As I began studying the book of Daniel, I realised the importance of ‘symbols’ in the bible.
They’re strange images, objects, numbers, and things like animals that make no sense if you take them in a literal sense.
But if you appreciate what they are symbolising and meaning something else, it begins to make sense.
In Daniel, you have a strange-looking statue with different metals in chapter two, and then weird animals in chapters seven and eight.
These prophecies and messages from God are not telling us to watch out for these actual things. So, a golden head on a stature, or a strange lion with multiple wings.
They represent something else. They are a symbol for another meaning.
Why Symbols Are Used
If you like things black and white, you might ask why God doesn’t just say things more plainly.
Good question – I’ve come to appreciate two reasons why this might be the case:
1. Protection of His Word
For the bible to have been written and handed down throughout the centuries, it has needed almost a mysterious element that doesn’t make immediate sense.
That way, people can’t try and eliminate God’s Word after taking any offence. It has remained intact, by God’s protection.
2. Provision of His Revelation
Those who genuinely seek God’s ways can easily decode the symbols and understand the true meaning.
It’s not supposed to be rocket science – the Holy Spirit will lead a humble-seeking heart into truth.
Once the willingness is there to see what the symbols are meaning, it suddenly becomes plainer.
Therefore, you will find that this principle of using symbols to mean something else is littered throughout the bible. Even Jesus Himself used parables and stories with a hidden meaning.
The Symbols Check List
Here then is a Symbols Check List that I’ve come up with to help de-code these, with three columns.
Firstly, the actual symbol itself like a beast or animal. Secondly, what this is supposed to symbolise and mean, for example, a kingdom.
And thirdly, where this symbol and interpretation of this is in the Bible, as often the Bible interprets itself at some point.
| Symbol | Meaning | Scripture |
| Angel |
Heavenly created beings that are also sent as messengers and helpers to God’s people. (Gabriel is the only one of a few mentioned by name). |
Heb 1:14, Luke 1:19, Dan 8:16 & 9:21 |
| Babylon | A worldly, confusing and false-religious system against God | Numbers 22: 5-25 |
|
Beast |
A kingdom, government, nation, or political power |
Daniel 7:3 & 17 & 23, Revelation 13:1-4, Jer 4:7 & 50:17 and 43/44 |
| Bottomless Pit | The earth being empty/void, in chaos and lifeless at the end of time | Gen 1:1-2, Jer 4:23-28, Isaiah 24:1-4 & 19, Rev 20:1-1 |
| Clay |
People individually (and in God’s kingdom) that are mouldable by God |
Job 33:6, Psalm 40:2, Isaiah 64:8 |
| Clothing | Covering of righteousness | Gen 3:21, Isa 59:17 & 61:10, Zech 3:3-5, Job 29:14, Rev 19:8, |
| Crowns | Sign of kingship or victory | 1 Chron 20:2, 2 Kings 11:12, Ezek 21:26-27, James 1:12, 2 Tim 4:7-8, 1 Corin 9:25 |
| Cup | Giving out judgements and suffering | Psalm 11:6 & 75:8, Isaiah 51:22-23, Jer 25:15-17 & 49:12 |
|
Day |
A year in real-time (according to the Jewish calendar). |
