061 Collection of Bible Symbols
Collection of Bible Symbols ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED.
THE interpretation of the symbols here given will be found to throw considerable light upon many otherwise obscure passages in God’s Word. We have sought to make the list as complete as possible, and believe that the general reader of Scripture will find it useful in numerous instances. It may be of advantage to some to refer to these symbols in their daily reading. |
SYMBOL | MEANING. | REFERENCE. |
Abominations | Every species of idolatrous worship, | |
Adamant | Confirmed hardness of heart to God, | |
Adultery | Israel’s unfaithfulness to Jehovah, in giving herself up to idolatry | |
Adder | Active, secret, and deadly evil | |
Air | Moral influences acting upon man | |
Altar, Brazen | Christ meeting the responsibility of the sinner in judgment | |
Altar, Golden | Christ in the value of His person the ground and object of the saint’s worship | |
Almonds | Fruit produced by the Spirit in resurrection-life | |
Anchor | Confidence and security founded on what is divine | |
Angel | A representative or messenger Expressive of office not of nature; the context determines which is meant. | |
Anoint | Consecration, appointment, power conferred | Leviticus 8:10-20; Exodus 29:7; 2 Corinthians 1:211 John 2:27; Acts 10:13 |
Apples of Gold pictures of Silver | Fruit of Divine righteousness set in the beauty and stability of the atonement | |
Apple Tree | Christ the Bridegroom in His own preciousness | |
Arm | Divine strength. Human Power | |
Ark | Christ in His wondrous and adorable person as Man (the shittim wood), as God (the gold) Seat of Divine strength Figure of Israel’s relationship with God | |
Arrows | Judgments or chastenings, | |
Ashes | Deep humiliation, and thorough self-judgment, Witness of the judgment of sin, | |
Ass | Man in nature and ungovernable, | |
Babylon | Seat and source of the future ecclesiastical apostasy, | |
Babe | An unhealthy Christian state | |
Badgers’ Skins | Defense against the various forms of evil from without | |
Balance | Man Divinely measured. A time of famine | |
Beard | Human energy displayed | |
Bear | Powerful and destructive enemy. Persian Empire, | |
Beast | Acting without feeling of responsibility toward God, Imperial power acting without reference to God | |
Bees | Numerous enemies The Assyrian in latter-day judgment upon Israel | |
Bells | The declared testimony of the Holy Ghost to Christ’s acceptance and work within the veil | |
Belly | The inward condition | |
Billows | Overwhelming sorrows of a judicial character | |
Birds | Speedy agents for good or evil. Spiritual wickedness | |
Black | Mourning. Moral defilement | |
Blind | Without spiritual perception | |
Blood | Dreadful slaughter, The pollutions of human nature Life forfeited by sin, but claimed by a holy God Complete apostasy from God and truth | Revelation 14:20Ezekiel 16:6Leviticus 17:10-14; Leviticus 3:17Revelation 16:3 |
Blue | Heavenly character. The leading color used in... the construction of the coverings, curtains, and veil of the Tabernacle | (Book of Exodus). |
Book,... | Record of open judgment A register of Christian profession written in time Register of real believers written in eternity | |
Bosom | Place of rest and deepest affection | |
Bow | Distant conflict. Deceit and falsehood | |
Breasts | Fruitfulness | |
Breast | The affections of Christ | |
Bread | Jesus incarnate | |
One loaf, Christ for the communion of the Church - one being the expression of her unity | ||
Bread | Twelve loaves, Christ for the communion of Israel -twelve being the expression of her unity | |
Refreshment | ||
