3:1, 14; 49:17; Numbers 21:6; Deuteronomy 32:33; Job 26:13; Psalm 58:4; 91:13; 140:3; Proverbs 23:32; 30:19; Isaiah 14:29; 65:25; Matthew 10:16; 23:33; Luke 10:19; Revelation 12:9, 14, 15; 20:2
The
Bible compares God (Hosea 5:14), Jesus (Revelation 5:5), and
even Satan (1 Peter 5:8) to a
lion. Genesis 49:9; Numbers 23:24; 24:9; Deuteronomy 33:20, 22; 1 Chronicles 12:8; Job 4:10, 11; 10:16; 28:8; 38:39; Psalm 10:9; 91:13; 104:21; Proverbs 19:12; Ecclesiastes 9:4; Isaiah 5:29; 11:6, 7; Jeremiah 2:15, 30; 4:7; 12:8; Ezekiel 1:10; 19:2, 3; 19:6; Daniel 7:4; 2 Timothy 4:17; Revelation 4:7; 9:17; 10:3
Dog: Dogs
in Bible times were not cherished family pets. They were mongrels who ran wild
and scavenged.
Jews
often referred to Gentiles as "dogs" — not a complimentary
epithet.
Jesus’
interaction with the Syro-Phoenician woman in Matthew 15 shows how He ministered to the
"dogs" and the children, both. Exodus 11:7; Deuteronomy 23:18; 1 Samuel 17:43; 24:14; 2 Samuel 16:9; Job 30:1; Psalm 22:20, 16; 59:6; 68:23; Proverbs 26:11; 26:17; Ecclesiastes 9:4; Isaiah 56:11; Jeremiah 15:3; Matthew 7:6; 15:27; Philippians 3:2; Revelation 22:15
Sheep: Sheep
are herd animals who are amazingly dependent on a shepherd for their
well-being.
And
they are the animal most used by God to symbolize His followers.
Jesus
is the Good Shepherd, and we are the sheep who recognize His voice, follow Him,
and rely on Him for our safety and provision. Numbers 27:17; 1 Kings 22:17; 2 Chronicles 18:16; Psalm 23:1; 44:11, 22; 49:14; 74:1; 78:52; 95:7; 119:176; Isaiah 53:6, 7; Jeremiah 23:1; 50:6; Ezekiel 34:11, 12; 34:17; Matthew 9:36; 10:6; 26:31; John 10:11, 16, 26
We
interpret the Bible literally, but this this does not mean we ignore symbols
and metaphorical language.
God’s
written communication to the world is a richly textured literary masterpiece
and makes full use of the tools of language, including symbolism, metaphor,
simile, and motif.
Got
Questions Ministries
seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing biblical, applicable, and
timely answers to spiritually related questions through an internet presence.
GotQuestions.org is a ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.
We will do our best to prayerfully and thoroughly research your question and answer it in a biblically based manner. It is not our purpose to make you agree with us, but rather to point you to what the Bible says concerning your question. You can be assured that your question will be answered by a trained and dedicated Christian who loves the Lord and desires to assist you in your walk with Him. Our writing staff includes pastors, youth pastors, missionaries, biblical counselors, Bible/Christian college students, seminary students, and lay students of God’s Word.
GotQuestions.org is a ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.
We will do our best to prayerfully and thoroughly research your question and answer it in a biblically based manner. It is not our purpose to make you agree with us, but rather to point you to what the Bible says concerning your question. You can be assured that your question will be answered by a trained and dedicated Christian who loves the Lord and desires to assist you in your walk with Him. Our writing staff includes pastors, youth pastors, missionaries, biblical counselors, Bible/Christian college students, seminary students, and lay students of God’s Word.
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