Symbols of the Bible
A symbol can be described as an abstract, an abridgement, a summary, a sign, or an emblem. A Biblical symbol is a representation of something moral, having the properties of natural things.
The Bible uses many symbols. Therefore, if these symbols are not fully understood, we will not have a clear understanding of the subject being discussed. The following words may have several symbolic meanings, and may also include a literal one. We are going to examine words that have symbolic meanings and try to explain what that symbol represents.
Adultery: Represents idolatry, or the worship of false gods.
1. Jer.3:8, “And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel = (sinful Israel) committed adultery.” This was Israel’s worship of false gods, adultery in God’s eyes. We can compare this to a man, or a woman cheating on their spouse.
2. Ezek.23:37, “They = (the twelve tribes of Israel) have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery.”
Angel: This refers to a messenger, a minister. One who is sent in order to announce, teach, perform, or explore any thing.
1. Judg.13:3, “The angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, = (Samson’s mother) and said unto her, behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.”
2. Matt.11:10, Jesus said, speaking of John the Baptist, “For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger = (angel) before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.”
3. Rev.1:16-20, In verse 16, John sees Christ Jesus with seven stars in His right hand. In verse 20, we are told what the seven stars represent. “The seven stars are the angels = (ministers) of the seven churches.”
Arm: Represents Power.
1. Ps.10:15, “Break thou the arm = (power) of the wicked and the evil man.”
2. Ps.89:21, God said, “Mine arm = (power) also shall strengthen him.”
Arrows: This word represents commands or piercing words.
1. Job 6:4, “For the arrows = (commands) of the Almighty are within me.”
2. Ps.7:13, “He = (God) hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He ordaineth = (makes) His arrows = (commands) against the persecutors.”
Babylon: Represents, a world wide harlot community. Also the ancient city of Rome was referred to as Babylon. The Roman government crucified Christ, destroyed Jerusalem, scattered the Jews, and persecuted the early Christians between the first, and third centuries A.D.
In the forth century, the Roman government merged with the new religion of Christanity. In time they came to be called Catholic, this was about 325 A.D. This new political, religious entity, was called by some, the new religious Babylon. In some cases the Christian doctrines became interwoven with pagan holy days and pagan ceremonies. This mixing drew new members into her bosom. Soon after, persecuted came to any person or outside thinking that came up against her policies.
Rev.17:5, In the last days, aperiod of time that has a beginning and an ending, the Scripture speaks of a world wide idolatry existing in the Christian Church.
“Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth.” Because the Catholic Church gave birth to the Protestant church, the two are related in many ways. The Catholic Church is the Mother church.
See Catholic Catechism page 243. The Catholic Church calls itself, “the motherhood of the Church,” and also state that she, “The Church, is both mother and virgin, holy and sanctifying.”
The Protestant Church is the first daughter of the Catholic Church. Martin Luther who started the Protestant movement was a Catholic Bishop. Since then, she has given birth to many more daughters.
The Mystery Babylon of the last day’s, will most likely be a bastard Church and whore church, great in power, dignity, and authority, one who has left their first love, Christ Jesus.
She will preach another form of salvation, calling herself a prophetess, this in order to seduce God’s servants, teaching them to commit fornication with her false worship. She will speak of her greatness, her holiness and how God is using her and her daughters to prepare the world for the return of Jesus Christ.
Beast: Refers to tyrannical, brutal, savage, heathen monarchs.
Dan.7:17, “The great beasts, which are four, are four kings = (those who represent their kingdoms), ”
Black: The word represents affliction, anguish.
1. Job 30:30, “My skin is black = (is afflicted) upon me.”
2. Joel 2:6, “Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness (the people shall have affliction.)”
Blindness: This word represents spiritual Ignorance.
1. Isa.29:18, “In that day shall the deaf = (spiritually deaf) hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind = (spiritually blind) shall see out of obscurity = (blindness,) and out of darkness (destruction, ignorance, or sorrow.)”
