You have not come to a mountain that can be touched, to Mount Sinai with its blazing fire, the darkness and the gloom, the storm. You have not come to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of a voice. When the people heard the voice, they begged not to hear another word.

Symbols and similitudes » Being mute

Ezekiel 24:27

On that day your mouth will be opened to him who escaped. You will speak and be mute no longer. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am Jehovah. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 33:22

The evening before the refugee arrived, the power of Jehovah came over me. On the morning the refugee arrived, Jehovah made me speak. So I spoke, and I was no longer quiet. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 29:21

On that day I will make a horn sprout for the house of Israel (make the people of Israel strong again), and I give you, Ezekiel, something to say among them. Then they will know that I am Jehovah. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 3:26-27

I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you cannot talk or criticize them, even though they are rebellious people. But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth. You will tell them: 'This is what the Lord Jehovah says.' Some will listen and some will refuse to listen for they are a rebellious people.

Luke 1:20-22

You will be without voice or language till the day when these things happen. Your lack of faith in what I say has caused this. The people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised he was in the Temple for such a long time. When he came out he could not speak to them. They realized he saw a vision in the temple. Instead of talking he made signs to them.

Luke 1:62-64

They made signs to his father, what he would have him called. He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, His name is John. They were all amazed. Immediately his tongue loosed, his mouth opened and he spoke, blessing God.

Symbols and similitudes » Tabernacle

Psalm 15:1

([Psalm of David]) O Jehovah, who may stay in your tent? Who may reside on your holy mountain? Verse Concepts

Hebrews 8:2

He is a minister of the Holy Place and of the true Tabernacle, built by Jehovah and not man. Verse Concepts

Hebrews 8:5

The work they do as priests is only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven. It is the same as it was with Moses. When he was about to build the sacred tent, God told him: Be sure to make everything according to the pattern you were shown 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

The first covenant had ordinances for divine service, and an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. The first room was called the Holy Place. It contained the lamp stand and table and the consecrated bread. Beyond the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place. read more.
It had a golden incense burner. The Ark of the Covenant was completely covered with gold. It contained the golden pot that had the manna, and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tables of the covenant. The cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat were above the Ark. Now is not the time to speak in detail. When these things are prepared, the priests enter the outer room often to carry on their services. Only the high priest enters the inner room. Once a year he entered with blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people. The Holy Spirit revealed that the way into the Most Holy Place was not open while the tent was still in use. This is a symbol that points to the present time. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the worshiper's heart perfect, since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time comes to change them for something better. Christ came as the high priest of the good things that are now here. He also went into a much better tent that is not made by humans and does not belong to this creation. He went once and forever into the Most Holy Place having eternal salvation. It is not with the blood of goats and young bulls, but with his blood.

Hebrews 9:23-24

It was necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these. But the heavenly things should be cleansed with better sacrifices than these. Christ has not entered into the Holy Place made with human hands. This is a copy of the true one. He has entered into heaven to appear before the presence of God for us.

Symbols and similitudes » Wine

Matthew 26:27

Then he took a cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: Drink it all. Verse Concepts

Mark 14:23

He took a cup, and when he had given praise, he gave it to them and they all had a drink from it.

Jeremiah 25:15-17

This is what Jehovah the God of Israel said to me: 'Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my fury, and make all the nations to whom I am sending you drink from it. When they drink from it, they will stagger and go insane because of the wars that I am going to send them.' So I took the cup from Jehovah's hand. I made all the nations to whom Jehovah sent me drink from it.

Luke 22:17

He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said: Take this, and share it among yourselves. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Wine, of the atoning blood

Luke 22:20

Then he took the cup saying: This represents the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Verse Concepts

Matthew 26:27-29

Then he took a cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: Drink it all. This is (represents) (means) (exemplifies) my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I shall not drink again 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

He took a cup, and when he had given praise, he gave it to them and they all had a drink from it. He said: This means (represents) my blood of the covenant given for men. Truly I say to you, I will take no more of the fruit of the vine till the day when I take it new in the kingdom of God.

Luke 22:17-18

He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said: Take this, and share it among yourselves. I say to you, I shall not drink from the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God comes.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Illuminating

1 John 2:20

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

1 John 2:27

The anointing (special endowment of Holy Spirit) you received from Him is a part of you (is with you) and you do not need anyone (any human) to teach you. His anointing taught you concerning all things. It is no lie. It is truth, just as you were taught you live through him. Verse Concepts

Exodus 13:21

Psalm 78:14

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

Matthew 25:3-4

The foolish took no oil with their lamps. The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Zechariah 4:2-3

He asked: What do you see? I answered: I see a gold lamp stand, with a bowl on top and seven lamps. There are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top. There are two olive trees beside it. One is on the right side of the bowl and the other is on the left side of the bowl.

Zechariah 4:11-13

I said to him: What are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side of it? I spoke a second time: What are these two olive branches, that are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden oil from themselves? He answered: You do not know what these are? I said, No, my lord.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Cleansing by

Hebrews 10:22

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Verse Concepts

Ephesians 5:26

This is so he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 36:25

I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean instead of unclean. Then I will cleanse you from all your idols. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 16:9

Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Fertilizing

Hosea 10:12

I said: Plow new ground for yourselves, plant righteousness, and reap the blessings that your devotion to me will produce. It is time for you to turn to me, Jehovah, and I will come and pour out righteousness on you. Verse Concepts

Hosea 14:5

I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily and he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. Verse Concepts

Hosea 6:3

Let us get to know Jehovah! Let us press on (run after) (follow) to get to know him. As surely as the sun rises he will appear. He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 34:26-27

I will bless them and the places around my hill. I will send rain at the right time. These showers will be a blessing to them. Then the trees in the field will produce fruit, the land will yield crops, and my sheep will live safely in their land. Then they will know that I am Jehovah, because I will break off the bars on their yokes and rescue them from the people who made them slaves.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Vivifying

Isaiah 58:11

Isaiah 27:3

I, Jehovah, watch over it. I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it. Verse Concepts

Psalm 1:3

Isaiah 27:6

In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill the entire world with fruit. Verse Concepts

Isaiah 44:3-4

I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring. I will give blessing to your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.

