For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more.

Symbols and similitudes » Being mute

Ezekiel 24:27

On that day you will be able to speak again; you will talk with the fugitive and be silent no longer. You will be an object lesson for them, and they will know that I am the Lord." Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 33:22

Now the hand of the Lord had been on me the evening before the refugee reached me, but the Lord opened my mouth by the time the refugee arrived in the morning; he opened my mouth and I was no longer unable to speak. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 29:21

On that day I will make Israel powerful, and I will give you the right to be heard among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord." Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 3:26-27

I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house. But when I speak with you, I will loosen your tongue and you must say to them, 'This is what the sovereign Lord says.' Those who listen will listen, but the indifferent will refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

Luke 1:20-22

And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place." Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place. When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak.

Luke 1:62-64

So they made signs to the baby's father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed. Immediately Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God.

Symbols and similitudes » Tabernacle

Psalm 15:1

A psalm of David. Lord, who may be a guest in your home? Who may live on your holy hill? Verse Concepts

Hebrews 8:2

a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up. Verse Concepts

Hebrews 8:5

The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, "See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain." Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 37:27

My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Verse Concepts

Hebrews 9:1-12

Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place. And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. read more.
It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail. So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties. But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing. This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. They served only for matters of food and drink and various washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came. But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:23-24

So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands -- the representation of the true sanctuary -- but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God's presence for us.

Symbols and similitudes » Wine

Matthew 26:27

And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, Verse Concepts

Mark 14:23

And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

Jeremiah 25:15-17

So the Lord, the God of Israel, spoke to me in a vision. "Take this cup from my hand. It is filled with the wine of my wrath. Take it and make the nations to whom I send you drink it. When they have drunk it, they will stagger to and fro and act insane. For I will send wars sweeping through them." So I took the cup from the Lord's hand. I made all the nations to whom he sent me drink the wine of his wrath.

Luke 22:17

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Wine, of the atoning blood

Luke 22:20

And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Verse Concepts

Matthew 26:27-29

And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

Mark 14:23-25

And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many. I tell you the truth, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

Luke 22:17-18

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Illuminating

1 John 2:20

Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. Verse Concepts

1 John 2:27

Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him. Verse Concepts

Exodus 13:21

Psalm 78:14

He led them with a cloud by day, and with the light of a fire all night long. Verse Concepts

Matthew 25:3-4

When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them. But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps.

Zechariah 4:2-3

He asked me, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a menorah of pure gold with a receptacle at the top and seven lamps, with fourteen pipes going to the lamps. There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the receptacle and the other on the left."

Zechariah 4:11-13

Next I asked the messenger, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the menorah?" Before he could reply I asked again, "What are these two extensions of the olive trees, which are emptying out the golden oil through the two golden pipes?" He replied, "Don't you know what these are?" And I said, "No, sir."

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Cleansing by

Hebrews 10:22

let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Verse Concepts

Ephesians 5:26

to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 36:25

I will sprinkle you with pure water and you will be clean from all your impurities. I will purify you from all your idols. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 16:9

"'Then I bathed you in water, washed the blood off you, and anointed you with fragrant oil. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Fertilizing

Hosea 10:12

Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap unfailing love. Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves, for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers deliverance on you. Verse Concepts

Hosea 14:5

I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily, he will send down his roots like a cedar of Lebanon. Verse Concepts

Hosea 6:3

So let us acknowledge him! Let us seek to acknowledge the Lord! He will come to our rescue as certainly as the appearance of the dawn, as certainly as the winter rain comes, as certainly as the spring rain that waters the land." Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 34:26-27

I will turn them and the regions around my hill into a blessing. I will make showers come down in their season; they will be showers that bring blessing. The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the earth will yield its crops. They will live securely on their land; they will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hand of those who enslaved them.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Vivifying

Isaiah 58:11

Isaiah 27:3

I, the Lord, protect it; I water it regularly. I guard it night and day, so no one can harm it. Verse Concepts

Psalm 1:3

Isaiah 27:6

The time is coming when Jacob will take root; Israel will blossom and grow branches. The produce will fill the surface of the world. Verse Concepts

Isaiah 44:3-4

For I will pour water on the parched ground and cause streams to flow on the dry land. I will pour my spirit on your offspring and my blessing on your children. They will sprout up like a tree in the grass, like poplars beside channels of water.

Symbols and similitudes » Childhood

Matthew 18:3

Mark 10:14-15

But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

Luke 18:16-17

But Jesus called for the children, saying, "Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

Symbols and similitudes » Sticks and staves

Zechariah 11:7

So I began to shepherd the flock destined for slaughter, the most afflicted of all the flock. Then I took two staffs, calling one "Pleasantness" and the other "Binders," and I tended the flock. Verse Concepts

Zechariah 11:14

Then I cut the second staff "Binders" in two in order to annul the covenant of brotherhood between Judah and Israel. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 37:16-17

"As for you, son of man, take one branch, and write on it, 'For Judah, and for the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another branch and write on it, 'For Joseph, the branch of Ephraim and all the house of Israel associated with him.' Join them as one stick; they will be as one in your hand.