Brass (Copper) | Grecian Empire, Strength and endurance Christ’s ability in bearing the responsibility of the sinner, as in the brazen altar, Christ’s ability in sustaining the responsibility of the saint, as in the brazen laver, Firmness of Divine judgment | Daniel 2:39Psalms 107:16; Zechariah 6:1; Micah 4:13Exodus 27:1-7Exodus 38:8Revelation 1:15 |
Breastplate | Moral condition a safeguard for the heart and conscience | |
Bridle | Moral restraint upon nature | |
Brimstone | Utter ruin and intense anguish | |
Bullock | Christ a sacrifice offered to God in the strength and vigor of perfect manhood | |
Bulls | Cruel and powerful enemies | |
Buckler | Divine protection | |
Camp | A religion which would attach man to earth; or, the union of human and Divine principles | |
Candle | Artificial light. Divine light and favor | |
Candlestick of pure Gold | The fullness of the Spirit’s light resting upon believers, The perfect display of the moral glories of Christ as seen in His adorable person | |
Carpenters | God’s instruments of judgment upon the Gentile oppressors of His people, Israel | |
Caterpillars | Devouring enemies | |
Cedar | Earthly greatness Man displayed in his best and fairest forms | |
Chariots | Imperial powers The governmental power and authority of Jehovah, | |
Cherubim (Plural) | The moral supports of God’s throne exercised administratively in government, as justice and judgment, | |
Cisterns | Resources | |
City | Protection; | |
Seat of the Roman Empire | ||
The Church, both in its glorified and apostate states, | ||
Clay | Man as dead material the subject of the sovereign power of God | |
No foot-hold in suffering | ||
Clouds | Divine majesty | |
The presence of Jehovah, but His glory veiled | ||
Colors | Varied glories | |
Concision | Those who would saddle the law upon Christians | |
Cords | Divine restraint. Compellings of love | |
Corn, Old | Christ in glory the food of a heavenly people | |
Crown | Delegated authority Victorious power | |
Kingly dignity, There are four crowns set before the saints: | ||
Crown | First, the crown of gold common to the redeemed, | |
Second, the crown of life for the martyr, | ||
Third, the crown of righteousness for the servant and witness Forth, the crown of glory for the shepherds’ of God’s flock | ||
Cup | The sinners’ portion, Divine wrath, The believers’ portion, Divine favor, | |
Curtains | The curtains of the Tabernacle were inside, and set forth Christ and His glories for us. The curtains of the court were outside, and set forth Christ and His glories to be displayed by us.... | |
Darts | Sharp and sudden temptations | |
Death | Apostacy from God and truth Divine and judicial judgment upon man | |
Dog | An expression of utter contempt, Uncleanness Persons without conscience or feeling Satan | Matthew 15:27; Php 3:2Proverbs 26:11Psalms 22:16Psalms 22:20 |
Door | Divine opening and liberty for service Liberty for communion with Christ | |
Dove | Beauty. Harmlessness. Spotlessness. | |
Dragon | Cruel Egyptian power. Satan | |
Drunkenness | Utter insensibility to judgment. Carnal excitement, | |
Dung | Utter contempt and abhorrence | |
Dust | Utmost depths of humiliation | |
SYMBOL. | MEANING. | REFERENCE. |
Eagle | Emblem of strength, safety, tenderness, and care, | |
Sure and thorough judgment | ||
King of Babylon. King of Egypt | ||
Ears | Human attention Divine attention Devoted obedience | |
Earth | Prophetically, the Roman Empire | |
Earthquake | Prophetically, the convulsion of settled order of things | |
Eating | Personal appropriation of Christ; entering by faith into the reality of His death | |
Communion and fellowship generally | 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Acts 11:3-9; Song of Solomon 5:1; Matthew 26:26 | |
