HOW TO USE AND APPLY BIBLE SYMBOLS:
Some Bible texts are employed only to supply a definition of a Symbol to us, whereas, in the other texts you will need to apply the symbolic definitions to the symbolic words. That means that the Symbolic Definition can be substituted for the Symbolic word. If the text makes literal sense then there is usually no need to make substitutions unless the text contains a dual meaning. If not you should look for Symbolic words throughout the text and if it makes sense to substitute the Symbols for the definitions then you should apply the definition in a paraphrase form as seen below in the Example.
Since the Bible uses Symbols, you need to understand the text in light of what the symbolic definition is saying. The best way to make sense of a text in the light of its symbolic meaning is a “paraphrase”. You will need to “translate” the text using the symbolic meaning, and replace the literal word with the symbolic definition. You can see how it works in the following example.
First, Determine which words are symbolic:
Some Words are readily recognizable as symbols and we use them in our common everyday talk. In the example below the second word “heart”, we recognize it to mean, mind or feelings, but there are other words that are less recognizable like bones. You will have to check with your symbolic vocabulary list or explore the meaning of the symbolic word with your concordance to determine the symbolic meaning if there is one.
In our example below the Words in Red are the symbolic words.
Example: Jeremiah 23:9-10
9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets;
All my bones shake;
I am like a drunken man,
And like a man whom wine hath overcome,
Because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.
10 For the land is full of adulterers;
For because of swearing the land mourneth;
The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up,
And their course is evil, and their force is not right.
Second, Paraphrase:
Original Text
Paraphrased Text
9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets;
My mind or thoughts or feelings, within me are/is broken because of God’s messengers:
All my bones shake; (Shaking Bones)
My whole Body is afraid;
I am like a drunken man,
I am like a man believing error or false doctrine,
And like a man whom wine hath overcome,
and like a man whom error or false doctrine has overcome,
Because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.
Because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness (no paraphrase)
10 For the land is full of adulterers;
for the nation or God’s People are full of backsliders, or People not true to God.
For because of swearing the land mourneth;
for because of promises the nation, or People of God cry or are sad.
The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up,
The pleasant places (also translated “Pastures”) of the refuge of God is without hope
And their course is evil, and their force is not right.
And their path is evil, and their (Might, Power, Use of power) is not right (righteousness).
Or,
they run to do evil, and they strain to do wrong. (Lit. “Their running is wickedness,/Their straining is iniquity.”)1
Final Paraphrase:
My mind and feelings, within me, are broken (disturbed) because of God’s human messengers:
My whole being is afraid (fearful);
I am like a man believing error or false doctrine,
and like a man whom error or false doctrine has overcome,
Because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.
for God’s People are full of backsliders, (or People not true to God.)
for because of promises the People of God cry or are sad.
The Pastures in the refuge of God are without hope
And their path is evil, and their Use of power is not righteous. (this line is not symbolic just translated)
1 Jewish Publication Society, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures (Philadelphia 1985).
Midnight = Judgment or Death
Lightning = Light or Truth Moving at Great Speed
Candle / Lamp = God’s Word, The bible
Butter = Knowledge of God by the Bible