Symbols and similitudes » Childhood

Matthew 18:3

Mark 10:14-15

But when Jesus saw it he was moved with indignation. He said: Allow the little children to come to me! Do not turn them away for they belong to the kingdom of God. Truly I tell you, he who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child shall not enter it.

Luke 18:16-17

Jesus said: Invite the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them for the kingdom of God belongs to them. Truly I tell you he who does not receive the kingdom of God like little child, shall in no wise enter it.

Symbols and similitudes » Sticks and staves

Zechariah 11:7

So I fed the poor of the flock of slaughter. I took two staffs; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. Verse Concepts

Zechariah 11:14

I broke my other staff in pieces. It was the one I called Bands. That way I broke the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 37:16-17

Son of man, take a stick and write on it: For Judah and for the Israelites who are associated with it.' Then take another stick and write on it: 'The stick of Ephraim, for Joseph and for all the people of Israel associated with it.' Then join both sticks together so that they will be one in your hand. Your people will say to you:

Zechariah 11:10-11

So I took my staff, Beauty, and broke it in pieces that I might break my covenant that I had made with all the peoples. It was broken in that day. In this way, the poor of the flock listened to me and knew that it was the word of Jehovah.

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

Exodus 19:9

Jehovah said to Moses: I will come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you and will believe you from now on. Moses gave Jehovah the people's answer. Verse Concepts

Exodus 19:16

On the morning of the third day there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain. A very loud trumpet sounded. It caused all the people in the camp to tremble. Verse Concepts

Exodus 14:19-20

The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. There was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.

Exodus 13:21-22

Jehovah went in front of them in a pillar of cloud to show them the way during the day. He went in front of them in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel at night. The pillar of cloud was always in front of the people during the day, and the pillar of fire at night.

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

Leviticus 9:21

First he took the breasts and the right thighs and presented them to Jehovah just as Moses commanded. Verse Concepts

Exodus 29:24-28

Put all this food in the hands of Aaron and his sons and have them dedicate it to me as a special gift. The meat and bread are to be placed on the altar and sent up in smoke with a smell before Jehovah. You may eat the choice breast from this second ram, but you must first lift them up to show that this meat is dedicated to me. read more.
You shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering which was waved and which was offered from the ram of ordination, from the one that was for Aaron and from the one that was for his sons. It will be for Aaron and his sons as their long lasting portion from the sons of Israel. It is a heave offering. It will be a heave offering from the sons of Israel from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, even their heave offering to Jehovah.

Leviticus 8:27-29

He placed all these things in the hands of Aaron and his sons. Moses presented all these things to Jehovah as an offering. Then he took them from their hands and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar. These were ordination offerings, offerings by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah. Moses also took the breast from the ram of the ordination offering and presented it to Jehovah. It was Moses' share, as Jehovah commanded.

Symbols and similitudes » Cooking

Ezekiel 24:3-5

Speak a parable to the rebellious house. Say to them: The Lord Jehovah says, Put on the cooking pot, put it on and also pour water in it. Put in it the pieces, every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with choice bones. Take the choicest of the flock. Also pile wood under the pot. Make it boil vigorously. Also boil its bones in it.'

Jeremiah 1:13

Again Jehovah asked: What do you see? I answered: I see a boiling pot, and its top is tilted away from the north. Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 4:9-15

Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the three hundred and ninety days you lie on your side. Weigh out eight ounces of food for each day and eat it at set times. You will also have a limited amount of water to drink, two cups a day. read more.
You are to build a fire out of dried human excrement, bake bread on the fire, and eat it where everyone can see you. Jehovah said: This represents the way the Israelites will have to eat food which the Law forbids when I scatter them to foreign countries. But I replied: No, O Lord Jehovah! I have never defiled myself. From childhood on I have never eaten meat from any animal that died a natural death or was killed by wild animals. I have never eaten any food considered unclean. So God said: Very well. I will let you use cow dung instead. You can bake your bread on that.

Symbols and similitudes » Bread

Matthew 26:26

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed, and broke it; and he gave to the disciples. Then he said: Take, eat; this is (represents) (means) (exemplifies) my body. Verse Concepts

Mark 14:22

While they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it, he gave the broken bread to them, and said: Take it, this means (represents) my body. Verse Concepts

Luke 22:19

He gave thanks. Then he took the bread, broke it and gave it to them, saying: This represents my body that is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Earnest

Ephesians 4:30

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in which (Greek: en hos) (in which) (Greek: hos, he ho) (whereby) (which) you were sealed to the day of release by ransom. Verse Concepts

2 Corinthians 1:22

He also sealed us, and gave us the guarantee of the Spirit in our hearts. Verse Concepts

Ephesians 1:13-14

You have heard the word of the truth in Christ. It is the good news about your salvation. You also believed and were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a guarantee that we will receive our inheritance. This assures us that God will set us free to the praise of his glory.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Healing

Isaiah 1:6

From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head there is no healthy spot left on your body. You have only bruises, sores, and fresh wounds. They have not been cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil. Verse Concepts

Luke 10:34

He went to him and bandaged his wounds pouring oil and wine on them. He set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn to take care of him. Verse Concepts

Revelation 18:13

cinnamon, odors and ointments, frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour, wheat, beasts, and sheep and horses, chariots and slaves and humans Verse Concepts

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

Matthew 27:51

The veil (curtain) of the temple was ripped in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks split. Verse Concepts

Mark 1:38

He replied: We must go to other towns. I will preach to them too. I came for this purpose. Verse Concepts

Luke 23:45

The sun failed to shine. The veil of the temple was torn in two. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Imperceptible

2 Samuel 17:12

Find him and attack him! We will fall on him as dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. Verse Concepts

Mark 4:26-28

He added: The kingdom of God is like this. A man plants seed in the earth. He sleeps and gets up night and day until the plants grow though he has no idea how. The earth gives fruit by itself. First comes the leaf, then the head, then full grain.