The priests’ eating of the sin and other offerings expressed their thorough identification with what those sacrifices respectively set forth | (See Exodus and Leviticus). | |
Eyes | Divine perception and intelligence Direction and guidance | 2 Chronicles 16:9; Revelation 4:8Numbers 10:31; Psalms 123:2. |
Face | Intelligence The Divine presence | |
Fat | Fruitfulness, abundance, excellence | |
Fat | Utter insensibility of heart and conscience towards God | |
The fat of the sacrifices set forth the holy energy and devotedness of will which led the Blessed One to death | Leviticus 1:1-17; Leviticus 2:1-16; Leviticus 3:1-17; Leviticus 4:1-35; Leviticus 5:1-19; Leviticus 6:1-30; Leviticus 7:1-38 | |
Feet, | Christian walk and ways Under the feet; thorough subjection | Ephesians 6:15; John 13:1-101 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22; Romans 16:20 |
Fig Tree | A kingdom | |
Israel nationally | ||
Security, prosperity, peace | ||
Fire | Judgment | |
Purification | ||
Action of the Word of God | ||
First Born | Dignity, not necessarily of birth | |
Fish | The rulers of Egypt | |
Flame | The severity of Divine judgment | |
Flesh | The nature of man as such, or that principle of life and action in man which, in its very nature is opposed to God, | |
Flesh | Mere human life, without reference to its character, | |
Forehead marked | Specially set apart | |
Fore-skin | Filthiness of the flesh | |
Forest | Kingdom | |
Fornication | Illicit intercourse with the world | |
Foundation | Immovable security | |
Fountains | Sources | |
Fowls | The great of the earth | |
Thorough destruction | ||
Fox | Craft, cunning | |
Crafty Herod | ||
Frankincense | The moral perfectness of Christ displayed in what He was and in what He did | |
All went up to God as a sweet savor | ||
Furnace | Deep trial and suffering | |
Divine judgment | ||
Garden of God | The kingdoms and powers of the world | |
Garments | Practical holiness | |
Gate | Place of government | |
Open gate denotes security | ||
Girdle | Prepared and ready for service | |
Goats’ Hair | Practical separation from evil | |
Goat | Alexander, the Macedonian king | |
The living wicked at Christ’s return | ||
The great sin offering | ||
Gog and Magog | Historically, the future Russian Prince and his land; Thus literally to be understood | |
Gog and Magog | The wicked on the earth at the close of the millennial reign; thus symbolically to he understood | |
Gold | Divine glory, Divine righteousness, Divine nature of the Lord | |
Grapes, ripe | Apostates ready for judgment | |
Moral fruit for God | ||
Grasshoppers | Insignificance | |
Grass | Prosperity of a temporary character | |
Hailstones, | Sudden and severe judgment | |
Hair, long | Subjection. The woman’s glory | |
Hair, short | Masculine energy and dignity | |
Hands | Actions and service | |
Hand, right | Christ’s personal place of power and favor Security. Power and judgment | |
Harlot | A corrupting religious system or people | |
Harvest | Discriminating and separating judgment A special season of grace | Matthew 13:30; Revelation 14:15; Joel 3:13Matthew 9:37-38; John 4:35 |
Head | Seat of moral government, intelligence, and power | Isaiah 7:8-9; Isaiah 9:14-15; Gen. 59:26; Zechariah 6:11; 1 Corinthians 11:3-10 |
Heart | Seat of the feelings, affections, and understanding, | Proverbs 6:18; Luke 6:45; Hosea 7:11; Luke 24:25; John 12:40; Colossians 3:16 |
Heaven | Scene of authority and light | |
Helmet | Divine certainty of salvation | |
Herbs | The moral judgment of evil according to God | |
Hill | Seat of royal government Perpetuity | Psalms 2:6; Psalms 15:1; Psalms 24:3Deuteronomy 33:15; Job 13:7 |
Hinds | Agility, fearlessness, liberty, affection,... | 2 Samuel 22:34; Psalms 18:33; Habakkuk 3:19; Proverbs 5:19; Song of Solomon 2:7; Song of Solomon 3:5 |
