This post is different from the usual. It may seem a bit academic, but its not really.
The goal is to help you see that the symbols in the Bible have a Hebraic meaning, a graphic depiction, a parable-like key if you will -- that God provides as a visual signpost to convey the depth, meaning and insight of how God teaches.
Working together like a 3-D road map Biblical symbols and keys include numbers, directions, colors, animals, precious metals and so on.
Imagine trying to read aloud without first learning the alphabet or phonics or driving to a destination down the road without a signpost.
It is much the same when we begin to understand the Bible uses Hebraic symbols and types. Those patterns provide keys to Biblical literacy and knowing God's will for your life from the Bible.
The journey can be helped with the desire to understand the words and decode them so that a deeper understanding of God's Word shines like a bright light. In my Scripture studies, I found the beauty of the Bible's symbols and keys is that we can begin to connect with the Word of God as He gives us glimpses of His glory and mystery.
But it's not so easy. The thing is, God wants us to search Him out, it's the honor of a king to do so. Proverbs 25:2 tells us:
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."Biblical imagery through symbols and keys as well numbers allows our eyes to open and our ears to hear the Scriptures to unlock the timeless, Heavenly messages our Creator has embedded into His living word. That is declared in this Psalm:
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." Psalm 32:8We can gain a lot of insight by studying the Hebraic symbols used in God's Word and we can gain a better connection to the Hebrew text and deeper revelation to understand how God weaves the light of the life giving water of His two-edged sword of truth and its promise of restoration through the work of Messiah and yours too.
There are many Biblical depths and dimension to the Scriptures, and they are there to encourage you in faith and point you to Messiah and your redemption. The following list gives just a few of them, but I've included some resources I've found that you may find helpful as you link the pages of Scripture to your heart and life.
The Bible's patterns and themes will help you see Messiah throughout the storylines of the Scriptures. When you begin to do that, you'll come to realize the Bible is not about religion, its about life and what you do.
A few of the symbols are noted below:
Numbers in Scripture:
- One = Beginning, unity, Elohim-God
- Two = Witness
- Three = Complete
- Four = Wholeness of physical creation
- Five = Torah teaching, mercy and grace
- Six = Mankind
- Seven = Perfection, rest
- Eight = Restoration, Resurrection
- Nine = Divine Judgment and Order
- Ten = Perfection
- Eleven = Disorder, confusion
- Twelve = Foundation of the King of King’s government
- Thirteen = Rebellion
- Fourteen = Deliverance and salvation
- Fifteen = Completion of God's Kingdom
- Twenty = Time of waiting
- Twenty four = Priesthood
- Thirty = Maturity, readiness
- Forty = Trial, testing
- Forty two = Completion of a journey
- Fifty = Freedom, restoration
- Sixty = Pride and arrogance
- Sixty-six = Idol, false worship
- Seventy = Nations, completeness
- One Hundred and twenty = Fullness of time
- One Hundred forty-four = Perfect government
- One Hundred fifty-three = Fruit bearing
- Six Hundred = Warfare
For more on the wisdom of Biblical numbers online: Try BibleStudy.org. It is an excellent reference.