Symbols and similitudes » Trees of life and knowledge

Genesis 3:24

After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Verse Concepts

Genesis 2:17

Genesis 3:3

However, God did say: 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden. You must not touch it, or you will die.' Verse Concepts

Revelation 22:2

Genesis 2:9

Jehovah God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground, trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Guiding

John 16:13

When the Spirit of truth comes it will guide you to all truth for it will not speak from itself. It will speak the things it hears and declare to you the things that are to come. Verse Concepts

Isaiah 30:21

You will hear a voice behind you say: This is the way. Walk in it, whether it turns to the right or to the left. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Consecrating

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, because Jehovah has anointed me to announce good news to the lowly and meek. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners. Verse Concepts

Exodus 29:7

Ordain him by pouring olive oil on his head. Verse Concepts

Exodus 30:30

Sprinkle Aaron and his sons with this oil when you ordain them as my priests. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Impressing

2 Corinthians 3:18

We all, with unveiled face, behold as in a mirror the glory of God and are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, exactly as from God's Spirit. Verse Concepts

Job 38:14

The earth takes shape like clay under a seal. Its features stand out like those of a garment. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Searching

Zephaniah 1:12

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the men that are satisfied with their wayward lifestyle. They say in their heart, 'Jehovah will not do good and he will not do evil.' Verse Concepts

1 Corinthians 2:10

Symbols and similitudes » Shadow on ahaz' sun-dial

2 Kings 20:8-11

King Hezekiah said to Isaiah: What is the sign to prove that Jehovah will heal me and that three days later I will be able to go to the Temple? Isaiah replied: Jehovah will give you a sign to prove that he will keep his promise. Would you prefer to have the shadow on the stairway go forward ten steps or go back ten steps? Then Hezekiah said: It is an easy matter to have the shadow go forward ten steps. So have it go back ten steps. read more.
Isaiah prayed to Jehovah and Jehovah made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway set up by King Ahaz.

Isaiah 38:7-8

Isaiah said: This is your sign from Jehovah that he will do what he promises. The sun made a shadow that went down the stairway of the upper palace of Ahaz. 'I am going to make the shadow go back ten steps.' So the sun on the stairway went back up the ten steps it had gone down.

Symbols and similitudes » Sacrificial animals

John 1:29

John 1:36

He looked at Jesus as he walked, and said: Behold, the Lamb of God! Verse Concepts

Genesis 15:8-11

Abram replied: O Jehovah God, how will I know that I shall possess it? He (God) said to him: Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. Abram brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other. He did not cut the birds in two. 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

Then he said: Go out and take your place on the mountain before Jehovah. Jehovah passed by and the force of a great wind parted the mountains. Rocks were broken before Jehovah but Jehovah was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but Jehovah was not in the earthquake. Verse Concepts

Acts 2:2

Suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind. It filled the house where they were sitting. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Basket of fruit

Amos 8:1-2

The Lord Jehovah showed me a basket of summer fruit. He said: Amos, what do you see? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then Jehovah said to me: The end has come to my people Israel. I will spare them no longer.

Jeremiah 24:1-3

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried away captive Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the officials of Judah. He also captured the craftsmen and smiths from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon. Then Jehovah showed me two baskets of figs set before the Temple of Jehovah! One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, and the other basket had very bad figs that could not be eaten because they were rotten. Then Jehovah said to me: What do you see, Jeremiah? I said: Figs. The good figs are very good. The bad figs are very bad. They cannot be eaten because they are rotten.

Symbols and similitudes » Belt

Jeremiah 13:1-7

Jehovah told me: Go and buy a linen belt. Wear it on your hips for a while, but do not put it in any water. So I bought a belt and put it on my hips. Then Jehovah said: read more.
Take off the linen belt. Go to the Euphrates River and hide the belt in a crack between some large rocks. And that is what I did, just as Jehovah commanded. Some time later Jehovah said: Go back and get the linen belt. I went back and dug the belt out of the hiding place, but the cloth had rotted, and the linen belt was ruined. It was good for nothing.

Acts 21:11

Coming to us he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands. He said: The Holy Spirit says, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this belt, and shall deliver him into the hands of the nations. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Bottles

Jeremiah 19:10

Then you are to break the jar in the sight of the men who accompany you. Verse Concepts

Jeremiah 13:12

Speak this word to them: 'Thus says Jehovah, the God of Israel, Every jug is to be filled with wine. When they say to you, Do we not know that every jug is to be filled with wine? Verse Concepts

Jeremiah 19:1-2

Jehovah says: Go and buy a potter's earthenware jar, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the senior priests. Then go out to the valley of Ben-hinnom (Hinnom Valley), which is by the entrance of the potsherd gate, and proclaim there the words that I tell you.

Symbols and similitudes » Jonah

Matthew 16:4

An evil and false generation is searching after a sign. However, no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Then he left them. Verse Concepts

Luke 11:29-30

When the crowd gathered to him, he said: This generation is evil. It seeks a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites; the Son of man will be a sign to this generation.

