Literal Or Symbolic
The Bible is written symbolically with a literal application.
For instance, Hannah prays to God in 2nd Samuel 2:1-10 thanking Him for answering her prayer for a son. In verse one and verse 10 she mentions her “horn.”
People do not have “horns.” David, and the word of God, also speak of horns in a non-animal sense. When we read the word “horn” in scripture it is used to mean the horn of an actual animal or it means power. Careful study tells us whether the application is literal, symbolic or both.
Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; so he arose, and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. (1st Kings 1:50)
He needed more power than he had to resist Solomon so he went to the altar seeking more.
From cover to cover the Bible is filled with symbols that have a literal meaning. The key to understanding what the Bible says is being able to understand what the application of the symbols literally mean.
The Bible uses the word “heart” in two different ways. One is the blood pumping organ that sustains life and the other is the thinking organ that controls life. Many only see one meaning and that meaning is applied to the life sustaining organ. Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:307, Luke 10:27 clearly show the word “heart” can be used to refer to a life giving blood pumping organ or refer to the brain, an emotional processing organ.
Take the terebinth tree for instance…
The terebinth tree is mentioned some 21 times in the Bible and each time that it is mentioned in scripture it is observing some important event or fact.
The fig tree is used figuratively as a literal symbol of something that is not what it appears to be. Some call it the “hypocrite tree,” being very leafy it can give the impression of being fruit-filled and yet have no fruit. Supposedly, the word “actor” comes from the word “hypocrite” meaning someone who is skilled at convincing you they are someone they are not.
In Luke 19 a short man named Zacchaeus climbed up into a very leafy sycamore, a type of fig tree, in order to see Jesus over the crowd. One does not expect to see anything non-tree up in a tree but Jesus saw Him where he was not expected to be.
Whenever a Cedar tree is mentioned it has a long lasting Godly application and was only used in temple, tabernacle or a special dwelling construction.
Bible authors were not botanists and some of the tree names used in the ancient manuscripts may have been unfamiliar to the translators. They undoubtedly agreed When we see this tree mentioned we will call it…” Since the symbolic application remained the same depending on the consistent name, it didn’t matter what the tree was actually called.
In Mark 8 the blind man tells Jesus he sees men walking as trees. Trees are symbolic of men and men have the same application, they witness, they say one thing and do another, some are faithful, strong and long lasting.
As it goes with trees so it goes with every other symbol. Each color, each number mentioned, each metal, each animal, all have a literal and symbolic application and bring depth and meaning to the Word of God.
Every word found in the original manuscripts has a purpose. I’m not talking about the translation you may have in front of you because many of them are either one person’s understanding or happy medium compromises of an organization or concept.
Only careful study will prove the validity of the translation.