Figures of speech and symbolic language in the Bible

The Bible, throughout its pages, uses both figures of speech and symbolic language.

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There are many symbols. Some of these, what they represent, and where in Scripture they are found, are:-

SymbolLiteralPassage
God’s faceHis presenceNumbers 6:25-26; Psalm 34:16
God’s arm/handHis powerPsalm 21:8; Psalm 89:13
God’s eyesHis awarenessProverbs 15:3; 1 Peter 3:12
God’s earsHis listeningPsalm 31:2; Isaiah 59:1
TrumpetsGod’s speakingExodus 19:19
ThunderGod’s voicePsalm 29:3
RainbowGod’s promiseGenesis 9:13
ThroneGod’s gloryIsaiah 6:1; Ezekiel 1:26
ArrowsGod’s judgmentsPsalm 38:2; Psalm 120:4

There are also some symbolic actions:-

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SymbolLiteralPassage
Breaking a jarDestruction of JerusalemJeremiah 19:10-11
Cursing of a fig-treeJudgmentMatthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14
Washing handsInnocenceMatthew 27:24
Being thirstySpiritual needPsalm 63:1; John 7:37
BaptismBurialRomans 6:3-4
Lord’s SupperRemembranceMatthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
HarvestingJudgment dayJoel 3:12-13; Matthew 13:29-30; Revelation 14:15
Tearing garmentsAnger and sorrowGenesis 37:29,34; Joshua 7:6
SpittingContemptIsaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65
Lifting of handsPrayerPsalm 63:4; 1 Timothy 2:8

There are also animals used as symbols.

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SymbolLiteralPassage
Various animalsEarthly kingdomsDaniel 7:2-7,17; Daniel 8:20-22
LambJesus’ sacrificeRevelation 5:6

Care is needed sometimes in determining whether a statement of Scripture is literal or symbolic. Some guidelines for this are:-

  1. How the statement is used elsewhere in Scripture;
  2. Whether it is referenced as being part of a dream or vision; or
  3. Whether Bible verses close around it are obviously literal or symbolic (that is, context).

However, sometimes the Bible itself explains what the symbols mean (as in the cases of Daniel and Revelation referred to above).

The Bible also employs many figures of speech. These are departures from the normal rules of grammar or word usage. They are there to give special emphasis, to call attention to the point, or to add force or power to an expression. Some examples of these are:-

Personification: Ascribing human characteristics to something else, such as “the trees will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12).

Exaggeration: Saying that things are greater than they are, such as “Saul & Jonathan…they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions”  (2 Samuel 1:23).

Metonymy: Changing one noun for another related one, such as “for where your treasure is, there will your heart (thoughts & affections) be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Name change: Changing a name for a description, such as “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One” – meaning Jesus  (Acts 3:14).

Euphemism: Changing what is unpleasant for something pleasant , such as “our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep” – died (John 11:11).

Simile: Comparison by resemblance, such as “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church…” (Ephesians 5:25).

Representation: Comparison by one thing’s representing another, such as “Take, eat; this is my body” (Matthew 26:26).

Irony: Thought in a form that conveys its opposite, such as “Doubtless you are the people and wisdom will die with you” (Job 12:2).

Oxymoron: A wise saying that seems foolish, such as “Your light will rise in the darkness …” (Isaiah 58:10).

Idiom: Unusual usage of words or phrases “break bread,” “turn to ashes,” “hide from your eyes,” etc.

It can be seen from the above that some phrases in the Bible may not be as clear to understand as they first seem. That is when comparison of one Scripture against another becomes most helpful.

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