Zechariah 11:10-11

Then I took my staff "Pleasantness" and cut it in two to annul my covenant that I had made with all the people. So it was annulled that very day, and then the most afflicted of the flock who kept faith with me knew that that was the word of the Lord.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the divine presence, the pillar of cloud

Exodus 19:9

The Lord said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and so that they will always believe in you." And Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. Verse Concepts

Exodus 19:16

On the third day in the morning there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud horn; all the people who were in the camp trembled. Verse Concepts

Exodus 14:19-20

The angel of God, who was going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. It came between the Egyptian camp and the Israelite camp; it was a dark cloud and it lit up the night so that one camp did not come near the other the whole night.

Exodus 13:21-22

Now the Lord was going before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel day or night. He did not remove the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

Symbols and similitudes » Waving the wave offering and lifting up the heave offering

Leviticus 9:21

Finally Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the Lord just as Moses had commanded. Verse Concepts

Exodus 29:24-28

You are to put all these in Aaron's hands and in his sons' hands, and you are to wave them as a wave offering before the Lord. Then you are to take them from their hands and burn them on the altar for a burnt offering, for a soothing aroma before the Lord. It is an offering made by fire to the Lord. You are to take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration; you are to wave it as a wave offering before the Lord, and it is to be your share. read more.
You are to sanctify the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution, which were waved and lifted up as a contribution from the ram of consecration, from what belongs to Aaron and to his sons. It is to belong to Aaron and to his sons from the Israelites, by a perpetual ordinance, for it is a contribution. It is to be a contribution from the Israelites from their peace offerings, their contribution to the Lord.

Leviticus 8:27-29

He then put all of them on the palms of Aaron and his sons, who waved them as a wave offering before the Lord. Moses then took them from their palms and offered them up in smoke on the altar on top of the burnt offering -- they were an ordination offering for a soothing aroma; it was a gift to the Lord. Finally, Moses took the breast and waved it as a wave offering before the Lord from the ram of ordination. It was Moses' share just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Symbols and similitudes » Cooking

Ezekiel 24:3-5

Recite a proverb to this rebellious house and say to them, 'This is what the sovereign Lord says: "'Set on the pot, set it on, pour water in it too; add the pieces of meat to it, every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder; fill it with choice bones. Take the choice bone of the flock, heap up bones under it; boil rapidly, and boil its bones in it.

Jeremiah 1:13

The Lord again asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a pot of boiling water; it is tipped toward us from the north." Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 4:9-15

"As for you, take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt, put them in a single container, and make food from them for yourself. For the same number of days that you lie on your side -- 390 days -- you will eat it. The food you eat will be eight ounces a day by weight; you must eat it at fixed times. And you must drink water by measure, a pint and a half; you must drink it at fixed times. read more.
And you must eat the food like you would a barley cake. You must bake it in front of them over a fire made with dried human excrement." And the Lord said, "This is how the people of Israel will eat their unclean food among the nations where I will banish them." And I said, "Ah, sovereign Lord, I have never been ceremonially defiled before. I have never eaten a carcass or an animal torn by wild beasts; from my youth up, unclean meat has never entered my mouth." So he said to me, "All right then, I will substitute cow's manure instead of human excrement. You will cook your food over it."

Symbols and similitudes » Bread

Matthew 26:26

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat, this is my body." Verse Concepts

Mark 14:22

While they were eating, he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it. This is my body." Verse Concepts

Luke 22:19

Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Earnest

Ephesians 4:30

2 Corinthians 1:22

who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment. Verse Concepts

Ephesians 1:13-14

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) -- when you believed in Christ -- you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Healing

Isaiah 1:6

From the soles of your feet to your head, there is no spot that is unharmed. There are only bruises, cuts, and open wounds. They have not been cleansed or bandaged, nor have they been treated with olive oil. Verse Concepts

Luke 10:34

He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Verse Concepts

Revelation 18:13

cinnamon, spice, incense, perfumed ointment, frankincense, wine, olive oil and costly flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and four-wheeled carriages, slaves and human lives. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » The tearing of the curtain in the temple

Matthew 27:51

Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks were split apart. Verse Concepts

Mark 1:38

He replied, "Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do." Verse Concepts

Luke 23:45

because the sun's light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Imperceptible

2 Samuel 17:12

We will come against him wherever he happens to be found. We will descend on him like the dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of the men who are with him will be spared alive -- not one of them! Verse Concepts

Mark 4:26-28

He also said, "The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. By itself the soil produces a crop, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.

Symbols and similitudes » Trees of life and knowledge

Genesis 3:24

When he drove the man out, he placed on the eastern side of the orchard in Eden angelic sentries who used the flame of a whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life. Verse Concepts

Genesis 2:17

Genesis 3:3

but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, 'You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.'" Verse Concepts

Revelation 22:2

Genesis 2:9

The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.) Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Guiding

John 16:13

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come. Verse Concepts

Isaiah 30:21

You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, "This is the correct way, walk in it," whether you are heading to the right or the left. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Consecrating

Isaiah 61:1

The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners, Verse Concepts

Exodus 29:7

You are to take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. Verse Concepts

Exodus 30:30

"You are to anoint Aaron and his sons and sanctify them, so that they may minister as my priests. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Impressing

2 Corinthians 3:18

And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Verse Concepts

Job 38:14

The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features are dyed like a garment. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Searching

Zephaniah 1:12

At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin, those who think to themselves, 'The Lord neither rewards nor punishes.' Verse Concepts

1 Corinthians 2:10

Symbols and similitudes » Shadow on ahaz' sun-dial

2 Kings 20:8-11

Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, "What is the confirming sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the Lord's temple the day after tomorrow?" Isaiah replied, "This is your sign from the Lord confirming that the Lord will do what he has said. Do you want the shadow to move ahead ten steps or to go back ten steps?" Hezekiah answered, "It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps, but not for it to go back ten steps." read more.
Isaiah the prophet called out to the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz.