Symbols and similitudes » Food

2 Kings 19:29

This will be a sign for you, Hezekiah: You will eat what grows by itself this year and next year. But in the third year you will plant and harvest, plant vineyards, and eat what is produced. Verse Concepts

Isaiah 37:30

This will be the sign for you, O Hezekiah: 'This year you will eat what grows by itself. The second year you will eat what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. Verse Concepts

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

1 Corinthians 5:7

Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new batch of dough. For even Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us. Verse Concepts

Exodus 12:3-28

Tell the whole community of Israel: 'On the tenth day of this month each man must take a sheep for his family, one animal per household. A household may be too small to eat a whole animal. That household and the one next-door can share one animal. Choose your animal based on the number of people and what each person can eat. Your animal must be a one-year-old male that has no defects. You may choose a lamb or a young goat. read more.
Take care of it until the fourteenth day of this month. Then at dusk, all the assembled people from the community of Israel must slaughter their animals. Some of the blood must be put on the two doorposts and above the door of each house where the animals are to be eaten. That night the animals are to be roasted and eaten, together with bitter herbs (greens) and unleavened bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or boiled. The entire animal, including its head, legs, and insides, must be roasted. Eat what you want that night, and the next morning burn whatever is left. Eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste. It is Jehovah's Passover.' Jehovah said: That night I will go through the land of Egypt. I will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt! I am Jehovah! The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you live. When I see the blood I will pass over you. No plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. This day will be a memorial to you. You shall celebrate it as a feast to Jehovah. You are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance throughout your generations. You will eat unleavened bread for seven days. The first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day will be cut off from Israel. You shall have a holy assembly on the first day. There should be another holy assembly on the seventh day. No work at all will be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person that alone may be prepared by you. You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. That was the day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Observe this day throughout your generations as a long lasting ordinance. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. There shall be no leaven found in your houses for seven days. Whoever eats what is leavened shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is an alien or a native of the land. You shall not eat anything leavened. Eat unleavened bread in all your dwellings. Moses called all the elders of Israel and said: Take lambs according to your families and slay the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin. Apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts. No one shall go outside the door of his house until morning. Jehovah will pass through to strike the Egyptians. When he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, Jehovah will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to kill you. You shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children from generation to generation. When you enter the land Jehovah will give you, as he has promised, you shall observe this rite. When your children ask you: What does this rite mean to you? You shall say: 'It is a Passover sacrifice to Jehovah who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He killed the Egyptians, but spared our homes. The people bowed low and worshiped.' Then the sons of Israel did just as Jehovah had commanded Moses and Aaron.

Symbols and similitudes » The bronze serpent, of Christ

John 3:14

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must also be lifted up. Verse Concepts

Numbers 21:8-9

Jehovah said to Moses: Make a snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live. Moses made a copper snake and put it on a pole. People looked at the copper snake after they were bitten and lived.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Incomprehensible

John 3:8

The wind blows where it will. You hear the sound of it. Yet you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. It is like this with every one who is born from the Spirit. Verse Concepts

1 Corinthians 12:11

But in all these the same Spirit works, making a distribution to each one as he (God) wills. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Purifying

Malachi 3:2-3

Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? He is like a refiner's fire and like laundry soap (the lye of laundrymen). He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. He will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer to Jehovah offerings in righteousness.

Isaiah 4:4

Jehovah will wash away the filth of the daughters (women) of Zion and purge the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » A vine

Ezekiel 19:10-14

Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water. It was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water. Its branches were strong and fit for a ruler's scepter. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches. It was uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind made it shrivel. It was stripped of its fruit. Its strong branches withered and fire consumed them. read more.
Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land. Fire spread from one of its main branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler's scepter. This is a song of grief and is to be used as a song of grief.'

Ezekiel 15:2

Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any wood of a branch among the trees of the forest?

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Refreshing

Isaiah 18:4

Jehovah says this to me: I will be still and watch from my dwelling place. My presence will be like scorching heat in the sunshine, like heavy dew in the heat of the harvest. Verse Concepts

Psalm 68:9

You, O God, did send a plentiful rain. You confirm your inheritance with it, when it was parched. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Comforting

Hebrews 1:9

You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. Verse Concepts

Isaiah 61:3

to present a garland, instead of ashes, to those who mourn in Zion, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. They will be called oaks of righteousness. They are the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified. Verse Concepts

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

1 Corinthians 10:4

They all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them. That Rock was (represented) (symbolic of) Christ! (Exodus 7:6) (Numbers 20:11) Verse Concepts

Exodus 17:6

Behold! I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock and water will come out of it. Then the people may drink. Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Praying toward the temple

Daniel 6:10

1 Kings 8:29

Watch over this Temple day and night. For this is the place where you have chosen to be worshiped. Hear me when I face this Temple and pray. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » The rock that was struck

1 Corinthians 10:4

They all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them. That Rock was (represented) (symbolic of) Christ! (Exodus 7:6) (Numbers 20:11) Verse Concepts

Exodus 17:6

Symbols and similitudes » Offering water to drink

Genesis 24:13-15

I am standing by the spring. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let there be the girl to whom I say: 'Please let down your jar so that I may drink,' and who answers: 'Drink, and I will water your camels also.' May she be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown loving-kindness to my master. Before he finished praying, Rebekah came with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.

Genesis 24:42-44

I came to the spring today. I prayed to Jehovah: 'God of my master Abraham, if now you will make my journey successful, make it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, Please let me drink a little water from your jar, And she will say to me, You drink, and I will draw for your camels also, let her be the woman whom Jehovah has appointed for my master's son.'