Honey | Mere natural affection; forbidden to be offered in the sacrifices | |
Honey | Sweetness | |
Hooks of Gold and Silver | Divine security, founded on the righteousness of God (Gold) and the blood of Christ ( Silver) | Exodus 26:1-37; Exodus 27:1-21; Exodus 28:1-43; Exodus 29:1-46; Exodus 30:1-38; Exodus 31:1-18; Exodus 32:1-35; Exodus 33:1-23 |
Horns | Kings or royal powers | |
Power, strength, glory | ||
Horse | Successful power in war and conquest,...... | |
Hunger and Thirst | Intense spiritual desires,............ | |
Hyssop | Man in his worst estate,......... | |
Idolatry | Any object of life or center for the heart short of God | |
Image | One who represents another,......... | |
Incense | Christ in the value and fragrance of His person offered to God | |
Prayers of future suffering saints | ||
Indignation, The | The future brief but awful period of Israel’s suffering at the hands of Jehovah | |
Iron | Strength | |
Iron | Irresistible power | |
Hardened conscience | ||
Jasper | Divine glory displayed | |
Jewels | Our preciousness to God. Marks of Divine favor | |
Key | The right to exercise Divine authority and government | Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 1:18; Revelation 3:7; Matthew 16:19 |
Kidneys | The inward feelings and affections | Leviticus 3:1-17; Leviticus 4:1-35; Leviticus 5:1-19; Leviticus 6:1-30; Leviticus 7:1-38; Leviticus 8:1-36; Leviticus 9:1-24 |
Kings | Royal dignity of saints | |
Kiss | Familiar yet holy expression of love | |
Divine expression of love | ||
Knee bowed | Subjection. Reverence | |
Ladder | Communication between heaven and earth | |
Lamb | Gentle, meek, tender, unresisting | |
The word occurs nearly thirty times in the Revelation but is there associated with strength, glory, and worship | ||
Lamb | The great Passover sacrifice | |
The daily morning and evening sacrifice | ||
Lamp | Prophetic light | |
Governmental light | ||
Religious profession in possession of light and privilege -- The Spirit’s perfect light in the sanctuary -the presence of God | ||
Laver | No measurements are given of the laver, wherein the priests daily washed their hands and feet. God’s remedy for cleansing the daily defilements of His people is not blood but water-i.e., the constant application of the Word of God to the thoughts, words, and actions of the believer. Christ is the laver; the Word of God is the water. | |
Lead | Judgment of evil and evil men | |
Leaf | Religious profession Millennial blessing and healing | |
Leaven | Moral and doctrinal evil | |
Legs | Strength and stability | |
Leopard | Grecian Empire in its rapid conquests | |
Leprosy | Uncleanness in heart and life | |
Lightning | Obedience connected with the judicial power of God | |
Lily | Loveliness and virgin purity | |
Linen | Personal purity | |
Lion | Majesty. Royal power Babylonian Empire in its imperial greatness | |
Loaves, Two | Church presented to God in her actual state at Pentecost, hence the presence of leaven ( evil) in these loaves | |
Locust | Utter and wide-spread destruction | |
Loins, girt | Inward strength; bracing up of the inner man,... | |
Manna | A humbled Christ for our wilderness circumstances, | |
Measured | Appropriation or possession | Zechariah 2:2; Ezekiel 40:1-49; Revelation 11:1; Revelation 21:15 |
Meat | Christ as the nourishment of the new nature | |
Mercy-seat | The throne of God, where in righteousness and grace, because of the sprinkled blood, Jehovah could meet His guilty people | |
Christ is the true mercy-seat. | ||
Mire | Pollutions of the world Utter moral degradation | |
Milk | Elementary truth for babes in Christ | |
Moon | Derived light and authority New MOON - Israel’s re-appearance in the latter day | Song of Solomon 6:10; Revelation 8:12; Revelation 12:1Psalms 81:3; Ezekiel 46:1 |
