From crosses to fish, symbols play a role in Christian culture. But what does the Bible say about using symbols to represent faith? Let’s take a closer look at the biblical perspective on symbols and how they can point us toward deeper spiritual truths.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Prayer
What Does The Bible Say About Symbols
Genesis 9:13
I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
God placed the rainbow as a symbol of His covenant with humanity after the flood. It serves as a reminder of His faithfulness to His promises.
The symbol of the rainbow represents God’s mercy and love, and it points to the covenant relationship we have with Him. It reminds us of God’s provision and protection in times of trouble.
Exodus 12:13
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
The blood of the lamb on the doorposts served as a symbol for God’s people, marking them for deliverance and protection during the final plague in Egypt.
This symbol of the blood foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood washes away our sins and grants us salvation. It points to the importance of faith in God’s promises for our deliverance and redemption.
Exodus 13:9
This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips.
The observance of the Law of the Lord served as a physical symbol for the Israelites, reminding them to keep God’s commandments always in their thoughts and actions.
Just as the observance of the Law was a visible sign, as Christians, our transformed lives should be a symbol of our devotion to God. Our actions, words, and attitudes should reflect the values and principles of the kingdom of God.
Matthew 3:16-17
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased.”
The descent of the Holy Spirit like a dove and the affirmation of God the Father were symbolic of Jesus’ anointing and divine approval as the Son of God.
This symbol of the dove represents peace, purity, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. It highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering and guiding us as believers.
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus used the symbol of light to illustrate the impact of our lives as His followers. We are called to be a shining example of God’s love and truth in the world.
This symbol reminds us of the importance of our witness and how our actions and attitudes can influence those around us. Our lives should radiate the light of Christ and draw others to glorify God.
Matthew 26:26-28
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
The Lord’s Supper, also known as Communion, uses the symbols of bread and wine to represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which were given for our salvation.
These symbols remind us of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, offering His body and shedding His blood to reconcile us to God. They symbolize the grace, forgiveness, and unity we have through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
John 10:7-9
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.”
Jesus used the symbol of a gate to illustrate His role as the only means of salvation and access to God the Father.
Just as a gate provides entry and protection for the sheep, Jesus is the gateway to eternal life and a relationship with God. This symbol emphasizes the exclusivity of Jesus as the only way to have a restored relationship with God.
John 15:1-5
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.”
Jesus uses the symbol of a vine to illustrate the relationship between Himself and His followers. He is the source of life and nourishment, and we are the branches that bear fruit through our connection to Him.
This symbol emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ, being rooted in Him, and relying on His strength and guidance. It reminds us that without Him, we are powerless and unable to bear good fruit.
Romans 6:3-4
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Baptism serves as a symbol of identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It represents a spiritual transformation and a new life in Him.
This symbol highlights the idea of dying to our old selves and being raised to new life in Christ. It signifies our public declaration of faith and our unity with Christ, His death, and His resurrection.
1 Corinthians 5:7
Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
The Passover lamb in the Old Testament serves as a symbol for Jesus Christ, who became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
This symbol suggests the need for us to let go of sin and worldly influences in our lives, to be transformed and set apart for God. It reminds us of the freedom and redemption we have through Christ’s sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 11:25
In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The cup used in the Lord’s Supper signifies the new covenant established through Jesus’ blood. It is a symbol of the forgiveness and eternal life we receive through faith in Him.
This symbol serves as a reminder of God’s grace and the covenant relationship we have with Him. It encourages us to remember and reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and the great love He has shown us.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Being in Christ represents a transformational experience where our old self is replaced with a new nature, enabled by the Holy Spirit.
This symbol emphasizes the radical change that takes place in our lives when we surrender to Christ. It reminds us of our identity as new creations in Him, empowered to live according to God’s will.
Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit are symbolic pieces of the spiritual armor that God provides for believers to protect and equip them in the spiritual battle.
This symbol illustrates the importance of salvation as a protective covering for our minds and the power of God’s Word as a tool for spiritual warfare. It reminds us to be confident in our salvation and to rely on Scripture as our guide and weapon against the enemy.
Colossians 2:12
Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Baptism is a symbolic act that represents our identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus. It signifies our spiritual union with Him and our participation in His victory over sin and death.
This symbol underscores the transformative power of faith in God’s work, both in Jesus’ resurrection and in our own spiritual rebirth. It reminds us of the hope we have in Christ and the new life that is available through Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
The trumpet call of God and the gathering of believers in the air symbolize the future event of Jesus’ second coming and the resurrection of the dead in Christ.
This symbol speaks of the hope and anticipation of being reunited with Jesus and fellow believers, both those who have died and those who are still alive. It reminds us to live with an eternal perspective, eagerly awaiting the return of our Lord.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The Word of God is described as a living and powerful tool that has the ability to discern and transform our innermost thoughts and intentions.
This symbol highlights the authority and influence of Scripture in our lives. It reminds us of the importance of studying and applying God’s Word, which has the power to bring about spiritual growth, conviction, and renewal.
James 1:23-25
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
A mirror is used as a metaphor for the Word of God, reflecting to us who we are and guiding us into the truth.
This symbol illustrates the need for us to not only listen to God’s Word but also to apply it diligently in our lives. It reminds us to be doers of the Word and not mere hearers, so that we can experience the blessings and transformation God desires for us.
1 Peter 2:4-5
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Believers are compared to living stones, being built together as a spiritual house, with Jesus as the cornerstone.
This symbol shows the unity and interconnectedness of believers in the body of Christ. It emphasizes our role as a holy priesthood, offering our lives as sacrifices acceptable to God through our faith in Jesus.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Walking in the light represents a life lived in alignment with God’s truth and righteousness. It brings about fellowship with other believers and the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood.
This symbol emphasizes the importance of living a life that is transparent, authentic, and in accordance with God’s Word. It reminds us of the power of confession, forgiveness, and the transformative work of Christ in our lives.
Revelation 21:2
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
The image of the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, symbolizes the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan and the eternal dwelling place of believers with God.
This symbol portrays the beauty, perfection, and harmony that will exist in the presence of God. It gives us a glimpse of the glorious eternity that awaits those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior.
Revelation 21:23-24
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
The light radiating from God’s glory and the Lamb illuminates the Holy City, signifying the absence of darkness and the perpetual presence of God’s divine light.
This symbol represents the eternal joy, peace, and enlightenment found in God’s presence. It inspires hope and reminds us of the complete transformation and restoration that will occur in the new heaven and new earth.
Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes to take the free gift of the water of life.
The invitation to come and receive the water of life symbolizes the offer of salvation and eternal fellowship with God through Jesus Christ.
This symbol illustrates the universal call for all people to come and receive the gift of salvation. It highlights the thirst of the human soul for spiritual fulfillment and the gracious invitation God extends to all who believe in Him.