Symbols and Signs in the Bible

Bible writers often use imagery to tell a story and give deeper meaning. Pictures, lodge the story in our memory banks. They make it easier to recall details and connect other stories. Some symbols and signs are listed below with Bible references. Keep checking back as this list is far from exhaustive and will be updated regularly.

Animals or Animal Parts

Bear

Destructive power (2 Kings 2:23-24, Proverbs 28:15)

Bear, raised up on one side, with three ribs in it's mouth was a prophecy of the kingdom of Medo-Persia that would rule from 539 B.C. to 331 B.C. (Daniel 7:5)

Beast

Kingdom / Government / Political Power (Daniel 7:17-23)

Beast with iron teeth and ten horns was a prophecy of the kingdom of Rome that would rule from 168 B.C. to A.D. 476 (Daniel 7:7-8)

Blood

Life (Leviticus 17:11, Deuteronomy 12:23)

Dove

Holy Spirit (Mark 1:10)

Dragon

Satan or His Agency (Revelation 12:7-9)

Goat

Greece (Daniel 8:21)

Horn

King or Kingdom (Daniel 7:24, 8:21-22, Zechariah 1:18-19, Revelation 17:12)

Strength (Psalm 75:10)

Horse

Strength and power in battle (Job 39:19, Psalm 147:10, Proverbs 21:31)

Swiftness (Jeremiah 4:13)

Stubbornness (Jeremiah 8:4-6)

Lust (Jeremiah 5:8)

Misplaced trust (Psalm 20:7)

Lamb

Jesus / Sacrifice (Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29)

Lion

Powerful King, i.e., Babylon (Jeremiah 50:43-44, Daniel 7:4, 17, 23)

Lion of Judah, i.e., Jesus (Revelation 5:4-9)

Lion with eagles wings - Prophecy of kingdom of Babylon which was in power and would rule from 605 to 539 B.C. (Daniel 7:4)

Ram

Medo-Persia (Daniel 8:20)

Serpent

Satan (Revelation 12:9, 20:2)

Wings

Speed / Protection (Deuteronomy 28:49, Matthew 23:37)

Wolf

False prophets (Matthew 7:15)

Colours

Amber

Glory of God (Ezekiel 1:3-4, 8:1-2)

Black

Famine (Revelation 6:5-6)

Blue

Law, obedience (Numbers 15:37-41)

Gold

Holiness, Rulership (Revelation 4:4, 14:14), Spiritual wealth (Revelation 3:18)

Purple

Royalty (Judges 8:26, Mark 15:17)

Red/Scarlet

Sin / Corruption (Isaiah 1:18, Revelation 17:1-4), War (Nahum 2:3, Revelation 6:4)

Directions

North

God's dwelling place, where His glory descends. God is the King of the North. His Word is on the sides of the North in the sanctuary. Satan seeks to elevate himself over the congregation on the sides of the North

South

Egypt was in the South and was associated with opposition of God's power and oppression of God's people. East of Israel was a wilderness region that was not associated with prosperity.

East

Holiness - Things that are good come out of the East, But things travelling to the East are negative. The Garden of Eden was planted on the Eastern side of the Eastern land of Eden with it's gate on the Eastern side.

West

Travelling toward the West signified restoration of the relationship with God. You would enter the sanctuary from the Eastern side and travel toward the West. The Israelites were released from slavery in the East and travelled West toward the promised land.

Four Horses of Revelation

Black Horse

Famine (Revelation 6:5-6)

Pale Horse

Death (Revelation 6:7-8)

Red Horse

War (Revelation 6:4)

White Horse

Conquest (Revelation 6:1-2)

Jewish Calendar

Tishri - 1st month of civil year, 7th month of sacred year (Sept-Oct)

Heshvan - 2nd month of civil year, 8th month of sacred year (Oct-Nov)

Chislev - 3rd month of civil year, 9th month of sacred year (Nov-Dec)

Tebeth - 4th month of civil year, 10th month of sacred year (Dec-Jan)

Shebat - 5th month of civil year, 11th month of sacred year (Jan-Feb)

Adar - 6th month of civil year, 12th month of sacred year (Feb-Mar)

Nisan - 7th month of civil year, 1st month of sacred year (Mar-Apr)

Iyar - 8th month of civil year, 2nd month of sacred year (Apr-May)

Sivan - 9th month of civil year, 3rd month of sacred year (May-Jun)

Tammuz - 10th month of civil year, 4th month of sacred year (Jun-Jul)

Ab - 11th month of civil year, 5th month of sacred year (Jul-Aug)

Elul - 12th month of civil year, 6th month of sacred year (Aug-Sep)

Metals, Elements and Natural Objects

12 Foundation Stones of New Jerusalem

12 Apostles of Jesus (Revelation 21:14)

12 Gates of Pearl, New Jerusalem

Twelve Tribes of Israel (Revelation 21:12)

Ashes

Mankind is like dust and ashes (Job 30:19)

Brass/Bronze

Rebels and Slanderers (Isaiah 48:4, Jeremiah 6:28), Earth (Leviticus 26:19)

Bread

Word of God / Jesus (Luke 4:4, John 6:35-51, 1 Corinthians 11:23-24)

Field

World (Matthew 13:38, John 4:35)

Fig Tree

Nation that should bear fruit (Luke 13:6-9)

Fire

Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16)

Consuming Fire - God (Hebrews 12:29)

Fruit

Results or deeds that reveal the spiritual condition

Gold

Pure character (Isaiah 13:12 Malachi 3:3)

Harvest

End of the world (Matthew 13:39)

Honey

Happy life (Deuteronomy 8:6-10, Ezekiel 20:6)