2. Rom.11:25, “Blindness = (spiritual ignorance) in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”
Blood: This word means slaughter, depth.
1. Isa.34:3, “Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcasses, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood = (slaughter).”
2. Ezek.32:6, “I will also water with thy blood = (the depth of) the land wherein thou swimmest, even to the mountains.” This verse means, the blood of God’s enemies shall overflow even the mountains.”
Brimstone: This word represents desolation and torments.
1. Job 18:15, “It = (they) shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone = (desolation) shall be scattered upon his habitation.”
2. Rev.14:10, The Lord is speaking about any person who worships the beast. He said, “The same = (these persons) shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone = (torments) in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.”
Bride: This word represents the Church, Gods people.
Rev.21:9, “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
Bridegroom: The symbolism here is, Christ wedded to His Church.
John 3:29, “He = (Jesus) that hath the bride = (the Church) is the bridegroom.”
Bulls: Bulls represent the violent enemies of God, and of His children.
Ps.22:12, King David said, “Many bulls = (enemies of God) have compassed = (surrounded) me: strong bulls of Bashan = (The devourer, enemy) have beset = (encircled) me round.”
Candlestick: A candlestick represents a church (group of believers, not the building).
1. Rev.1:20, “The seven candlesticks = (churches) which thou sawest are the seven churches. “That is, those who make up the seven churches.
Jesus is speaking to the Christians at Ephesus, saying to them,
2. Rev.2:5, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick = (this church) out of his place, except thou repent.”
Chariots: Chariots represent Heavenly hosts.
Ps.68:17, “The chariots = (angels, spirit creatures) of God are twenty thousand, even thousands = (millions and millions, without number) of angels: the LORD is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.”
Crown: A crown is a symbol of victory, or an award.
1. James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life = (victory), which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.”
2. Rev.2:10, Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown = (award) of life.”
Cup: This is a symbol of either Divine blessings, or of Divine judgments.
1. Ps.23:5, “Thou = (God) preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup = (blessings) runneth over.”
2. Isa.51:17, “Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup = (judgments) of His fury.”
Darkness: This is a symbol of misery, adversity, or ignorance.
1. Jer.23:12, “Their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness = (misery).”
2. Amos 4:13, “For, lo, He = (God) that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind and declareth unto man what is His = (God’s) thought, that maketh the morning darkness = (misery).”
3. Rom.13:12, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness = (ignorance).
Day: The symbol for the word day has more than one meaning. We must first examine the context of the preceding verses in order to give the word day its proper symbolic meaning. It could mean an indefinite period of time.
Isa.34:8, “For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance.”
It is a symbol for the light of a true and higher knowledge, and moral light.
1. 1 Thes. 5:5, “Ye are the children = (sons) of light, and the children of the day = (knowledge and the understanding concerning the Lord Jesus Christ).”
2. Rom.13:12, “The night is far spent = (evil is coming to an end) the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”
Day also represents a very specific period of time.
1 Cor.1:7-8, Ver.7, “Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day = (a very specified time) of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ver.8, “Who shall also confirm you into the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We are told in 1 Cor.5:5, that the first century leaders of the church were, “To deliver such an one unto Satan = (any sinner who chooses not to repent of their sins was to be cast out from the Christian church), for the destruction of the flesh = (his or her’s mortal life), that the spirit may be saved in the DAY of the Lord Jesus.”
These are extraordinary cases in which the body and mind of a person who had turned to sin, is now turned over to Satan. This person’s state was to be only for a short time, or until death, as the destruction of the flesh seems to be meant. This person’s soul has found mercy in the hands of the Lord, his physical life is finished, but his spiritual life being saved, for they are still under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Dogs: The Jew’s considered the Gentile world, impure people, calling them dogs.