Symbols and similitudes » Circumcision, of the covenant of abraham

Romans 4:11

He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while he was not circumcised. That way he could be the father of all those who believe, though they are not circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them. Verse Concepts

Genesis 17:11

You are to undergo circumcision. It will be the sign of the covenant between us. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Yokes

Jeremiah 27:2-3

This is what Jehovah said to me: Make leather straps and a wooden yoke, and strap the yoke on your neck. Then send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon, with messengers who have come to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 28:10

Hananiah took the yoke off my neck and broke it in pieces. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Water

John 3:5

John 7:38-39

Rivers of living water will flow from the innermost being of the man who believes in me. This is according to the scriptures. He spoke this by the Spirit. Those who believed in him were to receive the Spirit. The Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Symbols and similitudes » The whole system of mosaic rites

Hebrews 9:9-10

This is a symbol that points to the present time. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the worshiper's heart perfect, since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time comes to change them for something better.

Hebrews 9:18-23

The first covenant was dedicated with blood. When Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, He said: This is the blood of the covenant that God has presented to you. read more.
He sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of service. Almost all things are by the Law purified with blood. There is no forgiveness unless blood is poured out. It was necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these. But the heavenly things should be cleansed with better sacrifices than these.

Symbols and similitudes » Canaan, of the spiritual rest

Hebrews 3:11-12

So I swore in my anger: 'They will not enter into my rest.' Be careful, brothers and sisters, that none of you develop a wicked heart lacking faith and turning away (departing) from the living God.

Hebrews 4:5

Again: They shall not enter into my rest. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Marrying a whore

Hosea 1:2-9

When Jehovah first spoke through Hosea, Jehovah said to Hosea, Go and marry an adulterous wife and have children with her for the land commits flagrant adultery. They have abandoned Jehovah. So he took as his wife Gomer the daughter of Diblaim. She conceived, and gave birth to a son. Jehovah said to Hosea: Name him Jezreel. In a little while I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu. I will cause the kingdom of Israel to cease. read more.
It will happen that I will break the bow (strength) of Israel in the valley of Jezrell. Gomer conceived again, and gave birth to a daughter. Jehovah said to Hosea: Name her Loruhamah for I will no longer have mercy upon the house of Israel and I will not pardon them. However I will have mercy (compassion) (love) on the house of Judah. I will not save them by bow, or by sword. I will not save them by battle, not by horses, nor by horsemen. However, I will save them by Jehovah their God. Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, Gomer conceived, and gave birth to another son. Jehovah said: Name him Loammi for you are not my people, and I am not your God.

Hosea 3:1-4

Jehovah said to me: Go again and love a woman beloved by her friend. Love an adulteress, even as Jehovah loves the children of Israel. Though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins for feasts. So I bought her for fifteen pieces of silver, and a homer of barley, and a half-homer of barley. I said to her: You will live with me many days. You must not play the harlot (commit fornication) and you must not be any man's wife. I will also be with you. read more.
For the children of Israel will live many days without king, without prince, without sacrifice, without pillar, and without ephod or teraphim.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Reviving

Ezekiel 37:9-10

Then Jehovah said to me: Prophesy to the wind (ruach: air, breath, spirit, life)! Prophesy, son of man. Tell the wind, this is what the Lord Jehovah says: 'Come from the four winds, O Breath, and breathe on these people who were killed so that they will live.' So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath of life entered them. Then they came to life and stood on their feet. There were enough of them to form a very large army.

Ezekiel 37:14

I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. I will place you in your own land. Then you will know that I, Jehovah, have spoken, and I have done it,' declares Jehovah. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Handwriting on the wall

Daniel 5:5-6

In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared, and wrote above the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's countenance (appearance) changed in him. His thoughts troubled him. The joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees struck one against the other.

Daniel 5:16-28

I have heard that you can give interpretations and dissolve doubts. If you can read the writing and make the interpretation known to me you will be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and will be the third ruler in the kingdom. Daniel answered the king: Keep your gifts and give your rewards to another. I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. O you king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty. read more.
Because of the greatness he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he chose he killed and whom he chose he kept alive. Whom he chose he raised up, and whom he chose he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened with pride he dealt proudly. He was deposed from his kingly throne and they took his glory from him: He was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts. His dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will. You his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you know all this. You lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of his house before you and your lords, wives and concubines. They drank wine from them. You praise the gods of silver and gold, of copper, iron, wood, and stone, which you do not see, nor hear, nor know. You have not glorified the God whose hand holds your breath and life. Then the part of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed. This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end; TEKEL: you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting. PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

Symbols and similitudes » Bow-shot » By jonathan

1 Samuel 20:21-37

Then I will send my servant to find the arrows. You will know if it is safe to come out by what I tell him. If it is safe, I swear by the living God Jehovah that I will say: 'The arrows are on this side of you! Pick them up! If it is not safe, I will say to the boy: The arrows are farther away! This will mean that Jehovah wants you to leave. You must go. He will always watch us to make sure that we keep the promise we made to each other.' read more.
David hid there in the field. It was the New Moon Festival. Saul sat down to eat. He ate by the wall, just as he always did. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to him. But David's place was empty. Saul was in deep thought. So he did not say anything that day. Something must have happened to make David unfit to be at the Festival. Yes, something must have happened. David's place was still empty the day after the New Moon Festival. Saul asked Jonathan: Why has that son of Jesse not come to eat with us? He was not here yesterday, and he still is not here today! Jonathan answered Saul: David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem. David said to me: 'Please let me go, since our family must make a sacrifice in the city. My brother has commanded me to attend. If I have found favor in your sight, please let me get away that I may see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table.' Saul got angry with Jonathan and he said, You are Son of a crooked and rebellious woman Jonathan! I know you have sided with Jesse's son, Saul accused. You have no shame. You act as if you are your mother's son not mine. As long as Jesse's son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Send some men to bring him to me. He is a dead man! Jonathan asked his father: Why should he be killed? What has he done? Saul threw his spear at Jonathan and tried to kill him. Then Jonathan was sure that his father really did want to kill David. Jonathan was angry that his father had insulted David. He got up and left the table. He did not eat anything all that day. In the morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a servant boy along. Jonathan told him: When I shoot the arrows, you run and find them for me. The boy started running, and Jonathan shot an arrow so that it would go beyond him. When the boy reached the place where the arrow fell Jonathan shouted to him: The arrow is farther on!

