The first bird specifically mentioned in the Bible is the raven. While most people remember that Noah sent out a dove from the ark to find out if dry land was available for the rescued humans and animals after the flood, fewer recall that he first sent out a raven (Gen 8:6-7). The fact that the raven didn’t return provided Noah with only part of the
Continue reading BIBLE SIGNS AND SYMBOLS (RAVEN/CROW)
Grapevines are a plant well suited to the climate of Palestine. Grapes were cultivated as far back as Noah’s day (Gen 9:20) and were eaten fresh, dried, or crushed to make juice, vinegar, or wine. In an area where water was often in short supply, the juice from grapes became crucial for life. Clusters of grapes as large as five kilograms (twelve pounds) have been reported in Palestine, giving validity to the spies’ account of the grapes in Canaan in
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The agricultural practice of grafting joining a shoot or bud to a growing plant so they grow together into a new plant-was well-known in the ancient world. It was usually done to promote new growth and increased fruit production among similar plant species. Grafting was a faster way to get a mature plant than starting from seeds. Often a branch from a cultivated tree would be grafted onto an already established wild tree, and the wild tree
Jonah’s story is summed up in one verse: “The LORD sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights” (Jon 1:17). Jonah was an ordinary man, called by God to preach to Nineveh. But he is also a satirical and ridiculous figure, an example of what a prophet should not be. Fearing that the hated Ninevites might repent, Jonah refused God’s call and tried to run from God by boarding a ship bound for the
Continue reading BIBLE SIGNS AND SYMBOLS (JONAH IN THE GREAT FISH)
Two brides take up most of the symbolic attention in the Bible. The bride of the Old Testament is Israel; the bride of the New Testament is the church, the bride of Christ. With the possible exception of the bride who takes the spotlight in Song of Solomon 4, the idea of a bride in the Old Testament was a daughter “paid for” by a bride-price and then wooed by her husband. Even in the case of Ruth, a widow, the proposal of marriage involved a cost: in this case, Boaz taking on responsibility not only for Ruth but also for
Although most Westerners would think of mountains and hills as very different from one another, in the biblical landscape the two terms were used almost interchangeably. We often see mountains and hills used in parallel to illustrate the same idea. For instance, in Psalm 114 we read, “The mountains jumped like rams. The hills jumped like lambs” (v. 4). The two terms are not contrasted, but rather represent the same idea.
Light was the first thing created and among the first words spoken by God that were written in Scripture: “Let there be light!” (Gen 1:3). As the first created thing and something necessary for life, light holds primary significance in the Bible. Throughout Scripture, light imagery is consistently used to symbolize life itself, particularly life lived in a way that pleases God. The psalm writer praises God, saying, “You have rescued me from death. You have kept my feet from stumbling so that I could walk in your presence,
Like water, blood is a fluid that is essential for life. When we donate blood, we help save lives. Those who lose too much blood risk death. For biblical authors, blood was a powerful symbol for humanity itself. God’s blessing of Noah and his sons included the following warning: “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed,
The tabernacle was a religious structure built during the exodus when God’s people lived in tents. The Hebrew word mishkan, translated “tabernacle,” literally means “residence” or “dwelling place.” It is related to the word for God’s glorious presence, shekinah. Thus, the very word tabernacle connotes God’s indwelling presence among his people.
The cornerstone of a building is the main foundation stone upon which the entire structure rests and therefore the most important stone in a building. In the construction techniques used in antiquity, the cornerstone was the first stone laid, and the integrity and stability of the building depended upon its being precisely squared. As a biblical image, Scripture has one reference of God laying the cornerstone of creation (Job 38:6); all other references are to Christ as the cornerstone of the church. Continue reading BIBLE SIGNS & SYMBOLS “CORNERSTONES”