1. Matt.15:26. In ver.24, Jesus was responding to a Gentile woman who had come to Him concerning her daughter, the daughter being demon possessed. Jesus told her that He had come to the lost sheep of the house of Israel = (the Jews) and not to the Gentiles. Yet the woman fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. Jesus than said to her, “It is not meet = (good) to take the children’s bread = (salvation provided by God for the Jews), and to cast it to dogs (Gentiles).” At this time, the Gentiles were not yet brought into God’s fold of saving grace.
2. Rev.21:8, “But the fearful = (cowardly) and unbelieving = (atheist) and the abominable = (people polluted with crimes), and murderers, and whoremongers = (sexually immoral), and sorcerers = (those who cast spells, deal in, or use drugs,) and idolaters = (those who partake in the worship of false gods, also covetous people,) and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” These people are called DOGS, impure people.
3. 2 Pet.2:21-22, “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. — according to the true proverb, the dog = (impure people) is turned to his own vomit again;”
Door: A door is a symbol, representing an opening.
1 Cor.16:9, “For a great door = (opening) and effectual = (opportunities by the Holy Spirit to create great effects) is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”
When a person is in love with the Lord Jesus, Heaven’s doors are thrown open, and the Holy Ghost will present those believers with many blessings and opportunities. This punctuated by fruit bearing works.
Dragon: This is a symbol of Satan, wicked princes and rulers.
1. Rev.12:9, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.”
2. Isa.27:1. The Lord here is speaking, concerning the last days, He said, “In that day the LORD with his sore = (severe) and great and strong sword shall punish Leviathan the piercing serpent, even Leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.”
Drunkenness: This is a symbol of the effects of God’s divine judgments.
Isa.29:9-10, “Stay yourself = (pause a moment), and wonder = (be amazed), cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes:”
Eagle: In Scripture the eagle has always been considered the king of birds. It is strong, fast, and can see for long ways. It may refer to nations such as the Kenites, Num. 24:21. The guilty, Luke 17:37, “The eagles be gathered together.” Their swiftness, as alluded to in Deut. 28:49, “The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth.”
The march of an army on its enemies, 2 Sam.1:23, Jer.4:13, 48:40, Lam.4:19. Symbolic of passing days, Job 9:26: The loss of wealth, Prov.23:5: Pride, Obad.4: Doom, Jer.49:16: To become young again, Ps.103:5, Isa.40:31: Cyrus is comp. to an eagle: Also, Isa.46:11: Hos.8:1, Jer.48:40, 49:22, Isa.8:8.
Eagles wings: For God as a protector of His children,
1. Deut.32:11, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings.”
2. Exod.19:4, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I (God) bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.”
Earthquakes: An earthquake is a symbol for a “shaking” of the heavens, earth, and the sea. To move to and fro, to shake, with the idea of shock, concussion, etc. It also is a symbol for, confusion in a persons mind, agitation, and to put in commotion.
1. Matt.21:10, “When He = (Jesus) was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, = (in commotion, as an earthquake) saying, who is this?”
2. Matt.28:4, “And for fear of him = (an angel) the keepers = (guards) did shake = (perturbed, confused in their minds,) and became as dead men.”
3. Matt.28:2, “And, behold, there was a great earthquake = (shaking of the earth): for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven.”
4. Rev.6:12, “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake = (shaking of the heaven, earth, and sea.)”
Eyes: The symbol for the word eyes is knowledge.
1. Prov.15:3, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
2. Ps.31:22, “I am cut off from before thine eyes = (knowledge).
Face: The word face is a symbol for Divine favor, or to be in God’s presence.
1. Ps.31:16, “Make thy = (God’s) face = (favor) to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.”
2. Matt.18:10, Jesus said, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones = (children); for I say unto you, That in heaven their = (children’s) angels do always behold the face = (God’s favor, and are in His presence) of my Father which is in heaven.”
3. Rev.22:4, “And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads = (their minds).”
Fat: Fat is a symbol of abundance.
1. Jer.5:28, “They are waxen fat,” This people had great abundance, this coming from the Great and mighty God of Creation.