Symbols and similitudes » Bow-shot » By joash

2 Kings 13:15-19

Elisha said to him: Take bow and arrows So he took bow and arrows. He said to the king of Israel: Put your hand on the bow So he put his hand on it; and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. Then he said: Let the window be open to the east. So he got it open. Then Elisha said: Let the arrow go! So he let it go. He said: Jehovah's arrow of salvation, of salvation over Aram for you will overcome the Aramaeans in Aphek and put an end to them. read more.
He said: Take the arrows! So he took them. He said to the king of Israel: Send them down into the earth. He did so three times and no more. Then the man of God was angry with him and said: If you had done it five or six times, then you would have overcome Aram completely. Now you will only overcome them three times.

Symbols and similitudes » Eating bread with alertness

Ezekiel 12:17-20

Moreover, the word of Jehovah came to me, He said: Son of man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with quivering and anxiety. Then say to the people of the land: 'The Lord Jehovah says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because their land will be stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it. read more.
The inhabited cities will be laid waste and the land will be a desolation. So you will know that I am Jehovah.'

Symbols and similitudes » Mourning forbidden

Ezekiel 24:15-18

Jehovah continued to speak his word to me: Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow. You will, however, not mourn and you will not weep, and your tears will not come. Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your shoes on your feet. Do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of men. read more.
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded.

Symbols and similitudes » Rain and thunder

1 Samuel 12:16-18

So then, stand where you are, and you will see the great thing that Jehovah will do. It is the dry season and the wheat harvest. I will pray and Jehovah will send thunder and rain. When this happens, you will realize that you committed a great sin against Jehovah when you asked him for a king. Samuel prayed. That same day Jehovah sent thunder and rain. Then all the people became afraid of Jehovah and of Samuel.

Symbols and similitudes » Two sticks

Ezekiel 37:15-28

Jehovah spoke his word to me again: Son of man, take a stick and write on it: For Judah and for the Israelites who are associated with it.' Then take another stick and write on it: 'The stick of Ephraim, for Joseph and for all the people of Israel associated with it.' Then join both sticks together so that they will be one in your hand. Your people will say to you: read more.
Tell us what you mean by this.' Then say to them: 'This is what the Lord Jehovah says: I will take Joseph's stick, which is in Ephraim's hand, and the tribes of Israel associated with it, and I will put them with Judah's stick. I will make them into one stick. They will be one in my hand.' When you hold the sticks in your hand, let the people see them. Tell them: 'The Lord Jehovah says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from everywhere and bring them to their own land. I will form them into one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule all of them. They will no longer be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer dishonor themselves with their idols, with their detestable things, or with their rebellious acts. I will forgive them for all the times they turned away from me and sinned. I will cleanse them so that they will be my people, and I will be their God. My servant David will be their king. All of them will have one shepherd. They will live by my rules, and they will obey my laws. They will live in the land that I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They, their children, and their grandchildren will live in it for a very long time. My servant David will be their prince for a very long time. I will promise them peace. This will be a long lasting promise. I will establish them and make them increase in number. I will put my holy place among them for a very long time. My dwelling place will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I, Jehovah, have set Israel apart as holy, because my holy place will be among them permanently.'

Symbols and similitudes » Wounding

1 Kings 20:35-40

A man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbors by the word of Jehovah: Give me a wound. But the man would not. Then he said: Because you have not listened to the voice of Jehovah, immediately after you leave me a lion will kill you. When he went away a lion came rushing at him and killed him. Then he came across another man, and said: Give me a wound. And the man gave him a blow wounding him. read more.
So the prophet went away, and pulling his headband over his eyes to keep his face covered. He took his place by the road waiting for the king. When the king went by he cried out to him: Your servant went out into the fight. A man came to me. He brought a man to me and said: 'guard this man. Do not let him get away. Your life is the price of his life or you will have to give a talent of silver in payment.' But while your servant was turning this way and that, he was gone. Then the king of Israel said to him: 'You are responsible; you have given the decision against yourself.'

Symbols and similitudes » death

Ezekiel 24:16-19

Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow. You will, however, not mourn and you will not weep, and your tears will not come. Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your shoes on your feet. Do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of men. So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded. read more.
The people said to me: Will you not tell us what these things that you are doing mean for us?

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

Acts 2:11

Cretes and Arabians, we hear them speak in our language the wonderful works of God. Verse Concepts

Acts 2:3

Tongues of fire that sat on each of them appeared. Verse Concepts

Acts 2:6

When they heard this sound a crowd came together in confusion, because men heard them speak in their own language. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Jeremiah's deeds of land

Jeremiah 32:1-16

Jehovah spoke his word to Jeremiah during Zedekiah's tenth year as king of Judah. This was Nebuchadnezzar's eighteenth year as king. At that time the army of the king of Babylon was blockading Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah was locked up in the courtyard of the prison. This prison was in the palace of the king of Judah. When King Zedekiah of Judah locked up Jeremiah, Zedekiah asked him: Why are you prophesying? You are saying, 'this is what Jehovah says: I am going to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will 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 will talk to Nebuchadnezzar in person and look him in the eye. Nebuchadnezzar will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and Zedekiah will stay there until I deal with him, declares Jehovah. When you fight the Babylonians, you will not win.' Jeremiah said: The word of Jehovah came to me. He said: Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you. He says: Buy for yourself my field at Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it.' Then Hanamel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of Jehovah and said to me: 'Buy my field, please, that is at Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin. You have the right of possession and the redemption is yours. Buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of Jehovah. I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle's son. I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. I took the deeds of purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions and the open copy. I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle's son and in the sight of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, before all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the guard. I commanded Baruch in their presence, saying: Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel says: Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may be preserved a long time. Jehovah of Host, the God of Israel says: Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.' After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah I prayed to Jehovah:

