Various Symbols of the Bible (L-Z)
Symbolic Language of the Bible:
A symbol is an abstract, an abridgement, a summary, a sign or representation of some-
thing moral, having the properties of natural things, an emblem, of the subject being discussed, can not be known. The following words may have several meanings, including a literal meaning; but here, we are only looking at words and their symbolic meanings, and what that symbol represents.
Following are some of the symbolic words used in Scripture.
Lamp: A successor or offspring.
I Kings 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, ands to establish Jerusalem…”
Ps.132:17, “There will I make the horn = (government) of David to bud = (grow): I have ordained a lamp of mine anointed.”
Light: Joy, prosperity, knowledge, bitterness.
Esther 8:16, “The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.”
Isaiah 8:20, “To the law and to the testimony: If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Ephesians 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.” Revelation 9:8, “teeth of lions,” verse 17, “heads of lions,” Revelation 10:3, “loud voice, as when a lion roareth.”
Revelation 13:2, “mouth of a lion.”
2 Timothy 4:17, “delivered out of the mouth of the lion,” where some understand Nero, and others, Satan; Compare,
Psalms 7:2, “lest he tear my soul like a lion,” with, Proverbs 28:15. A wicked ruler over the poor, Ezekiel 22:25. Also for a hero, powerful deliverer, Revelation 5:5, “the Lion = (Jesus) of the tribe of Juda.” Nahum 2:13. Jeremiah 49:19.
Moon: (Also sun & stars) The religion of the churches, governments of the nations and judges of the law.
Isaiah 13:10, “For the stars of the heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in His going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.”
Joel 2:31, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.”
Mountains: A state or nation. Christ’s church.
Isaiah 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 to it.”
Jeremiah 51:25, ” Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyeth all the earth.” Zech.4:7, “Who art thou, O Great mountain?”
Mystery: Something never before made plain (does not refer to a thing unintelligible).
Romans 16:25, “Now to Him = (God) that is the power to establish you according to my gospel = (Paul’s preaching of Jesus 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 nature state (see night), without the image of God, not clothed with the garments of the Lord.
Revelation 3:17, “Jesus said to the churches, ‘Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods and have need of nothing; and knowest not that hou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.'”
Night: In the sinful nature state (see naked). Also, false worship, intellectual or spiritual darkness.
Isaiah 21:12, “The watchman said, the morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.”
Revelation 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. Also, shepherds of flock that have turned to worldliness and hypocrisy.
Isaiah 2:13, “Upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon the oaks of Bashan.”
Zachariah 11:2, “Howl =(for grief, shame, fear), O ye oaks of Bashan.”
Oil: Abundance, fertility, joy.
Psalms 23:5, “Thou = (God) preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoinst my head with oil.”
Psalm 92:10, “My horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”
Palms: Represent victory.
Rev.elation 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 on another cross who repented and died alongside Jesus) verily, I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Rock: A secure refuge.
Psalms 18:2, “The LORD is my rock.” Ps.42:9, “I will say unto God my Rock.”
Rod: Authority, correction.
Job (9:34, “Let Him = (God) take His rod away from me.” Ps.2:9, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron.”
Salt: Barrenness.
Deuteronomy 29:23, “The whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, not beareth, not any grass groweth therein.” Also symbolizes purity.
Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Seal: Security, secrecy. Song of Solomon 4:12, ” A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a springshut up, a fountain sealed.”
Isaiah 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.
Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpant was more subtil = (cunning) than the beasts of the field which the LORD God has made.”
2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpant beguiled = (deceived) Eve through his subtility.”
Revelation 12:9, “The great dragon was cast out, that old serpant, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.”
Sheep: Refers to Christians, Christ’s disciples, followers . John 10:11-16, “Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”
John 10:11-16, “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: Civil or religious leaders.
Ezekiel 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?'”
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.”
Shield: Defense, protection.
Psalms 84:9, “Behold O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed = ( Messiah).”
Ephesians 6:13, “Above all, taking the shiled of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the the wicked.”
Sleep: Represents death.
I Corinthians 15:51, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”
I Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will bring with Him.”
Sores: Spiritual sickness or disease.
Isaiah 1:6, “From the sole of your foot 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.
Numbers 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 Sceptre 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: Signifies war and slaughter.
Isaiah 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.”
Ezekiel 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 from thee the righteous and the wicked.”
Tail: Subjection or degradation. Also, hindermost, or that which is behind all others.
Deuteronomy 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.”
Joshua 10:19, “Stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindemost of them.”
Revelation 12:4, “And his = (Satan’s) tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast hem to the earth.”
Teeth: Represents cruelty.
Proverbs 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.
Genesis 41:40 “Paraoh 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.'”
Colossians 1:16, “For by Him = (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in the earth, visible, and invisible, whether they be thrones, or principalities, or powers.”
Travail: nguish, anxiety.
Jeremiah 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.”
Galatians 4;19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
Trees: Stands for the great and noble.
Zachariah 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: Vine or true vine is an emblem of prosperity and blessings under the Lord Jesus. Vines of the earth are to be cut off as grapes are gathered into the winepress. Vines also stand for the church under God.
Psalms 80:8, “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt; thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.”
John 15:1, “Jesus said, “I am the true vine.'”
Vineyard: The church of God, or Christ.
Isaiah 5:1, “Now will I = (Isaiah) sing to my well-beloved = (Messiah, Savior) a song of my beloved touching His vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill.”
Watchman: The prophets.
Ezekiel 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.”
Watchtower: Same as watchman.
Waters: Afflictions, multitudes, ordinances.
Psalms 69:1, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come into my soul.”
Isaiah 8:7, “Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up unto them (the Jews) the waters of the river (the enemies of the Jews), strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and his glory; and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks.”
Isaiah 55:1, “Every one that thirtesth, come ye to the waters.”
Week: Seven years.
Daniel 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.
Revelation 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: Judgement, destructive war.
Isaiah 27:8, “In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it; he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.”
Jeremiah 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 agaisnt me, a destroying wind.”
Wine: Divine judgments.
Psalms 60:3, “Thou hast shewed thy people hard things; thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment ( reeling)”
Wine also stands for spiritual blessings.
Isaiah 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.”
Isaiah 55:1, “Every one that thirsteth, 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.
Winepress: Divine judgments, slaughter.
Isaiah 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.”
Revelation 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;
Psalms 17:8, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.”
Matthew 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.
Isaiah 11:6, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb.” 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.
Ezekiel 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 to 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.”
Yoke: Labor, restaint.
Deuteronomy 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 thine neck, until he have destroyed thee.”
Lamentations 3:27, “It is good that a man bear his yoke in his youth.”
Matthew 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.”
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com