Isaiah 38:7-8

Isaiah replied, "This is your sign from the Lord confirming that the Lord will do what he has said: Look, I will make the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz." And then the shadow went back ten steps.

Symbols and similitudes » Sacrificial animals

John 1:29

John 1:36

Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" Verse Concepts

Genesis 15:8-11

But Abram said, "O sovereign Lord, by what can I know that I am to possess it?" The Lord said to him, "Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." So Abram took all these for him and then cut them in two and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. read more.
When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Powerful

1 Kings 19:11

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by." A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. Verse Concepts

Acts 2:2

Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Basket of fruit

Amos 8:1-2

The sovereign Lord showed me this: I saw a basket of summer fruit. He said, "What do you see, Amos?" I replied, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the Lord said to me, "The end has come for my people Israel! I will no longer overlook their sins.

Jeremiah 24:1-3

The Lord showed me two baskets of figs sitting before his temple. This happened after King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deported Jehoiakim's son, King Jeconiah of Judah. He deported him and the leaders of Judah, along with the craftsmen and metal workers, and took them to Babylon. One basket had very good-looking figs in it. They looked like those that had ripened early. The other basket had very bad-looking figs in it, so bad they could not be eaten. The Lord said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I answered, "I see figs. The good ones look very good. But the bad ones look very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten."

Symbols and similitudes » Belt

Jeremiah 13:1-7

The Lord said to me, "Go and buy some linen shorts and put them on. Do not put them in water." So I bought the shorts as the Lord had told me to do and put them on. Then the Lord spoke to me again and said, read more.
"Take the shorts that you bought and are wearing and go at once to Perath. Bury the shorts there in a crack in the rocks." So I went and buried them at Perath as the Lord had ordered me to do. Many days later the Lord said to me, "Go at once to Perath and get the shorts I ordered you to bury there." So I went to Perath and dug up the shorts from the place where I had buried them. I found that they were ruined; they were good for nothing.

Acts 21:11

He came to us, took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, "The Holy Spirit says this: 'This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Bottles

Jeremiah 19:10

The Lord continued, "Now break the jar in front of those who have come here with you. Verse Concepts

Jeremiah 13:12

"So tell them, 'The Lord, the God of Israel, says, "Every wine jar is made to be filled with wine."' And they will probably say to you, 'Do you not think we know that every wine jar is supposed to be filled with wine?' Verse Concepts

Jeremiah 19:1-2

The Lord told Jeremiah, "Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take with you some of the leaders of the people and some of the leaders of the priests. Go out to the part of the Hinnom Valley which is near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Announce there what I tell you.

Symbols and similitudes » Jonah

Matthew 16:4

A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away. Verse Concepts

Luke 11:29-30

As the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, "This generation is a wicked generation; it looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

Symbols and similitudes » Food

2 Kings 19:29

This will be your confirmation that I have spoken the truth: This year you will eat what grows wild, and next year what grows on its own from that. But in the third year you will plant seed and harvest crops; you will plant vines and consume their produce. Verse Concepts

Isaiah 37:30

"This will be your reminder that I have spoken the truth: This year you will eat what grows wild, and next year what grows on its own. But the year after that you will plant seed and harvest crops; you will plant vines and consume their produce. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Passover, of the sparing of the firstborn, and of the atonement made by Christ

1 Corinthians 5:7

Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough -- you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Verse Concepts

Exodus 12:3-28

Tell the whole community of Israel, 'In the tenth day of this month they each must take a lamb for themselves according to their families -- a lamb for each household. If any household is too small for a lamb, the man and his next-door neighbor are to take a lamb according to the number of people -- you will make your count for the lamb according to how much each one can eat. Your lamb must be perfect, a male, one year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. read more.
You must care for it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then the whole community of Israel will kill it around sundown. They will take some of the blood and put it on the two side posts and top of the doorframe of the houses where they will eat it. They will eat the meat the same night; they will eat it roasted over the fire with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs. Do not eat it raw or boiled in water, but roast it over the fire with its head, its legs, and its entrails. You must leave nothing until morning, but you must burn with fire whatever remains of it until morning. This is how you are to eat it -- dressed to travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover. I will pass through the land of Egypt in the same night, and I will attack all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of humans and of animals, and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, so that when I see the blood I will pass over you, and this plague will not fall on you to destroy you when I attack the land of Egypt. This day will become a memorial for you, and you will celebrate it as a festival to the Lord -- you will celebrate it perpetually as a lasting ordinance. For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. Surely on the first day you must put away yeast from your houses because anyone who eats bread made with yeast from the first day to the seventh day will be cut off from Israel. On the first day there will be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there will be a holy convocation for you. You must do no work of any kind on them, only what every person will eat -- that alone may be prepared for you. So you will keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because on this very day I brought your regiments out from the land of Egypt, and so you must keep this day perpetually as a lasting ordinance. In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, you will eat bread made without yeast until the twenty-first day of the month in the evening. For seven days yeast must not be found in your houses, for whoever eats what is made with yeast -- that person will be cut off from the community of Israel, whether a foreigner or one born in the land. You will not eat anything made with yeast; in all the places where you live you must eat bread made without yeast.'" Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel, and told them, "Go and select for yourselves a lamb or young goat for your families, and kill the Passover animals. Take a branch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and apply to the top of the doorframe and the two side posts some of the blood that is in the basin. Not one of you is to go out the door of his house until morning. For the Lord will pass through to strike Egypt, and when he sees the blood on the top of the doorframe and the two side posts, then the Lord will pass over the door, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. You must observe this event as an ordinance for you and for your children forever. When you enter the land that the Lord will give to you, just as he said, you must observe this ceremony. When your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' -- then you will say, 'It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, when he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck Egypt and delivered our households.'" The people bowed down low to the ground, and the Israelites went away and did exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron.

