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Meaning of Symbolic Words in the Bible


Meaning of Symbolic Words in the Bible

 

Symbolic Word(s) Means or Represents Example(s) in Bible
Adultery Idolatry Jeremiah 3:8-9, 5:7;
Ezekiel 23:37
Angel Messenger, hence minister Revelation 1:20, 2:1
Arm Power Psalms 10:15; Ezekiel 30:21
Arrows Affliction or judgment of God Job 6:4; Psalms 38:2
Babylon Rome, heathenism, ruling power Revelation 16:19, 17:3
Beasts Tyrannical kingdoms, wicked men Daniel 7:17;1Corinthians 15:32
Black Affliction – anguish Job 30:30; Joel 2:6
Blindness Ignorance Isaiah 29:18; Romans 11:25
Blood Slaughter – depth Isaiah 34:3; Ezekiel 32:6
Brimstone Desolation – torments Job 18:15; Revelation 14:10
Bride Israel Revelation 21:9
Bridegroom Christ, wedded to Israel John 3:29
Bulls Violent or wicked persons Psalms 22:12, 68:30
Candlesticks Churches Revelation 1:20, 2:1
Chariots Heavenly hosts Psalms 68:17; Isaiah 66:15
Crown Victory – reward James 1:12; Revelation 2:10
Cup Divine blessings/cursings Psalms 23:5; Isaiah 51:17
Darkness Misery – adversity – ignorance Isaiah 60:2; Amos 4:13
Day Indefinite time – prophetic year Isaiah 34:8; Revelation 2:10;
1Thessalonians 5:5
Deaf Lack of regard for divine things Isaiah 29:18, 42:18, 19
Symbolic Word(s) Means or Represents Example(s) in Bible
Dogs Heathen or impure persons – Persecutors Matthew 15:26; Revelation 22:15; Psalms 22:16
Door Opening or access to something Acts 14:27; 1Corinthians 16:9
Dragon A tyrant – a Satanic force Ezekiel 29:3; Revelation 12:3, 9
Drunkenness Effects of divine judgments Isaiah 29:9
Eagle Conquering kings or nations Ezekiel 17:3, 7; Hosea 8:1
Earth The land – ground Genesis 7:10; Exodus 9:33;
Numbers 22:5, 11
Earthquake Calamities – Revolutions Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:12
Eyes Knowledge, understanding Proverbs. 15:3; Romans 11:10
Face of God Divine favor Psalms 13:1; Daniel 9:17
Fat Abundance Nehemiah 9:25; Jeremiah 5:28
Fire Judgments Numbers 11:1, 3; Isaiah 42:25
Forehead Beliefs – Personal Character Revelation 7:3, 13:16
Forest City – kingdom – polity Isaiah 10:18, 19; Ezekiel 15:6
Furnace Affliction Isaiah 48:10; Jeremiah 11:4
Garments Outward appearance Revelation 3:4, etc.
Gates Security, center of civil concourse Psalms 147:13; Deuteronomy 16:18
Girdle Strength Job 12:18; Isaiah 22:21
Goats Wicked persons Zechariah 10:3; Matthew 25:33
Gog and Magog God’s enemies Ezekiel 38:2, 39:11; Revelation 20:8
Grass The lower order, opposed to trees, the higher order Isaiah 37:27; Revelation 8:7
Hail Divine vengeance Haggai 2:17; Revelation 11:19
Hand, right Protection – support Psalms 18:35, 73:23
Hand of the Lord Divine influence or providence Psalms 63:8; Ezekiel 8:1
Harvest A time of destruction Joel 3:13; Matthew 13:30
Head Rule or ruler Ephesians 1:22, etc.
Heavens Atmosphere, solar system Isaiah 13:13; Haggai 2:6, 21
Hedge God’s protecting providence Job 1:10; Ezekiel 13:5
Helmet Salvation of God’s people Isaiah 59:17; Ephesians 6:17
Horse War, military might Zechariah 9:10; Jeremiah 51:21
Hunger and thirst Spiritual desires Matthew 5:6; Luke 1:53