Colors in Scripture:
- White = Purity, righteousness
- Red = Blood, offering sacrifice, ransom for life
- Blue = Healing, instruction, faithfulness
- Purple = Royalty, Kingship
- Gold = Perfection, God’s word, glory
- Silver = Redemption
- Green = Life, growth, restoration
- Black = Famine, death, sin
Other Biblical symbols, image types and keys include:
The Human Body in Scripture:
- Head = Thought, mind, memory, intelligence, leadership
- Heart = Center of life, seat of emotion
- Blood = Life through sacrifice
- Eyes = Spiritual vision, wisdom, discernment, insight
- Ear = Spiritual hearing, reception of faith
- Nose = Breath, discernment
- Face = Favor, friendly regard, permission
- Shoulders = Seat of God's government, strength
- Belly = Emotion
- Arm = Strength, power, support
- Hands = Tools of ministry, deeds, works, action
- Legs = Support and strength of the body
- Thigh = Symbol of stabilizing our walk
- Knee = Symbol of reverence and humility
- Heal = Power to crush, stomp
- Feet = Way of life, walk following God
- Bowels = Inner man
- Tongue = Language
- North = Power and authority
- South = Refreshment
- East = God's light and glory
- West = End of the age
- Up = Going forward toward God
- Down = Going away from God, backsliding
- Return = Repentance
- Wool = Warmth and comfort
- Linen = Righteousness and purity
- Flax = Weakness of mankind
- Robe = Covering of righteousness
- Gold = Perfection
- Silver = Redemption
- Copper, Bronze = Judgment of sin
- Iron = Man’s weakness, rebellion, crushing, unyielding
- Tin = Worthlessness, weakness, impure character
- Lead = Weight, heaviness of the heart
- Sun = Life, glory, light
- Moon = light reflector
- Stars = Abraham's heavenly descendants, Israel, messengers, light bearers
- Falling Stars = apostates, betrayal, blasphemers
- Almond = Resurrection from death
- Cedars = Power, majesty, royalty
- Hemlock = Wormwood, false worship, calamity
- Mulberry = Battle, broken heart
- Oak = Strength
- Fig = Israel, fruitfulness
- Myrtle = Blessing
- Palm = Reverence, victory
- Pine = Fragrance and beauty
- Olive = Life, spirit, light, peace
- Pomegranate = Abundance and joyfulness
- Willow = Weeping and heartbreak
- Bear = Evil, cunning, cruel men
- Beast = Worldly, reactive, devouring, craving
- Bull = Strength, labor, servanthood
- Calf = Praise, joyful thanksgiving
- Camel = Service, burden bearer
- Dog = Unbelievers, hypocrites
- Donkey = Stubbornness
- Dove = Gentleness, Holy Spirit
- Eagle = Vision, swiftness, rising above
- Fish = Souls of men
- Fox = Cunning evil men
- Frogs = Liars, boastful croaking
- Goat = Shaggy, sinners
- Horse = Military power in battle, conquest, war
- Lamb = Offering, Messiah
- Lion = King, ruler
- Owl = Dark evil spirit, night bird
- Ox = Strength, service, sacrifice
- Ram = Stubborn, self-willed, wild state
- Serpent = Satan, deception
- Sheep = God's people, defenseless except by a shepherd
- Wolf = False teachers
- Flies = Evil spirit, filth, satan's domain
- Grasshopper = Multitudes, destructive
- Locust= Devouring destruction
- Scorpion = Evil spirits, evil men, pain
- Worm = Despised
- Angel = Messenger
- Air = Dark spiritual power
- Ark = Safety
- Babylon = False religion, idol worship, religious apostasy and mixing whoredoms
- Bow = Success in battle against evil
- Bread = Life-sustaining living Word of God
- Brick = Slavery, work of men's hands, false worship
- Chaff = Sin, uselessness
- Cities = Man’s religious governments
- Clay = Frailness of the human flesh
- Clothing = Torah based character
- Crowns = Kingship, victory
- Cup = Suffering
- Day = Measurement of time
- Dust = Humanity
- Dark Clouds = Trouble
- Earth = Man’s domain
- Earthquake = Shaking of society, revolution
- Eat = Take in the message
- Egypt = Bondage to sin, confusion, worldliness
- Eye salve = Truth, antidote for spiritual blindness
- False Prophet = Liar, deceiver
- Famine = Lack of truth and spiritual discernment
- Field = Land, the world
- Fire = Trials, purifying and testing
- Fornication = False idol worship
- Fruit = Action, works, doing
- Garments = Covering of righteousness
- Grass = Masses of mankind
- Hail = Hard truth, divine judgment
- Harlot = Idol worshipper, corrupt, apostate
- Harvest = Ingathering
- Healing = Salvation
- Honey = Happy life
- Horn = Strength and power, rulers, man’s government
- Image = Likeness
- Islands = Organizations of people
- Jar = Vessel, person
- Lamp = Indwelling Spirit of God, Holy Scripture