Mother | Source of religious corruption or blessing | |
Mountain | Stability and greatness, political and moral | |
Mustard Seed | What in itself is small and insignificant | |
Nail | Steadfast, firmly established | |
Naked | Spiritual destitution. Without Christ | |
Net | Cunning contrivance | |
Nurse | Affection and tenderness | |
Oak | Might and prosperity,............ | |
Oil | Holy Spirit | |
"Mingled with oil"-sets forth the Conception of Jesus by the Holy Ghost | ||
Anointed with oil-sets forth the truth of Acts 10:28, | ||
Olive Tree | Fruitfulness and testimony for God | |
Ostrich | Parental forgetfulness. Cruelty | |
Oven | Thorough, severe, and unsparing judgment | |
Owl | Solitariness in suffering | |
Ox | Patience and strength for labor | |
Palm Tree | The growth and flourishing state of the righteous | |
Sign of victory | ||
Paradise | Heaven, or the immediate presence of God | |
Pearl, One | The Church in unity, beauty, costliness | |
Pillar | Ability to support, uphold, or maintain | |
Pins, hooks, cords, &c. | Used in the construction of the Tabernacle. The believer upheld and maintained by Divine power variously employed. "Kept by the power of God," | |
Plow | Spiritual labor | |
Plumbline | Exact measurement | |
Pomegranates | Fruit of a heavenly character | |
Potter | Divine sovereignty exercised in grace or judgment | |
Pounds | Talents or gifts for public service | |
Pricks | Sharp troubles | |
Purple | Royal or imperial color | |
Race | Energy in Christian life and service | |
Rain | Blessing from heaven. Refreshing and fruitful | |
Ram | Consecration. Median and Persian power | |
Rams’ Horns | Man’s weakness consecrated to the service of God, | |
Rams’ Skins dyed Red | Absolute devotedness and consecration to God | |
Red | Judgment; bloodshed | |
Reed | Inconstancy; weakness,...... | |
Reins | Inward thoughts and feelings,......... | |
Ring | Honor. Royal authority. Love and relationship | |
River | Channel of spiritual blessing | |
Roast | Thoroughness of the judgment of God | |
Robe, best | Christ risen, our righteousness in the Divine presence | |
Rock | Firm, immovable foundation | |
Rod | Power displayed in chastening or judgment | |
Grace bestowed | ||
A tribe or people | ||
Rose | The Spouse in her fragrance and beauty | |
Salt | Preservation. Sound words. Perpetuity and incorruption | |
Sand | Countless multitudes | |
Sapphire | Glory of the throne of God | |
Scarlet | Earthly glory | |
Scepter | Sign of royal authority. Tribal character of Israel | Esther; Amos 1:1-15; Amos 5:1-27; Amos 8:1-14; Genesis 49:10 |
Scorpions | The instruments of mental distress and anguish | |
Scourge, Overflowing | King of the north - great political enemy of the Jews and leader of the peoples attacking Palestine in the last days | |
Sea | Peoples in a state of anarchy and confusion | |
Restlessness of mere nature | ||
Seal | Confirmation. Security | |
Marked for blessing and preservation | ||
Selah | Pause; consider. Occurs about 70 times in the book of Psalms; also three times in the prophet Habakkuk 3:1-19. | |
Serpent | Satanic and mere worldly wisdom. Subtlety | |
Shepherd | Civil and ecclesiastical rulers and guides | |
Shield | Protection and defense | |
Ships | Commerce | |
Shittim Wood | The holy humanity of our Lord Jesus | See book of Exodus |
Shoes | Christian walk and wilderness traveling | |
Shoes off | Reverence | |
Shoulder | Ability; strength to bear or carry burdens | |
Silver | Price of Redemption - the precious blood of Christ | |
Skin | Outward appearance revealing inward condition | |
Sleep | Death as to the body; it is never used of the soul | |
Smoke | Blinding and darkening judgment | |
Snow | Purity | |