Symbols and similitudes » Invitation to approach

1 Samuel 14:8-12

We will do this, Jonathan said. We will go across so they can see us. If they agree to come to us down the hill and fight where we are, then we will not climb up to their camp. But we will go to them if they tell us to come up the hill and fight. That will mean Jehovah will help us win. read more.
So they let the Philistines see them. The Philistines said: Some Hebrews are coming out of the holes they were hiding in! They called out to Jonathan and the young man: Come up here! We have something to tell you! Jonathan said to the young man: Follow me, for Jehovah gives Israel victory over them.

Symbols and similitudes » Change of domicile

Ezekiel 12:3-11

Son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. Let the people see you leave in the daylight. March like a captive from your place to another place as they watch. Maybe they will understand, even though they are a rebellious people (house). Bring out your bags as if you were going into exile. Let them see this in the daylight. In the evening let them see you leave like a captive going into exile. Dig a hole through the wall of your house, as they watch, and leave through it. read more.
Let them see you put your bags on your shoulders and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so that you won't see the land. I have made you a sign to warn the nation of Israel. I did what I was ordered to do. During the day I brought out bags as if I were going into exile. In the evening I dug a hole through the wall. I brought out my bags in the dark. I let the people see me as I carried my bags on my shoulders. The next morning Jehovah spoke his word to me, He said: Son of man, did the rebellious nation of Israel ask you what you were doing? Tell them: This is what the Lord Jehovah says: 'This is the divine revelation about the prince from Jerusalem and about all the people of Israel who live there.' Tell them: 'I am your warning sign. What I have done will happen to you. You will go into exile and into captivity.

Symbols and similitudes » Manna

John 6:31-58

Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness. It is written, 'He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.' Jesus responded: I speak the truth! It was not Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven. My Father gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven. It gives life to the world. read more.
They responded: Lord, always give us this bread. Jesus replied: I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not hunger. The one who puts active faith in me will never thirst. I told you. You have seen me and yet do not believe. That which the Father gives me will come to me. I will not reject him who comes to me. I do not do my own will. I came down from heaven to do the will of him that sent me. This is the will of him that sent me that I should not lose any of those he has given me, but I should raise them up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father. Every one who sees the Son and puts active faith in him will have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews complained about him. This is because he said 'I am the bread that came down out of heaven.' They said: Is Jesus the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How does he now say, I came down out of heaven? Jesus answered: Stop complaining and saying things against me. No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him. I will resurrect him (raise him up) in the last day. It is written in the prophets: Jehovah shall teach them all. Every one who hears the Father and has learned comes to me. (Jeremiah 31:34) No one has seen the Father. Only he who is from God, He has seen the Father. Truly, truly I tell you, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died. This is the bread that comes down out of heaven that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. If any man eats of this bread he will live forever. Yes and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. The Jews argued with one another saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Jesus responded to them: Truly I tell you if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood you will not have life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life! I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides with me, and I with him. The living Father sent me and I live because of the Father. He who takes me for his food will live because of me. This is the bread that came down out of heaven. It is not like the bread (manna) the fathers ate and then died. He who eats this bread will live forever.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Warning

Hebrews 3:7-11

The Holy Spirit says: Today if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts and be stubborn like those who tested me in the day of temptation in the wilderness. Your forefathers examined (inspected) (scrutinized) me by proving (testing) me. And they saw my works for forty years. read more.
I was disgusted (angry) with this generation, and said: 'They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.' So I swore in my anger: 'They will not enter into my rest.'

Symbols and similitudes » Ceremonially unclean food

Ezekiel 4:9-17

Symbols and similitudes » Thunder on mount sinai

Exodus 19:9

Jehovah said to Moses: I will come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you and will believe you from now on. Moses gave Jehovah the people's answer. Verse Concepts

Exodus 19:16

Symbols and similitudes » Men meeting saul

1 Samuel 10:2-7

When you leave me today two men will be at Rachel's grave on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will tell you: 'We have found the donkeys you are looking for. Your father no longer cares about them. Instead he is worried about you. He keeps asking: What can I do to find my son?' You will go from there until you find the oak tree of Tabor. You will see three men going up to God to Bethel. One will have three young goats and another three cakes of bread and another a skin full of wine: They will say: 'Peace be with you.' They will give you two cakes of bread that you should take from them. read more.
After that you will come to Gibeah, the hill of God, where an armed force of the Philistines is stationed. When you come to the town, you will see a band of prophets coming down from the high place with instruments of music before them. They will be acting like prophets: The Spirit of Jehovah will come upon you with power. You will be acting like a prophet with them, and will be changed into a different person. When you see these signs be sure to take what is offered to you. For God is with you.

Symbols and similitudes » The torn altar

1 Kings 13:3

The prophet went on to say: This altar will fall apart. The ashes on it will be scattered. Then you will know that Jehovah has spoken through me. Verse Concepts

1 Kings 13:5

The altar suddenly fell apart and the ashes spilled to the ground. This is what the prophet predicted in the name of Jehovah. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Nakedness

Isaiah 20:2-4

At that time Jehovah spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said to him: Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet. He did this and went around stripped and barefoot. Jehovah said: Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush, so the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared to Egypt's shame.