Symbols and similitudes » The bronze serpent, of Christ

John 3:14

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, Verse Concepts

Numbers 21:8-9

The Lord said to Moses, "Make a poisonous snake and set it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole, so that if a snake had bitten someone, when he looked at the bronze snake he lived.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Incomprehensible

John 3:8

The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Verse Concepts

1 Corinthians 12:11

It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Purifying

Malachi 3:2-3

Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire, like a launderer's soap. He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the Lord a proper offering.

Isaiah 4:4

At that time the sovereign master will wash the excrement from Zion's women, he will rinse the bloodstains from Jerusalem's midst, as he comes to judge and to bring devastation. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » A vine

Ezekiel 19:10-14

"'Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by water. It was fruitful and full of branches because it was well-watered. Its boughs were strong, fit for rulers' scepters; it reached up into the clouds. It stood out because of its height and its many branches. But it was plucked up in anger; it was thrown down to the ground. The east wind dried up its fruit; its strong branches broke off and withered -- a fire consumed them. read more.
Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. A fire has gone out from its branch; it has consumed its shoot and its fruit. No strong branch was left in it, nor a scepter to rule.' This is a lament song, and has become a lament song."

Ezekiel 15:2

"Son of man, of all the woody branches among the trees of the forest, what happens to the wood of the vine?

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Refreshing

Isaiah 18:4

For this is what the Lord has told me: "I will wait and watch from my place, like scorching heat produced by the sunlight, like a cloud of mist in the heat of harvest." Verse Concepts

Psalm 68:9

O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people. When they are tired, you sustain them, Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Comforting

Hebrews 1:9

You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing." Verse Concepts

Isaiah 61:3

to strengthen those who mourn in Zion, by giving them a turban, instead of ashes, oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning, a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement. They will be called oaks of righteousness, trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » The rock that was struck, of Christ

1 Corinthians 10:4

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Verse Concepts

Exodus 17:6

I will be standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you will strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink." And Moses did so in plain view of the elders of Israel. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Praying toward the temple

Daniel 6:10

1 Kings 8:29

Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. May you answer your servant's prayer for this place. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » The rock that was struck

1 Corinthians 10:4

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Verse Concepts

Exodus 17:6

Symbols and similitudes » Offering water to drink

Genesis 24:13-15

Here I am, standing by the spring, and the daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out to draw water. I will say to a young woman, 'Please lower your jar so I may drink.' May the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac reply, 'Drink, and I'll give your camels water too.' In this way I will know that you have been faithful to my master." Before he had finished praying, there came Rebekah with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah (Milcah was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor).

Genesis 24:42-44

When I came to the spring today, I prayed, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you have decided to make my journey successful, may events unfold as follows: Here I am, standing by the spring. When the young woman goes out to draw water, I'll say, "Give me a little water to drink from your jug." Then she will reply to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too." May that woman be the one whom the Lord has chosen for my master's son.'

Symbols and similitudes » Circumcision, of the covenant of abraham

Romans 4:11

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them. Verse Concepts

Genesis 17:11

You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskins. This will be a reminder of the covenant between me and you. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Yokes

Jeremiah 27:2-3

The Lord told me, "Make a yoke out of leather straps and wooden crossbars and put it on your neck. Use it to send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon. Send them through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to King Zedekiah of Judah.

Jeremiah 28:10

The prophet Hananiah then took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck and broke it. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Water

John 3:5

John 7:38-39

let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, 'From within him will flow rivers of living water.'" (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Symbols and similitudes » The whole system of mosaic rites

Hebrews 9:9-10

This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. They served only for matters of food and drink and various washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came.

Hebrews 9:18-23

So even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. For when Moses had spoken every command to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep." read more.
And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood. Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these.

Symbols and similitudes » Canaan, of the spiritual rest

Hebrews 3:11-12

"As I swore in my anger, 'They will never enter my rest!'" See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God.