Mountains

Political or religio-political powers (Isaiah 2:2-3, Jeremiah 51:24-25, Daniel 2:35, 44-45), Holiness (Jeremiah 31:23)

Oil

Holy Spirit (1 Sammuel 16:13, Zechariah 4:2-6, Revelation 4:5)

Reapers

Angles (Matthew 13:39)

Rock

Jesus / Truth (Deuteronomy 32:4, 1 Corinthians 10:4)

Seed

Children of God / Jesus (Romans 9:8, Galations 3:16)

Silver

Pure words / Understanding (Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 3:13-14, 10:20, 25:11)

Stars

Angels (Job 38:7, Revelation 1:16, 20, 12:4, 7-9)

Sun

Jesus (Psalm 84:11, Malachi 4:2, Matthew 17:1-2)

Thorns / Thorny Ground

Cares of this life, Trials (Mark 4:18-19)

Tree

Cross / People / Nation (Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Psalm 37:35, 92:12)

Vinyard

Church that should bear fruit (Luke 20:9-16)

Water

Everalasting life / Holy Spirit / Cleansing (John 4:14, 7:37-39, Ephesians 5:26, Revelation 22:17)

Waters

Inhabited area / People / Nations (Revelation 17:15)

Winds

Strife / Commotion / Winds of war (Jeremiah 4:11-13, 25:31-33, 49:36-37, Zechariah 7:14)

Miscellaneous

Arrows

Bitter words (Psalm 64:3), False witness (Proverbs 25:18, Tongue (Jeremiah 9:8)

Clothing / Garments / Robe

Character (Isaiah 59:6, 64:6)

Crown

Ruler or rulership (Proverbs 4:8-9, 16:31, 27:23-24, Isaiah 28:5, 62:3)

Day

Literal year (Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6)

Famine

Dearth of truth (Amos 8:11)

Healing

Salvation (Luke 5:23-24)

Jar / Vessel

Person (Jeremiah 18:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Timothy 2:21)

Lamp

Word of God (Psalm 119:105)

Leprosy / Sickness

Sin (Leviticus 13:12-17, 2 Kings 5:1-14, Luke 5:12-13)

Mark

Sign or seal of approval or disapproval (Ezekiel 9:4, Romans 4:1, Revelation 7:2, 3, 13:16-17, 14:9-11)

Ring

Authority (Genesis 41:42-43, Esther 3:10-11)

Seal / Sign

Sign or seal of approval or disapproval (Romans 4:1, Revelation 7:2-3, 9:4, 20:3)

Sword

Word of God (Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12)

Time

360 days or one Jewish year (Daniel 4:16, 23, 25, 32:7-25)

Times

720 days or two Jewish years (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 12:14)

Trumpet

Urgent warning of God's approach (Exodus 19:16-17, Joshua 6:4, 5:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:16)

White Robes

Victory / Righteousness (Revelation 3:5, 7:14, 19:8)

Wine

Blood/ Covenant / Doctrine (Isaiah 65:8, Joel 2:19, Luke 5:37, 22:17, 20, 1 Corinthians 11:25)

Numbers

1 - Oneness of God, Unity of God's People

2 - The truth of God's word, The law and the prophets, Two witnesses, Sword with two edges

3 - Godhead / Triune God, The number of perfect love

4 - Universal truth as in the four directions and four winds

5 - Teaching, Five books of Moses, five wise virgins, 5 loaves to feed 5000

6 - Man and the worship of man, signifying his rebellion, imperfection, works and disobedience

7 - God and His perfection, The sign of divine worship, completion, obedience and rest

10 - Law, restoration and healing

12 - The church and God's authority, 12 disciples, 12 tribes of Israel, The new Jerusalem has 12 foundations, 12 gates, 12 000 furlongs, a tree with 12 kinds of fruit, 12 times a year

40 - One generation as well as times of testing and purification. It rained for 40 days during the flood, Moses spent 40 years in the desert, Jesus fasted 40 days

50 - Power and celebration. Jubilee year, Pentecost occurred 50 days after Christ's resurrection

70 - Human leadership and judgement. Moses appointed 70 elders and at Christ's time the Sanhedrin had 70 men sit on its council, Jesus sent out 70 disciples, Jesus told Peter to forgive 70x7 times

666 - Religio-political power or man who is in rebellion to God's government that sets it's agenda above the Word of God.

People and Body Parts

Eyes

Spiritual discernment (Matthew 13:10-17, 1 John 2:11)

Feet

Your walk / direction (Genesis 19:2, Joshua 4:18, Psalm 119:105, Hebrews 12:13)

Forehead

Mind (Deuteronomy 6:6-8, Ezekiel 3:4-9, Romans 7:25). The Frontal lobe is the area of your brain that processes morality and connects with the Holy Spirit.

Hand

Deeds / works / actions (Ecclesiasts 9:10, Isaiah 59:6)

Harlot

Apostate church / religion (Isaiah 1:21-27, Jeremiah 3:1-3, 6-9, Revelation 19:2)

Heads

Major powers / rulers/ governments (Revelation 17:3, 9-10)

Thief

Suddenness of Jesus' coming (1 Thessalonians 5:2-4: 2 Peter 3:10)

Tongue

Language / speech (Exodus 4:10, Philippians 2:11)

Woman, Corrupt / Harlot / Prostitute / Adulterer

Apostate church (Ezekiel 16:15-58, 23:2-21, Hosea 2:5, 3:1, Revelation 14:4)

Woman, Pure / Virgin

True church (Jeremiah 6:2, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:23-27)

Places

Babel / Babylon

Confusion / Rebellion / Apostasy (Genesis 10:8-10, 11:6-9, Revelation 17:1-5, 18:2-3), Apostate Christianity, Confusion about God's character

Egypt

Oppressors of God's people Pagan system of worship