2. Gen.45:18, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat = (abundance and the best) of the land.”
Fire: Fire is a symbol of God’s Judgments.
1. Isa.42:25, “He = (God) hath poured upon him = (the nation of Israel) the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about.” The nation of Israel has been judged by God, and condemned.
2. Ps.50:3, “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.”
Forehead: This is a public profession of God.
1. Rev.7:3, “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” The forehead is the most conspicuous part of a person’s body. This is where we are to put on the helmet of faith. Jesus said, “the hope of salvation,” is worn on the forehead.
2. Rev.13:16, “And he = (the beast, a tyrannical, brutal person) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.” These will profess the anti-Christ. Those who accept and receive this mark are condemned to the lake of fire with their masters.
Furnace: This is a symbol of affliction.
Jer.11:4, God said, “Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, Which I commanded your fathers = (Moses, Aaron, etc.) in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace.” God is saying, that being in bondage to one’s enemy = (here it was Egypt,) is like being in an iron furnace. A furnace is symbolic of the affliction and ordeal of bondage, and the iron represents the duration of that bondage.
Garments: This is a symbol for the body of Christ keeping themselves spotless in both spirit = (loyal to the Lord Jesus) and appearance = (motives, and works).
1. Rev.3:4, Jesus said to the church in Sardis, “Thou hast a few names = (or there are a few Christians), even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments = (their profession of faith, based on the spoken word of God.)”
2. Eph.5:27, “That he = (Jesus) might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle = (soiled garments), or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
3. Rev.19:8, “And to her = (the bride of Christ) was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen = (unsoiled garments), clean and white = (having a bright and pure spirit:) for the fine linen is the righteousness = (righteous acts) of saints.”
Gates: This is a symbol for power. It also stands for security.
1. Ps.147:13, “For He hath strengthened the bars of thy gates.” A Christian’s gates, or security is strengthened by both wisdom and knowledge in the Lord Jesus.
2. Matt.16:18, Jesus told Peter, “Upon this rock = (Jesus meaning Himself). I will build my church; and the gates of hell = (power of hell) shall not prevail against it.”
Girdles: Girdles are a symbol for strength.
1. Job 12:18, “He = (God) looseth the bond of kings = (God corrects kings), and girdeth their = (the kings) loins with a girdle = (God’s strength).” Kings would enslave their subjects. Yet, God can turn a person loose from that bondage, and with the same cord a captive was bound with, God with His might will bind that king.
2. John 21:18, Jesus said to Peter, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself = (by your own strength), and walkedst whither thou wouldest = (went where you chose to go): but, when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee = (Peter would be bound for execution), and carry thee whither thou wouldest not = (Peter would be taken, jailed, and killed.)” Peter was to be girded by anothers strength.
Goats: This is a symbol for wicked people.
Matt.25:33, Jesus said of Himself when He returns, “And He = (Jesus) shall set the sheep = (Christ’s followers) on his right hand, but the goats = (the wicked) on the left.”
Up to this point in man’s history, both good and evil people have mingled together. But, when Christ returns, He will separate them, judge between them, rewarding the righteous and judge the ungodly.
Gog and Magog: These two words are a symbol for God’s enemies. In the New Testament, the name Gog is spoken of a remote people, who are to war against the Messiah.
1. Rev.20:7-8, “When the thousand years are expired = (completed,) Satan shall be loosed = (released) out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle = (they shall war against Christ.)”
2. Ezek.38:2, “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog,” The LORD has appointed Ezekiel to prophesy against His enemies, and to tell them that He is against them. God will bring the enemies of Israel, which are also His enemies, to the doorstep of the Jews, and then, He will destroy the enemies He calls Gog, from the land of Magog.
Grass: This a symbol for the lower order, as compared to trees, the higher order.
Rev.8:7, “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
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Hail: Hail is a symbol for Divine Judgment. It means, something let go, let fall.
1. Rev.11:19, “And the temple = (Sanctuary or Holy place) of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament = (covenant); and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and earthquakes, and great hail.”