Incense Prayer Malachi 1:11; Revelation 5:8
Jerusalem City of God Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 3:12
Keys Power and authority Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 1:18
Lamp A successor or offspring 1 Kings 15:4; Psalms 132:17
Light Joy – prosperity Psalms 97:11; Isaiah 58:8
Light Knowledge by the word of God Psalms 119:105; Isaiah 8:20
Milk Great abundance Ezekiel 25:4; Joel 3:18
Moon A sign of coming events Joel 2:31; Revelation 6:12
Mountains A state – nation – kingdom Psalms 30:7; Isaiah 2:2
Mystery Not a thing that is unintelligible, but never before made plain Romans 16:25, Revelation 17:5, 7 etc.;
Naked In the sinful state of nature Genesis 3:10-11; Revelation 3:17
Night Adversity – affliction – ignorance Isaiah 21:12; Revelation 21:25
Oaks Men of rank and power Isaiah 2:13; Zechariah 11:2
Oil Abundance – fertility – joy Psalms 23:5, 92:10
Olive trees Believers and ministers Psalms 52:8; Revelation 11:2
Palms Victory Psalms 92:12; Revelation 7:9
Paradise Kingdom of Heaven Luke 23:43; Revelation 2:7
Pit Ensnaring devises of crafty men Psalms 119:85; Ezekiel 19:4
Rain Something refreshing, delightful Psalms 68:9; Isaiah 5:6
Rock God as a refuge and salvation Psalms 18:2, 94:22, 95:1
Rod/staff Authority – correction Psalms 2:9; Job 9:34, etc.
Salt Purity – barrenness Colossians 4:6; Deuteronomy 29:23
Sea Vast multitudes, an army Jeremiah 51:42; Ezekiel 26:3
Seal/sealed Security – secrecy Song of Solomon 4:12; Isaiah 29:11; Revelation 5, 6
Serpent A cunning and evil being Genesis 3:1; 2Corinthians 11:3
Sheep Christ’s disciples, followers John 10:11, etc.
Shepherds Rulers, civil or ecclesiastical Nahum 3:18; Ezekiel 34:2
Shield Defense – protection Psalms 84:9; Ephesians 6:16
Sleep Death Daniel 12:2; 1Thessalonians 4:14
Sores Spiritual maladies Isaiah 1:6; Revelation 16:11
Star A prince or ruler Numbers 24:17; Daniel 8:10
Sun, moon, stars Various state heads or rulers Genesis 37:9; Joel 2:31
Sword War and slaughter Isaiah 34:5; Ezekiel 21:3
Tail Subjection – degradation Deuteronomy 28:13, 44; Isaiah 9:15
Teeth Cruelty Psalms 3:7; Proverbs 30:14
Thorns Desolation, troubles Proverbs 24:31; Hosea 2:6
Throne Kingdom – seat of government Psalms 122:5; Daniel 7:9
Travail Anguish – anxiety Jeremiah 4:31; Galatians 4:19
Trees The great and noble Daniel 4:20-22
Vine God’s elect Psalms 80:8, etc.
Vineyard The house of Israel Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 12:10
Watchman Prophet – Preacher Ezekiel 3:17; Isaiah 62:6
Waters Afflictions – multitudes – ordinances Psalms 69:1; Isaiah 8:7, 55:1
Week Seven years Daniel 9:24-26
Wilderness Afflicted state John 1:23; Revelation 12:6
Wind Judgments – destructive war Isaiah 27:8; Jeremiah 51:1
Wine Spiritual blessings – Divine judgments Isaiah 25:6, 55:1; Psalms 60:3, etc.
Winepress Slaughter Isaiah 63:3; Revelation 14:19
Wings Protection – assistance Exodus 19:4; Psalms 17:8
Wolves Furious, ungodly persons Isaiah 11:6, 65:25
Woman Jerusalem, the Church Ezekiel 26:2, 3; Revelation 12:1
Yoke Labor – restraint Deuteronomy 28:48; Lamentations 3:27; Matthew 11:29, 30
 
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