Hebrews 4:5

but to repeat the text cited earlier: "They will never enter my rest!" Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Marrying a whore

Hosea 1:2-9

When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, he said to him, "Go marry a prostitute who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution, because the nation continually commits spiritual prostitution by turning away from the Lord." So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him. Then the Lord said to Hosea, "Name him 'Jezreel,' because in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu on account of the bloodshed in the valley of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. read more.
At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel." She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to him, "Name her 'No Pity' (Lo-Ruhamah) because I will no longer have pity on the nation of Israel. For I will certainly not forgive their guilt. But I will have pity on the nation of Judah. I will deliver them by the Lord their God; I will not deliver them by the warrior's bow, by sword, by military victory, by chariot horses, or by chariots." When she had weaned 'No Pity' (Lo-Ruhamah) she conceived again and gave birth to another son. Then the Lord said: "Name him 'Not My People' (Lo-Ammi), because you are not my people and I am not your God."

Hosea 3:1-4

The Lord said to me, "Go, show love to your wife again, even though she loves another man and continually commits adultery. Likewise, the Lord loves the Israelites although they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols." So I paid fifteen shekels of silver and about seven bushels of barley to purchase her. Then I told her, "You must live with me many days; you must not commit adultery or have sexual intercourse with another man, and I also will wait for you." read more.
For the Israelites must live many days without a king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred fertility pillar, without ephod or idols.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Reviving

Ezekiel 37:9-10

He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, -- prophesy, son of man -- and say to the breath: 'This is what the sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these corpses so that they may live.'" So I prophesied as I was commanded, and the breath came into them; they lived and stood on their feet, an extremely great army.

Ezekiel 37:14

I will place my breath in you and you will live; I will give you rest in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord -- I have spoken and I will act, declares the Lord.'" Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Handwriting on the wall

Daniel 5:5-6

At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the royal palace wall, opposite the lampstand. The king was watching the back of the hand that was writing. Then all the color drained from the king's face and he became alarmed. The joints of his hips gave way, and his knees began knocking together.

Daniel 5:16-28

However, I have heard that you are able to provide interpretations and to decipher knotty problems. Now if you are able to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will wear purple and have a golden collar around your neck and be third ruler in the kingdom." But Daniel replied to the king, "Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its interpretation. As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty. read more.
Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished. And when his mind became arrogant and his spirit filled with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and his honor was removed from him. He was driven from human society, his mind was changed to that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes. "But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, although you knew all this. Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You brought before you the vessels from his temple, and you and your nobles, together with your wives and concubines, drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone -- gods that cannot see or hear or comprehend! But you have not glorified the God who has in his control your very breath and all your ways! Therefore the palm of a hand was sent from him, and this writing was inscribed. "This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEQEL, and PHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the words: As for mene -- God has numbered your kingdom's days and brought it to an end. As for teqel -- you are weighed on the balances and found to be lacking. As for peres -- your kingdom is divided and given over to the Medes and Persians."

Symbols and similitudes » Bow-shot » By jonathan

1 Samuel 20:21-37

When I send a boy after them, I will say, "Go and find the arrows." If I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them,' then come back. For as surely as the Lord lives, you will be safe and there will no problem. But if I say to the boy, "Look, the arrows are on the other side of you,' get away. For in that case the Lord has sent you away. With regard to the matter that you and I discussed, the Lord is the witness between us forever!" read more.
So David hid in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat down to eat his meal. The king sat down in his usual place by the wall, with Jonathan opposite him and Abner at his side. But David's place was vacant. However, Saul said nothing about it that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to make him ceremonially unclean. Yes, he must be unclean." But the next morning, the second day of the new moon, David's place was still vacant. So Saul said to his son Jonathan, "Why has Jesse's son not come to the meal yesterday or today?" Jonathan replied to Saul, "David urgently requested that he be allowed to go to Bethlehem. He said, 'Permit me to go, for we are having a family sacrifice in the city, and my brother urged me to be there. So now, if I have found favor with you, let me go to see my brothers.' For that reason he has not come to the king's table." Saul became angry with Jonathan and said to him, "You stupid traitor! Don't I realize that to your own disgrace and to the disgrace of your mother's nakedness you have chosen this son of Jesse? For as long as this son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established. Now, send some men and bring him to me. For he is as good as dead!" Jonathan responded to his father Saul, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan in order to strike him down. So Jonathan was convinced that his father had decided to kill David. Jonathan got up from the table enraged. He did not eat any food on that second day of the new moon, for he was upset that his father had humiliated David. The next morning Jonathan, along with a young servant, went out to the field to meet David. He said to his servant, "Run, find the arrows that I am about to shoot." As the servant ran, Jonathan shot the arrow beyond him. When the servant came to the place where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called out to the servant, "Isn't the arrow further beyond you?"

Symbols and similitudes » Bow-shot » By joash

2 Kings 13:15-19

Elisha told him, "Take a bow and some arrows," and he did so. Then Elisha told the king of Israel, "Aim the bow." He did so, and Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands. Elisha said, "Open the east window," and he did so. Elisha said, "Shoot!" and he did so. Elisha said, "This arrow symbolizes the victory the Lord will give you over Syria. You will annihilate Syria in Aphek!" read more.
Then Elisha said, "Take the arrows," and he did so. He told the king of Israel, "Strike the ground!" He struck the ground three times and stopped. The prophet got angry at him and said, "If you had struck the ground five or six times, you would have annihilated Syria! But now, you will defeat Syria only three times."