Symbols and similitudes » Boiling pot

Ezekiel 24:1-5

The word of Jehovah came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth of the month, He said: Son of man, write the name of the day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. Speak a parable to the rebellious house. Say to them: The Lord Jehovah says, Put on the cooking pot, put it on and also pour water in it. read more.
Put in it the pieces, every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with choice bones. Take the choicest of the flock. Also pile wood under the pot. Make it boil vigorously. Also boil its bones in it.'

Symbols and similitudes » Rainbow

Genesis 9:12-13

God said: This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I give you my rainbow in the clouds. It will be the sign of my covenant with the world of mankind.

Symbols and similitudes » Ephah

Zechariah 5:6-11

I asked: What is it? And he replied: This is the ephah measure that goes forth. This is their appearance in all the land A round flat weight made of lead was lifted up. There was a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah measure. He said: This is Wickedness. He tossed her down into the middle of the ephah measure. He threw the weight of lead on the opening. read more.
Two women came out with the wind in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork. They lifted up the ephah measure between earth and heaven. I asked the angel: Where are they taking the ephah measure? He answered: To build her a house (temple) in the land of Shinar. When it is prepared, she will be moved there to her own place.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Wind

Song of Songs 4:16

(The Shulamite) Awake, O north wind; and come south; blow upon my garden that the spices may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » The book thrown into the euphrates river

Jeremiah 51:63

When you finish reading this scroll, 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 quivering and anxiety. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Ezekiel's beard

Ezekiel 5:1-4

As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword. Take and use it as a barber's razor to shave your head and beard. Then take scales for weighing and divide the hair. You should burn one-third of the hair in the fire at the center of the city when the siege is over. Take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city. The remaining one third you shall scatter to the wind. I will unsheathe a sword behind them. Take also a few strands of hair from them and bind them in the edges of your robes. read more.
Take again some of them and throw them into the fire and burn them in the fire. Fire will spread from there to all the house of Israel.

Symbols and similitudes » A siege

Ezekiel 4:1-3

Son of man, take a clay tablet and put it in front of you. Draw the city of Jerusalem on it. Then lay siege to it. Erect siege works against it. Build a ramp up to it. Set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. Take an iron pan and place it as an iron wall between you and the city. Then turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.

Symbols and similitudes » Posture

Ezekiel 4:4-8

Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for three hundred and ninety days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel. After you have finished this lie down again. This time lie on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you forty days, a day for each year. read more.
Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.

Symbols and similitudes » Harvest

2 Kings 19:29

Symbols and similitudes » Roll

Zechariah 5:2-4

He asked me: What do you see? I said: I see a flying scroll. It is thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide. He continued: This is the curse that is upon the land. Every one who steals will be acquitted. Every one who swears falsely will be innocent. I will cause it to happen, said Jehovah of Hosts, and it will enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of he who swears falsely by my name. The curse will abide in the midst of his house and will consume it with the timber and the stones of the house.

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Speaking

Matthew 10:20

You will not speak on your own. Your Father's Spirit will speak through you. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Abundant

Psalm 133:3

It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion. For there Jehovah commanded the blessing. It is life forever. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Isaiah's children

Isaiah 8:18

I am here with the children Jehovah has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from Jehovah of Hosts, who lives on Mount Zion. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » The plumb-line

Amos 7:7-8

He showed me: and, behold, Jehovah stood beside a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And Jehovah asked me, Amos, what do you see? I said: A plumb line. Then Jehovah said: Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel. I will not spare them any more.

Symbols and similitudes » Lapping water

Judges 7:4-8

Jehovah said to Gideon: You still have too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will separate them for you. If I tell you a man should go with you, he will go. If I tell you a man should not go with you, he will not go. Gideon took the men to the water. Jehovah told him: Separate everyone who laps up the water with his tongue like a dog, from everyone who gets down on his knees to drink. There were three hundred men who scooped up water in their hands and lapped it. The others got down on their knees to drink. read more.
Jehovah said: I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Use the three hundred men who lapped the water. Tell everyone else to go home. Gideon sent the Israelites home, except the three hundred. They kept all the supplies and trumpets. The Midianite camp was below them in the valley.

Symbols and similitudes » Almond rod

Jeremiah 1:11

Jehovah spoke his word to me again. He asked: What do you see Jeremiah? I answered: I see a branch of an almond tree. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Salt

Numbers 18:19

I have given you, your sons, and your daughters all the holy contributions which the Israelites offer to Jehovah. These contributions will be yours from generation to generation. It is an everlasting promise of salt in Jehovah's presence for you and your descendants. Verse Concepts

Colossians 4:6

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

John 3:8

The wind blows where it will. You hear the sound of it. Yet you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. It is like this with every one who is born from the Spirit. Verse Concepts

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

Psalm 72:6

He will come down like rain on the mown grass, like showers that water 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

Then Jesus was baptized and came up from the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened. He saw God's Spirit coming down like a dove. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Fire

Matthew 3:11

I baptize you with water because of your repentance. He that comes after me is mightier than I. He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. I am not even good enough to carry his sandals. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » Oil

Psalm 45:7

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, Your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy above your fellows. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » The sprinkled blood, of the covenant

Exodus 24:8

Moses took the blood from the bowls and sprinkled it on the people. Next, he told them: With this blood Jehovah makes his agreement with you. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Sanctuary

Psalm 20:2

He will send you help from his holy place. He will support you from Zion. Verse Concepts

Symbols and similitudes » Of the holy spirit » A seal

Revelation 7:2

I saw another angel ascending from the east. He had the seal of the living God. He cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm 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

They asked: Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and came to offer him praise. Verse Concepts