Sockets of Silver and of Brass | Founded, established, secured on the ground of the blood of Christ (silver), and the divine ability of Christ in meeting the judgment of God (brass). | See book of Exodus. |
Sparrow | The commonest of creatures objects of Divine care | |
Spices | Divine graces. Moral graces | |
Spue | Loathing and utter rejection | |
Staff | Sign of wilderness journeying | |
Emblem of power and of judgment | ||
Stars | Subordinate lights and rulers | |
Staves of Shittim Wood and Gold | Christ in the dignity of his person (wood as man and gold as God) sustaining us in our wilderness path | |
Sun | Supreme glory, light, and authority | Revelation 1:16; Revelation 8:12; Revelation 12:1; Mal. 4:12 |
Supper | Last meal before midnight; grace or judgment | Luke 14:16-24; Revelation 3:20; Revelation 19:9; Revelation 19:17 |
Swallow | Restlessness | |
Swine | Uncleanness in nature and practice | |
Sword | Keen searching judgment of the Word of God | |
War and bloodshed. Judgment | ||
Magisterial authority and power | ||
SYMBOL | MEANING | REFERENCE |
Table | Communion. Fellowship | |
Tail | False prophets and false teaching | |
Talents | Gifts for public service | |
Tares | Religious but unsaved professors | |
Teeth | Cruelty. Mischievous power | |
Tempest | Afflictions. Judgment | |
Thighs | Strength | |
Thorns | Generally what is unprofitable | |
God’s instruments in chastening His people | ||
Thousands of Thousands | Countless myriads | |
Throne | Seat of established authority | |
Tongue | Speech. Remorse and torment. Mere profession | |
Tower | Safety | |
Travail | Anguish of spirit and great anxiety | |
Trees | Eminent persons | |
Trumpet | Loud and public summons | 1 Zechariah 9:14; Revelation 8:2; Jeremiah 51:27; Joel 3:15; Isaiah 27:13 |
The trump of 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:52, will sound for Christians only. | ||
Unicorn | Great strength. The agonies of death | |
Vail of the Ta- bernacle, with its Colors, Cherubim, and Material | Christ in absolute purity, in His varied glories and character heavenly and earthly as a man | |
Vine | Israel - the responsible fruit-bearing system on earth | |
Christ on earth morally replacing Israel | ||
Vipers | Poisonous doctrines and ways | |
Virgins | Separation from the world, its idolatry and ways | |
Vulture | Quickness of sight; keen vision | |
Walls | Divine and also human security | Isaiah 26:1; Revelation 21:14; Revelation 21:18; Deuteronomy 1:28 |
Water | The weakness of man | |
Water | The sanctifying and cleansing character of the Word of God | |
Waters | Nations acting under certain influences | |
Waves | Judgments divinely inflicted | |
Well | Source of blessing and refreshment | |
Wheat | Genuine profession | |
Wheels | Course of providential government on earth | |
Whirlwind | Manifestation of Divine power | |
White | Purity | Revelation 1:14; Revelation 3:4; Revelation 14:14 : Mark 16:5 |
Whoredoms | Religious corruptions. Spiritual idolatry | |
Widow | Desolateness | |
Wilderness | An afflicted and desolate condition | |
Wind | Unseen, yet powerful operations of the Spirit of God | |
Instability | ||
False and vain expectations | ||
Divine manifestation in judgment or in grace | ||
Wine | The mere excitement of nature. Joy. Judgment, | |
Wings | Protection. Shelter. Rapidity of action | Psalms 91:4; Psalms 36:7; Luke 13:34; Ezekiel 1:1-28; Revelation 9:9; Revelation 12:14 |
Wolves | Enemies of God and destroyers of His people | |
Woman | Weakness and imperfection | |
The false church as well as the true bride; Israel also, or any religious system | ||
Word, the | The expression of what Christ is personally and essentially | |
Worm | Abject and contemptible creature. Eternal misery | |
Wrinkle | Care and old age | |
Yoke | Restraint |