Ezek 4:6, Num 14:34, Dan 9:24 – supported by theologians like Augustine, Tychonius, Andreas, Ambrosius, Ansbertus, and Berengaud. |
| Door | An open opportunity | 2 Corin 2:12, Rev 3:20, 1 Corin 16:9, Acts 14:27, John 10:7-9, Hosea 2:15, Col 4:3 |
| Dragon | Satan or his representatives | Isaiah 27:1 & 30:6, Psalms 74:13-14, Rev 12:7-9, Eze 29:3, Jer 51:3 |
| Eagle | Speed and power provide protection and vengeance | Deut 28:49, Hab 1:6-8, Rev 12:14 |
| Eating a 'book' | Digesting and proclaiming the message | Ezek 3:1-3. Jer 15:16 |
| Gold | True riches of God, heaven, and faith | Psalm 19:7-10, James 2:5, Job 23:10 |
| Hand | Working and accomplishment | Ecclesiastes 9:10 |
| Harlot | False apostate religion and church | Isaiah 1:21, Jer 3:1-3 & 6-9 |
| Head | A kingdom, rulers, governments, or division | Dan 7:6 and 8:8, 22, Rev 12:3 & 13:1 & 17:3, 7 & 17:9-10 |
|
Horn |
Power and strength, king or kingdom |
Deut 33:17, Zech 1:18 & 19, Psalm 89:17 & 24, Dan 8:22 |
| Horse | Battle and special representative | Exo 15:21, Jer 8:6, Ezek 38:15, Zech 10:3 & 1:8-10 & 6:1-8 |
| Image | Likeness of something | Exod 20:4, Gen 1:26 & 5:3, Deut 4:25 |
| Incense | Prayers of God's people | Psa 141:2, Rev 5:8, |
| Israel | Followers of Christ | Rom 9:6-2:28 |
| Keys | Control of something | Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19 |
| Lamb | Jesus and sacrifice | John 1:29, 1 Corin 5:7, Gen 22:7-8 |
| Locusts | Destructive force | Joel 1:4, Deut 28:38 |
| Mark (and Seal) | Sign/seal and mark of approval or disapproval of something | Rom 4:11, Rev 7:2-3, Exek 9:4 |
| Measuring Rod | God's Word and law | James 2:10-12, Ecc 12:13-14, Isaiah 8:19-20, 2 Tim 3:16-17 |
| Merchants | Advocates of Babylon's teachings | Isaiah 35:11-15, Naham 3:16 |
| Moon | Permanence and mirroring the sun | Psalm 89:35-37 |
| Morning Star | Jesus | Rev 22:16 |
|
Mountain |
Political or religious-state powers |
Isaiah 2:2-3, Jer 17:3, Jer 31:23, 51, 24:25, Exek 17:22-23, Dan 2:35, 44-45 |
| Oil | Holy Spirit | Zech 4:2-6, Rev 5:5 |
|
Rock |
Jesus and His Kingdom |
Isaiah 2:2-3, Jer 17:3, Jer 31:23, 51, 24:25, Exek 17:22-23, Dan 2:35, 44-45 |
| Second Death | Lake of fire | Rev 21:8, 20:14 |
| Serpent | Satan | Rev 12:7-9, 20:2 |
| Sickle | Final harvest at end of the world | Matt 13:19, Rev 14:14 |
| Stars | The Righteous people of God | Genesis 15:5 & 26:4 & 37:9, Exodus 32:13, Daniel 12:3, Revelation 12:1 & 4 &7-9, Rev 1:16 &20, |
| Sun | Christ and the Gospels | John 9:5, Psalm 84:1, Mal 4:2, Matt 17:2, John 8:1 |
| Sword | Bloodshed and destruction | Isaiah 3:25, 13:15, Acts 12:1-2, Jer 48:2 |
| Twenty-four Elders | Group of those redeemed from the earth | Rev 5:9-10, 4:4, 7:9-14 |
| Two Witnesses | Old and new testament | John 5:39, Zech 4:1-14, Psalm 119:130 & 105, John 12:4 |
| Waters | Inhabited area of people, nations | Rev 17:15 |
| White Robes | Victory & righteousness | Isaiah 61:10, Rev 19:8 & 3:5, Zech 3:1-5, Gal 3:27 |
| Wind |
Strife, commotion, war, and unrest |
Jer 25:31-33, 49:36-37, Jer 4:11-13, Zech 7:14, Dan 7:2 and 11:40, Rev 7:1-2 |
| Wine | False teaching/doctrine, Jesus blood of atonement | Jer 25:15-18, 51:7, Matt 26:21-29 |
|
Wing |
Speed and swiftness |
Hab 1:6-8, Jer 4:13, Exod 19:4 |
| Wormwood | Sorrow and bitterness | Jer 9:15, 23:15, lamen 3:19 |