2. Rev.16:21, “And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every (hail) stone about the weight of a talent = (about the size of a cannon ball:) and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail: for the plague thereof was exceeding great.” Rev.18 is a prediction of Isa. 21:9.
Hand: Right hand: This is a symbol of protection, and, or support.
1. Ps.18:35, David wrote, “Thou = (God) hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden = (held) me up = (God protects David.)”
2. Ps.73:23, Again, David wrote, “I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand = (supported me).”
Hand: Left hand: Bad omen. Since all omens on the left hand were sinister, or regarded as unfortunate by the Greeks, and in part by the Romans.
Matt.25:33, Jesus said, “And He = (speaking of Himself) shall set the sheep = (His church) on His right hand, but the goats on the left.” Ver.41, “Then shall He = (Jesus) say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Hand: Hand of the Lord: This is a symbol of Divine influence.
1. Ezek.8:1, Ezekiel writes, “As I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the LORD God fell there upon me.” Ezekiel is now under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and what he is about to write is not his own.
2. Rev.4:1, John writes, “Behold a door was opened in heaven.” Ver.2, “Immediately, I = (John) was in the Spirit = (John was now under the influence of the Holy Spirt.)”
Harvest: Harvest is a symbol for a time of destruction.
Joel 3:13, “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest = (time of God’s destruction) is ripe — for the press = (winepress) is full, the fats overflow; for their = (sinners) wickedness is great.” Here we see God’s directions to His ministers of vengeance, or those who are to execute God’s harvest of destruction upon the enemy’s wickedness.
Head: The head is a symbol for a ruler, or to rule.
Eph.1:22, speaks of the Father, who, “Hath put all things under His = (Jesus) feet, and gave Him to be the head = (the King and ruler) over all things to the church.” The church is the body, and Jesus is the head. This implies not only Jesus dominion, but of the true churches unity in Him.
Heavens: Heavens are a symbol for both political and religious governments.
1. Isa.13:13, God said, “I will shake the heavens = (governments of politics, and religion).
2. Isa.34:4, “And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll.” All political and religious governments will be done away with.
3. Rev.20:11, John wrote, “I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them (them being the leaders of religion and politics).”
Horse: This is a symbol for war and conquest.
Zech.10:3, “The LORD said of His people, the Jews, “the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah = (the Jews), and hath made them as His goodly = (royal or majestic) horse in the battle.” As a man makes use of his horse, the Lord makes use of His people. A horse in battle is a formidable force to the enemy in front of him. Jesus as commander and chief can make His people, though timid, and though as sheep, courageous as a battle horse in war.
Hunger and Thirst: These two words are symbolic of spiritual desires.
1. Matt.5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Because hunger and thirst are our most natural appetites, Jesus, by using this figure of speech, plainly means, those people whose deepest desires are after spiritual blessings. As the natural body depends on both food and water for its health, and strength, also our spirit and soul depend on the blessings of God.
2. Isa.51:1, “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD = (hunger and thirst after God).”
3. Gen.49:18, Jacob said, “I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.”
Incense: This is a symbol for prayer.
1. Mal.1:11, “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense = (prayers) shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering for my name shall be great among the heathen = (nations), saith the LORD of hosts.”
2. Ps.141:2, David wrote, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.”
3. Rev.5:8, “And when = (Jesus) had taken the book, the four beasts = (living creatures in heaven) and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials = (bowls) full of odors = (incense), which are the prayers of saints.”
Jerusalem: Jerusalem is in some places a metaphore for the Jewish state, or the church. It can be understood for the Mosaic dispensation, or the Christian dispensation. It also stands for the Redeemer’s kingdom, of which the spiritual Jerusalem is the seat.
1. Ps.122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem= (the church both Jew and Gentiles) they shall prosper that love thee.”
2. Heb.12:22, “Ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem = (where all those who are saved will be with the Living and True God).”
Keys: Keys are a symbol for power and authority.