Symbols and similitudes » Eating bread with alertness

Ezekiel 12:17-20

The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with anxious shaking. Then say to the people of the land, 'This is what the sovereign Lord says about the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in fright, for their land will be stripped bare of all it contains because of the violence of all who live in it. read more.
The inhabited towns will be left in ruins and the land will be devastated. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'"

Symbols and similitudes » Mourning forbidden

Ezekiel 24:15-18

The word of Lord came to me: "Son of man, realize that I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you with a jolt, but you must not mourn or weep or shed tears. Groan in silence for the dead, but do not perform mourning rites. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lip and do not eat food brought by others." read more.
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. In the morning I acted just as I was commanded.

Symbols and similitudes » Rain and thunder

1 Samuel 12:16-18

"So now, take your positions and watch this great thing that the Lord is about to do in your sight. Is this not the time of the wheat harvest? I will call on the Lord so that he makes it thunder and rain. Realize and see what a great sin you have committed before the Lord by asking for a king for yourselves." So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord made it thunder and rain that day. All the people were very afraid of both the Lord and Samuel.

Symbols and similitudes » Two sticks

Ezekiel 37:15-28

The word of the Lord came to me: "As for you, son of man, take one branch, and write on it, 'For Judah, and for the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another branch and write on it, 'For Joseph, the branch of Ephraim and all the house of Israel associated with him.' Join them as one stick; they will be as one in your hand. read more.
When your people say to you, 'Will you not tell us what these things mean?' tell them, 'This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to take the branch of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will place them on the stick of Judah, and make them into one stick -- they will be one in my hand.' The sticks you write on will be in your hand in front of them. Then tell them, 'This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to take the Israelites from among the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from round about and bring them to their land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over them all. They will never again be two nations and never again be divided into two kingdoms. They will not defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, and all their rebellious deeds. I will save them from all their unfaithfulness by which they sinned. I will purify them; they will become my people and I will become their God. "'My servant David will be king over them; there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow my regulations and carefully observe my statutes. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your fathers lived; they will live in it -- they and their children and their grandchildren forever. David my servant will be prince over them forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be a perpetual covenant with them. I will establish them, increase their numbers, and place my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then, when my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel.'"

Symbols and similitudes » Wounding

1 Kings 20:35-40

One of the members of the prophetic guild, speaking with divine authority, ordered his companion, "Wound me!" But the man refused to wound him. So the prophet said to him, "Because you have disobeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you." When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him. He found another man and said, "Wound me!" So the man wounded him severely. read more.
The prophet then went and stood by the road, waiting for the king. He also disguised himself by putting a bandage down over his eyes. When the king passed by, he called out to the king, "Your servant went out into the heat of the battle, and then a man turned aside and brought me a prisoner. He told me, 'Guard this prisoner. If he ends up missing for any reason, you will pay with your life or with a talent of silver.' Well, it just so happened that while your servant was doing this and that, he disappeared." The king of Israel said to him, "Your punishment is already determined by your own testimony."

Symbols and similitudes » death

Ezekiel 24:16-19

"Son of man, realize that I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you with a jolt, but you must not mourn or weep or shed tears. Groan in silence for the dead, but do not perform mourning rites. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lip and do not eat food brought by others." So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. In the morning I acted just as I was commanded. read more.
Then the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?"

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Cloven tongues (like split, lashing, projections of fire)

Acts 2:11

both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!" Verse Concepts

Acts 2:3

And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. Verse Concepts

Acts 2:6

When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Jeremiah's deeds of land

Jeremiah 32:1-16

In the tenth year that Zedekiah was ruling over Judah the Lord spoke to Jeremiah. That was the same as the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. Now at that time, the armies of the king of Babylon were besieging Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah was confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse attached to the royal palace of Judah. For King Zedekiah had confined Jeremiah there after he had reproved him for prophesying as he did. He had asked Jeremiah, "Why do you keep prophesying these things? Why do you keep saying that the Lord says, 'I will hand this city over to the king of Babylon? I will let him capture it. read more.
King Zedekiah of Judah will not escape from the Babylonians. He will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon. He must answer personally to the king of Babylon and confront him face to face. Zedekiah will be carried off to Babylon and will remain there until I have fully dealt with him. I, the Lord, affirm it! Even if you continue to fight against the Babylonians, you cannot win.'" So now, Jeremiah said, "The Lord told me, Hanamel, the son of your uncle Shallum, will come to you soon. He will say to you, "Buy my field at Anathoth because you are entitled as my closest relative to buy it."' Now it happened just as the Lord had said! My cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guardhouse. He said to me, 'Buy my field which is at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. Buy it for yourself since you are entitled as my closest relative to take possession of it for yourself.' When this happened, I recognized that the Lord had indeed spoken to me. So I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel. I weighed out seven ounces of silver and gave it to him to pay for it. I signed the deed of purchase, sealed it, and had some men serve as witnesses to the purchase. I weighed out the silver for him on a scale. There were two copies of the deed of purchase. One was sealed and contained the order of transfer and the conditions of purchase. The other was left unsealed. I took both copies of the deed of purchase and gave them to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah. I gave them to him in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, the witnesses who had signed the deed of purchase, and all the Judeans who were housed in the courtyard of the guardhouse. In the presence of all these people I instructed Baruch, The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, "Take these documents, both the sealed copy of the deed of purchase and the unsealed copy. Put them in a clay jar so that they may be preserved for a long time to come."' For the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, "Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land."' "After I had given the copies of the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord,

Symbols and similitudes » Invitation to approach

1 Samuel 14:8-12

Jonathan replied, "All right! We'll go over to these men and fight them. If they say to us, 'Stay put until we approach you,' we will stay right there and not go up to them. But if they say, 'Come up against us,' we will go up. For in that case the Lord has given them into our hand -- it will be a sign to us." read more.
When they made themselves known to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, "Look! The Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they hid themselves." Then the men of the garrison said to Jonathan and his armor bearer, "Come on up to us so we can teach you a thing or two!" Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up behind me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel!"

