Symbols and Themes Reveal Bible Meaning
My previous post in Enjoyable Learning primarily explored motifs and symbols in literature. This time, I will focus on Biblical symbolism. I am still learning and sometimes struggle to find inexpensive but in depth Bible study resources to explain biblical symbols. Over the years, our family collected various printed materials, including several thick Bible handbooks and concordances. Nowadays, however, I find it easier to use electronic resources, such as the Bible Gateway’s free preview online edition Dictionary of Bible Themes - (Dictionary of Bible Themes – 1670 symbols (https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionary-of-bible-themes/1670-symbols). The Dictionary lists objects, “actions or creatures that have a deeper significance and are so understood by those who see them or use them.”
Bible themes include “God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Creation, Humanity, Sin and salvation, God’s people, The life of the believer and Last things.” They also include free online Bible dictionaries, at https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries .
Lists of symbols and themes, although helpful, still need some explanation. Both children and adults can sometimes struggle to understand how biblical symbols and motifs relate to the truth of the Bible. Got Questions (https://www.gotquestions.org/biblical-symbolism.html) explores the question: "How can I recognize and understand biblical symbolism?" The author states:
"Note that a literal interpretation of the Bible allows for figurative language. Here’s a simple rule: if the literal meaning of a passage leads to obvious absurdity, but a figurative meaning yields clarity, then the passage is probably using symbols. For example, in Exodus 19:4, God tells Israel, “I carried you on eagles’ wings.” A literal reading of this statement would lead to absurdity—God did not use real eagles to airlift His people out of Egypt. The statement is obviously symbolic; God is emphasizing the speed and strength with which He delivered Israel. This leads to another rule of biblical interpretation: a symbol will have a non-symbolic meaning. In other words, there is something real (a real person, a real historical event, a real trait) behind every figure of speech."
Know God; know truth. 2 Timothy 10: 15 states: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (NKJV).
Notice that in this verse, the Bible refers to division, in order to illuminate the greater truth. Often, modern teachers introduce division with a pizza, carefully divided into pieces. To rightly divide a pizza, one must carefully ensure that each piece remains the same size as the others. Just as division requires accuracy, so must one also carefully divide (or cut) God's truth in the Bible!
"Ultimately, in studying the Word, we are trying to understand what the Author has said and not allow our own opinions or views to cloud the meaning of what He has written. When we are diligent to “cut straight”—to rightly divide the Word of truth—we can understand what He has communicated in His Word and be well-equipped for what He would have us to do and how He would have us to think." (Got Questions, https://www.gotquestions.org/rightly-dividing-the-word-of-truth.html).
As we study the symbolism in the Bible, we can learn to know God better. I especially love how the Bible uses the sheep for symbolism. Got Questions says: "Sheep are herd animals who are amazingly dependent on a shepherd for their well-being. And they are the animal most used by God to symbolize His followers. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and we are the sheep who recognize His voice, follow Him, and rely on Him for our safety and provision."
What is your favorite Bible symbol? How many Bible verses refer to it, and how does the symbol help us to “rightly divide the word of truth”?
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