Rev.1:18, Jesus said, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, A-men’; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Because of God’s gift to us, through Him, our death is that gate which leads to our resurrection and our eternal life in Him, and with Him. Christ’s power and authority can both save and destroy; can kill and make alive. Both physical and spiritual death are under His dominion. He is the Resurrection and the Life.
Lamp: A successor or offspring.
1. 1 K.15:4, “Nevertheless for David’s sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son = Solomon) after him, and to establish Jerusalem:”
2. Ps.132:17, “There will I make the horn = (government) of David to bud = (grow): I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.”
Light: Joy, prosperity, knowledge, bitterness
1. Esth.8:16, “The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.”
2. Isa.8:20, “To the law and to the testimeony: If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
3. Eph.5:8, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”
Lion: A lion can be symbolic of a cruel adversary, a persecutor. 1 Pet.5:8, “The devil, as a roaring lion.” Rev.4:7, “First beast was like a lion.” Rev. 9:8, “teeth of lions,” ver.17, “heads of lions,” Rev.10:3, “loud voice, as when a lion roareth.” Rev.13:2, “mouth of a lion.” 2 Tim.4:17, “delivered out of the mouth of the lion,” where some understand Nero, and others, Satan; Comp. Ps.7:2, “lest he tear my soul like a lion,” with Prov.28:15. A wicked ruler over the poor, Ez.22:25. Also for a hero, powerful deliverer, Rev.5:5, “the Lion = (Jesus) of the tribe of Juda.” Nah.2:13. Jer.49:19.
Moon: Also sun, and stars, meaning the religion of the Church’s, governments of the nations, and judges of the law.
1. Joel 2:31, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.”
2. Isa.13:10, “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in His going forth, and the moon shall not caurse her light to shine.”
Mountains: A state, Christ’s church.
1. Jer.51:25, “Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth”
2. Zach.4:7, “Who art thou, O great mountain?
3. Isa.2:2, “It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.”
Mystery: This does not refer to a thing unintelligible, but something never before made plain.
Rom.16:25, “Now to Him = (God) that is of power to establish you according to my gospel = (Paul’s preaching of Christ,) and the preaching = (public instruction) of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation = (revealing) of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.”
Naked: In the sinful state of nature, without the image of God and not clothed with the garments of the Lord.
Rev.3:17, Jesus said to the Church’s, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”
Night: As in the sinful state of nature, false worship, and intellectual darkness.
1. Isa.21:12, “The watchman said, the morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
2. Rev.21:25, “And the gates of it = (New Jerusalem come from God) shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.”
Oaks: Rank and power, of God, or men.
1. Isa.2:13, “Upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan.”
2. Zech.11:2, “Howl = (To howl for grief, shame, fear,) O ye oaks = (shepherd’s of the flock, turned to worldliness and hypocrisy) of Bashan.”
Oil: Abundance, fertility, joy.
1. Ps.23:5, “Thou = (God) preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil.”
2. Ps.92:10, “My horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”
Palms: Represent victory.
Rev.7:9, “After this, I = (John) beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.”
Paradise: Heaven.
Luke 23:43, “And Jesus said unto him (the criminal, who repented, and died along side of Jesus on the cross,) Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Ram: A ram represents something strong, a kingdom, powerful nations such as Media and Persia, a mighty man, Alexander the Great from Greece.
Rock: A secure refuge.
1. Ps.18:2, “The LORD is my Rock.”
2. Ps.42:9, “I will say unto God my Rock.”
Rod: Authority, correction.
1. Ps.2:9, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron.”
2. Job 9:34, “Let Him = (God) take His rod away from me
Salt: Purity or barrenness.
1. Col.4:6, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
2. Deut.29:23, “The whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, not beareth, not any grass groweth therein.”
Seal: Security, secrecy.
1. Song of Solomon: 4:12, “A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.”
2. Isa.29:11, “And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:”
Serpent: The devil.