Symbols and similitudes » Change of domicile

Ezekiel 12:3-11

"Therefore, son of man, pack up your belongings as if for exile. During the day, while they are watching, pretend to go into exile. Go from where you live to another place. Perhaps they will understand, although they are a rebellious house. Bring out your belongings packed for exile during the day while they are watching. And go out at evening, while they are watching, as if for exile. While they are watching, dig a hole in the wall and carry your belongings out through it. read more.
While they are watching, raise your baggage onto your shoulder and carry it out in the dark. You must cover your face so that you cannot see the ground because I have made you an object lesson to the house of Israel." So I did just as I was commanded. I carried out my belongings packed for exile during the day, and at evening I dug myself a hole through the wall with my hands. I went out in the darkness, carrying my baggage on my shoulder while they watched. The word of the Lord came to me in the morning: "Son of man, has not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, said to you, 'What are you doing?' Say to them, 'This is what the sovereign Lord says: The prince will raise this burden in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel within it.' Say, 'I am an object lesson for you. Just as I have done, it will be done to them; they will go into exile and captivity.'

Symbols and similitudes » Manna

John 6:31-58

Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." read more.
So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread all the time!" Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty. But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe. Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. Now this is the will of the one who sent me -- that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father -- for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," and they said, "Isn't this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" Jesus replied, "Do not complain about me to one another. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God -- he has seen the Father.) I tell you the solemn truth, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that has come down from heaven, so that a person may eat from it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began to argue with one another, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so the one who consumes me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread your ancestors ate, but then later died. The one who eats this bread will live forever."

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Warning

Hebrews 3:7-11

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! "Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness. "There your fathers tested me and tried me, and they saw my works for forty years. read more.
"Therefore, I became provoked at that generation and said, 'Their hearts are always wandering and they have not known my ways.' "As I swore in my anger, 'They will never enter my rest!'"

Symbols and similitudes » Ceremonially unclean food

Ezekiel 4:9-17

Symbols and similitudes » Thunder on mount sinai

Exodus 19:9

Exodus 19:16

On the third day in the morning there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud horn; all the people who were in the camp trembled. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Men meeting saul

1 Samuel 10:2-7

When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel's tomb at Zelzah on Benjamin's border. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you have gone looking for have been found. Your father is no longer concerned about the donkeys but has become anxious about you two! He is asking, "What should I do about my son?"' "As you continue on from there, you will come to the tall tree of Tabor. At that point three men who are going up to God at Bethel will meet you. One of them will be carrying three young goats, one of them will be carrying three round loaves of bread, and one of them will be carrying a container of wine. They will ask you how you're doing and will give you two loaves of bread. You will accept them. read more.
Afterward you will go to Gibeah of God, where there are Philistine officials. When you enter the town, you will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place. They will have harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. Then the spirit of the Lord will rush upon you and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. "When these signs have taken place, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God will be with you.

Symbols and similitudes » The torn altar

1 Kings 13:3

That day he also announced a sign, "This is the sign the Lord has predetermined: The altar will be split open and the ashes on it will fall to the ground." Verse Concepts

1 Kings 13:5

The altar split open and the ashes fell from the altar to the ground, in fulfillment of the sign the prophet had announced with the Lord's authority. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Nakedness

Isaiah 20:2-4

At that time the Lord announced through Isaiah son of Amoz: "Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and take your sandals off your feet." He did as instructed and walked around in undergarments and barefoot. Later the Lord explained, "In the same way that my servant Isaiah has walked around in undergarments and barefoot for the past three years, as an object lesson and omen pertaining to Egypt and Cush, so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, both young and old. They will be in undergarments and barefoot, with the buttocks exposed; the Egyptians will be publicly humiliated.

Symbols and similitudes » Boiling pot

Ezekiel 24:1-5

The word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month: "Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. Recite a proverb to this rebellious house and say to them, 'This is what the sovereign Lord says: "'Set on the pot, set it on, pour water in it too; read more.
add the pieces of meat to it, every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder; fill it with choice bones. Take the choice bone of the flock, heap up bones under it; boil rapidly, and boil its bones in it.

Symbols and similitudes » Rainbow

Genesis 9:12-13

And God said, "This is the guarantee of the covenant I am making with you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all subsequent generations: I will place my rainbow in the clouds, and it will become a guarantee of the covenant between me and the earth.

