The Symbolic Language of the Bible: Pomegranates - Swine

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 14
Symbol
Meaning
Reference
Pomegranates
Fruit of a heavenly character
Exodus 28:33, 34; Song of Solomon 6:11; 8:2
Potter
Divine sovereignty exercised in grace or judgment
Jeremiah 18:1-10; Psalms 2:9; Romans 9:21
Pounds
Talents or gifts for public service
Luke 19:12-26
Pricks
Sharp troubles
Acts 9:5; Numbers 33:55
Purple
Royal or imperial color
John 19:2; Revelation 18:16; Exodus 25:4
Race
Energy in Christian life and service
1 Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:1
Rain
Blessing from heaven; refreshing and fruitful
Psalms 84:6; Hebrews 6:7; Deuteronomy 32:2
Ram
Consecration; Median and Persian power
Leviticus 8:22; Daniel 8:20
Rams’ horns
Man’s weakness consecrated to the service of God
Joshua 6
Rams’ skins dyed red
Absolute devotedness and consecration to God
Exodus 29:15; 25:14
Red
Judgment; bloodshed
Isaiah 63:2; Zechariah 1:8
Reed
Inconstancy; weakness
Isaiah 36:6; Matthew 11:7; 2 Kings 18:21
Reins
Inward thoughts and feelings
Psalms 26:2; Revelation 2:23; Jeremiah 20:12
Ring
Honor; royal authority; love and relationship
Genesis 41:42; Esther 3:10; Luke 15:22
River
Channel of spiritual blessing
John 7:38; Psalms 65:9; Revelation 22:1, 2
Roast
Thoroughness of the judgment of God
Exodus 12:8; 2 Chronicles 35:13
Robe, best
Christ risen, our righteousness in the Divine presence
Luke 15:22
Rock
Firm, immovable foundation
Psalms 31:2; Matthew 7:24, 25; 16:18
Rod
Power displayed in chastening or judgment
Psalms 2:9; Isaiah 10:5; 1 Corinthians 4:21
 
Grace bestowed
Psalms 23:4; Hebrews 9:4
 
A tribe or people
Psalms 74:2
Salt
Preservation; Godly speech; perpetuity and incorruption
Matthew 5:13; Colossians 4;6; Mark 9:49
Sand
Countless multitudes
Genesis 22:17; 32:12; Psalms 139:18
Sapphire
Glory of the throne of God
Exodus 25:10; Ezekiel 1:26
Scarlet
Earthly glory
Revelation 17:3, 4; 18:16; Numbers 4:8
Scepter
Sign of royal authority; tribal character of Israel
Esther 4:11; Amos 1:5, 8; Genesis 49:10
Scorpions
The instruments of mental distress and anguish
Revelation 9:3, 5, 10
Scourge overflowing
King of the north— great political enemy of the Jews and leader of the peoples attacking Palestine in the last days
Isaiah 28:15, 18
Sea
Peoples in a state of anarchy and confusion
Revelation 8:8; 13:1; Matthew 13:1
 
Restlessness of mere nature
Isaiah 57:20
Seal
Confirmation; security
2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Corinthians 9:2; Ephesians 4:30
 
Marked for blessing and preservation
Revelation 7:2, 4; 9:4
Selah
Pause; consider. Occurs about 70 times in the book of Psalms; also three times in the prophet Habakkuk, chapter 3
See Psalms and Habakkuk 3
Serpent
Satanic and mere worldly wisdom; subtlety
2 Corinthians 11:3; Isaiah 27:1; Genesis 49:17
Shepherd
Civil or ecclesiastical rulers and guides
Nah. 3:18; Ezekiel 34
Shield
Protection and defense
Genesis 15:1; Psalms 3:3; Ephesians 6:16
Ships
Commerce
Genesis 49:13; Revelation 8:9; 18:19
Shittim wood
The holy humanity of our Lord Jesus
See book of Exodus
Shoes
Christian walk and wilderness traveling
Exodus 12:11; Ephesians 6:15
Shoes off
Reverence
Exodus 3:15
Shoulder
Ability; strength to bear or carry burdens
Isaiah 22:22; Luke 15:5
Silver
Price of Redemption—the precious blood of Christ
Exodus 30:12-16
Skin
Outward appearance revealing inward condition
Leviticus 13
Sleep
Death as to the body; it is never so used of the soul
1 Corinthians 11:30; John. 11:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:4
Smoke
Blinding and darkening judgment
Isaiah 14:31; Revelation 9:2, 3, 17, 18
Snow
Purity
Revelation 1:14; Lamentations 4:7; Psalms 51:7
Sockets of silver and of brass
Founded and secured on the ground of the blood of Jesus (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
Psalms 84:3; Matthew 10:29, 31
Spices
Divine graces; moral qualities
Exodus 30:23-28; Sol. 4:14
Spue
Loathing of and utter rejection
Revelation 3;16; Leviticus 18:28
Staff
Sign of wilderness journeying
Psalms 23:4; Mark 6:8; Hebrews 11:21
 
Emblem of power and judgment
Isaiah 14:5; 10:5
Stars
Subordinate lights and rulers
Revelation 8:12; 12:1; Daniel 8:10
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
Exodus 25; 27
Sun
Supreme glory, light, and authority
Revelation 1:16; 8:12; 12:1; Malachi 4:12
Supper
Last meal before midnight; grace of judgment
Luke 14:16-24; Revelation 3:20; 19:9, 17
Swallow
Restlessness
Psalms 84:3; Proverbs 26:2
Swine
Uncleanness in nature and practice
2 Pet. 2:22; Isaiah 66:3, 17; Deuteronomy 14:8