1. Gen.3:1, “Now the serpent was more subtil = (cunning) than the beast of the field which the LORD God had made.”
2. 2 Cor.11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled = (deceived) Eve through his subtility = (craftyness).”
3. Rev.12:9, “The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.”
Sheep: Christ’s disciples.
1. John 10:11-16, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”
2. Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
Shepherds: Rulers, civil or religious.
Nahum.3:18, “Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.”
Ezek.34:2, “Son of man prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the LORD God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?”
Shield: defense, and protection.
1. Ps.84:9, “Behold O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed = (Messiah.)”
2. Eph.6:16, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
Sleep: Death.
1 Thes.4:14, “For If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”
2. 1 Cor.15:51, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”
Sores: Spiritual sickness or disease.
Isa.1:6, “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”
Star: A prince or ruler.
Num.24:17, “I shall see Him = (The Savior,) but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”
Stars: See moon.
Sun: See moon.
Sword: War and slaughter.
1. Isa.34:5, “For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.”
2. Ezek.21:3, “Say to the land of Israel, thus saith the LORD; Behold I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of His sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.”
Tail: Subjection, or degradation, hindermost, or that which is behind all others.
1. Deut.28:13, “And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath;”
2. Josh.10:19, “Stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them.”
3. Rev.12:4. “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.”
Teeth: Cruelty.
Prov.30:14, “There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.”
Throne: Kingdom, or government.
1. Gen.41:40, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.”
2. Col.1:16, “For by Him = (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or principalities, or powers:”
Travail: Anguish, anxiety.
1. Jer.4:31, “For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child.”
2. Gal.4:19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
Trees: The great and noble.
Zech.4:11-14, “What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? — Then said he (the angel of the LORD,) These are the two anointed ones = (Messiah, and the Holy Spirit) that stand by the Lord of the whole earth”
Vine: True vine, is an emblem or prosperity and blessings under the Lord Jesus. Vines of the earth are to be cut off as grapes are gathered and cast into the wine press The Church under God.
1. Ps.80:8, “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.”
2. John 15:1, Jesus said, “I am the true vine.”
Vineyard: The Church of God, or Christ.
Isa.5:1, “Now will I = (Isaiah) sing to my well-beloved = (Messiah, Savior) a song of my beloved touching His vineyard = (Jewish church.) My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill.”
Watch-tower, or watch-man meaning the prophets.
Ezek.3:17, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.”
Waters: Afflictions, multitudes, ordinances.
1. Ps.69:1, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.”
2. Isa.8:7, “Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them = (the Jew’s) the waters of the river = (the enemies of the Jew’s,) strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks.”
3. Isa.55:1, “Every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.”
Week: Seven years.
Dan,9:24, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”
Wilderness: Afflicted state.
Rev.12:6, “And when the woman = (the Christian Church) fled into the wilderness = (Satan preparing to crush the church,) where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”
Wind: Judgments, destructive war.
Isa.27:8, “In measure, when ti shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.”
Jer.51:1, “Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind.”
Wine: Spiritual blessings, divine judgments.
1. Isa.25:6, “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things = (choice pieces, as in the gospel,) a feast of wines on the lees = (preserved things,) of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.”
2. Isa.55:1, “Every one that thirteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
3. Ps.60:3, “Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment = (reeling.)”
Winepress: Slaughter.
Isa.63:3, “I = (Jesus) have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury: and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.”
Rev.14:19, “And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.”
Wings: Protection.
1. Ps.17:8, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.”
2. Matt.23:37, Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
Wolves: Furious, ungodly persons.
1. Isa.11:6, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb.”
2. Matt.7:15, Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets which come to you = (His church) in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening = (ravenous) wolves.”
Woman: City, or, wise public politics.
1. Ezek.26:2-3, “Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates = (gateway) of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste: Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.”
2. Rev.12:1, “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:”
Yoke: Labor, restraint.
1. Deut.28:48, “Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.”
2. Matt.11:29-30, Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
3. Lam.3:27, “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.”
Phil Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com