- Lightning = Flashes, diffusion of truth and knowledge
- Light = God Almighty
- Leprosy = Sickness, sin leading to death
- Measuring Rod = God’s Word
- Merchants = Selling false teachings and requiring tithes
- Mountain = Nations, man’s kingdom governments
- Name = Authority, reputation, purpose
- Night = Spiritual darkness, wrath, judgment
- Oil = Holy Spirit, anointing
- Pit = Without a Bible foundation
- Plague = Wrath glory of God on sin
- Rain = Blessings
- Rock = Truth
- Sackcloth = Mourning, sorrow
- Salt = Incorruptible life, preservation
- Sand = People, multitudes
- Scepter = Power, authority, kingship
- Sea = Restless mass of humanity, unruly people, nations
- Seal = Sign or mark of approval or disapproval
- Seat = Power of authority
- Seed = Message of truth
- Shield = Faith and truth
- Sickle = Reaping
- Stiff-necked = Stubbornness, resistance to God’s authority
- Sweat = Man's efforts and work
- Sword = Word of God
- Tabernacle = God’s existence
- Tares = Children of error
- Thorns = Sin’s curse
- Trees = Prominent men
- Trumpet/Shofar = Warning of God's coming approach
- Torment = Test by trial
- Two-edged sword = Blessings and curses
- Valley = Lowly and meek
- Virgin = Pure, clean
- Wings = Protection, deliverance
- Water = Truth, God’s Word of life
- Wheat = Faithful followers, children of truth
- Wind = God’s Spirit, breath of life
- Winds = Man’s strife, commotions, wars
- Wine = Blood covenant of life, good doctrine
- Whoredoms = Idolatry, false doctrines, unclean
- Wormwood = Bitterness, lies
- Yoke = Servitude, bond servant fellowship
This list just scratches the surface of the depth of meaning for the Hebraic symbols and keys found in the scrolls of Scripture and there are plenty of online resources that are broader and more extensive than this listing that can benefit you.
There's much more to learn and it's really important to understand the context of the culture of the people of the Bible. For example, the word of God is full of Hebrew idioms that need to be uncovered.
For further study you can check these resources:
Biblestudy.org provides a good list of Meaning of Numbers in the Bible as does Number in Scripture by E.W. Bullinger which can be bought or found online at philologos.com presenting a topic not referenced here.
Published in 1980 and updated in 1996 the Dictionary of Bible Themes by Martin H. Manser is a good tool as well as The A to Z Guide to Bible Signs and Symbols Understanding Their Meaning and Significance by: Neil Wilson, Nancy Ryken Taylor.
One of my favorite study aids is the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge by R. A. Torrey.
Finally, in addition to unlocking Scripture through an understanding of numbers, symbols and types, there are hundreds of Hebraisms (Hebrew idioms) found in the Newer Testament that are explained verse by verse in this book that will open your eyes. One of the first things you will see is the Biblical root of the faith of the disciples and Messiah: Hebraisms in the Original Renewed Covenant by Rabbi Julio Dam. Published in 2015.
Ancient Hebrew Idioms by Wayne Leman and for an even deeper study of over 500 idioms embedded in the Bible, you can enrich your understanding with Treasure of Hebrew Idioms. Interpreting The Symbols and Types by Kevin J. Conner.
What does all this mean?
Consider a prayer: Please, God, guide me by your Spirit as to what I should hear and do.
It's time to repent and return to God's voice, return to hear and do His words and walk in the faith of His Kingdom path so that you can ready your lamp for your assignment.
Stretch out your hand, and take from the tree of life, and live forever.
Open a Bible, read it, listen to God's voice and do Yeshua's teaching about the forever jots and tittles.
You can learn how the things which are written in the Torah, the Prophets, and the Psalms are concerning Messiah and you can teach others to live life like Jesus, it's love in God's way:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:16-17
Today is the time, open your eyes if you're dead in your own valley of dry bones.
Look up and you'll recognize Messiah from Abraham's promise passed on to Isaac and Jacob as written by Moses in the Torah. You can see Him too in the Prophets and the Writings.
Repent and walk your Emmaus Road with Messiah. Study the Scriptures He taught every Sabbath that are filled with doing life God's way in the Kingdom, and tell others about Him. Be a gatekeeper until the house is complete.
Shalom.