Symbols and similitudes » Ephah

Zechariah 5:6-11

I asked, "What is it?" And he replied, "It is a basket for measuring grain that is moving away from here." Moreover, he said, "This is their 'eye' throughout all the earth." Then a round lead cover was raised up, revealing a woman sitting inside the basket. He then said, "This woman represents wickedness," and he pushed her down into the basket and placed the lead cover on top. read more.
Then I looked again and saw two women going forth with the wind in their wings (they had wings like those of a stork) and they lifted up the basket between the earth and the sky. I asked the messenger who was speaking to me, "Where are they taking the basket?" He replied, "To build a temple for her in the land of Babylonia. When it is finished, she will be placed there in her own residence."

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Wind

Song of Songs 4:16

The Beloved to Her Lover: Awake, O north wind; come, O south wind! Blow on my garden so that its fragrant spices may send out their sweet smell. May my beloved come into his garden and eat its delightful fruit! Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » The book thrown into the euphrates river

Jeremiah 51:63

When you finish reading this scroll aloud, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates River. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Eating and drinking in fear

Ezekiel 12:18

"Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with anxious shaking. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Ezekiel's beard

Ezekiel 5:1-4

"As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber's razor. Shave off some of the hair from your head and your beard. Then take scales and divide up the hair you cut off. Burn a third of it in the fire inside the city when the days of your siege are completed. Take a third and slash it with a sword all around the city. Scatter a third to the wind, and I will unleash a sword behind them. But take a few strands of hair from those and tie them in the ends of your garment. read more.
Again, take more of them and throw them into the fire, and burn them up. From there a fire will spread to all the house of Israel.

Symbols and similitudes » A siege

Ezekiel 4:1-3

"And you, son of man, take a brick and set it in front of you. Inscribe a city on it -- Jerusalem. Lay siege to it! Build siege works against it. Erect a siege ramp against it! Post soldiers outside it and station battering rams around it. Then for your part take an iron frying pan and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city. Set your face toward it. It is to be under siege; you are to besiege it. This is a sign for the house of Israel.

Symbols and similitudes » Posture

Ezekiel 4:4-8

"Also for your part lie on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel on it. For the number of days you lie on your side you will bear their iniquity. I have determined that the number of the years of their iniquity are to be the number of days for you -- 390 days. So bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. "When you have completed these days, then lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah 40 days -- I have assigned one day for each year. read more.
You must turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared and prophesy against it. Look here, I will tie you up with ropes, so you cannot turn from one side to the other until you complete the days of your siege.

Symbols and similitudes » Harvest

2 Kings 19:29

Symbols and similitudes » Roll

Zechariah 5:2-4

Someone asked me, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a flying scroll thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide." The speaker went on to say, "This is a curse traveling across the whole earth. For example, according to the curse whoever steals will be removed from the community; or on the other hand (according to the curse) whoever swears falsely will suffer the same fate." "I will send it out," says the Lord who rules over all, "and it will enter the house of the thief and of the person who swears falsely in my name. It will land in the middle of his house and destroy both timber and stones."

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Speaking

Matthew 10:20

For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Abundant

Psalm 133:3

It is like the dew of Hermon, which flows down upon the hills of Zion. Indeed that is where the Lord has decreed a blessing will be available -- eternal life. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Isaiah's children

Isaiah 8:18

Look, I and the sons whom the Lord has given me are reminders and object lessons in Israel, sent from the Lord who commands armies, who lives on Mount Zion. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » The plumb-line

Amos 7:7-8

He showed me this: I saw the sovereign One standing by a tin wall holding tin in his hand. The Lord said to me, "What do you see, Amos?" I said, "Tin." The sovereign One then said, "Look, I am about to place tin among my people Israel. I will no longer overlook their sin.

Symbols and similitudes » Lapping water

Judges 7:4-8

The Lord spoke to Gideon again, "There are still too many men. Bring them down to the water and I will thin the ranks some more. When I say, 'This one should go with you,' pick him to go; when I say, 'This one should not go with you,' do not take him." So he brought the men down to the water. Then the Lord said to Gideon, "Separate those who lap the water as a dog laps from those who kneel to drink." Three hundred men lapped; the rest of the men kneeled to drink water. read more.
The Lord said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men who lapped I will deliver the whole army and I will hand Midian over to you. The rest of the men should go home." The men who were chosen took supplies and their trumpets. Gideon sent all the men of Israel back to their homes; he kept only three hundred men. Now the Midianites were camped down below in the valley.

Symbols and similitudes » Almond rod

Jeremiah 1:11

Later the Lord asked me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I answered, "I see a branch of an almond tree." Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Salt

Numbers 18:19

All the raised offerings of the holy things that the Israelites offer to the Lord, I have given to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual ordinance. It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and for your descendants with you." Verse Concepts

Colossians 4:6

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Sensible in its effects

John 3:8

The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Rain and dew

Psalm 72:6

He will descend like rain on the mown grass, like showers that drench the earth. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » A voice

Isaiah 6:8

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » A dove

Matthew 3:16

After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on him. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Fire

Matthew 3:11

"I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am -- I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Oil

Psalm 45:7

You love justice and hate evil. For this reason God, your God has anointed you with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » The sprinkled blood, of the covenant

Exodus 24:8

So Moses took the blood and splashed it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words." Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Sanctuary

Psalm 20:2

May he send you help from his temple; from Zion may he give you support! Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » A seal

Revelation 7:2

Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He shouted out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given permission to damage the earth and the sea: Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Breaking of a potter's vessel

Symbols and similitudes » The star in the east

Matthew 2:2

saying, "Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." Verse Concepts