Though the forbidden fruit in the Book of Genesis is not identified, popular Christian tradition holds that Adam and Eve ate an apple from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden (Adam’s Apple, the lump in mans throat). As a result, the apple became a symbol for knowledge, immortality, temptation, the fall of man and sin.
a similitude: Song of Solomon 2:3As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
Song of Solomon 8:5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.
What happens as Israel ignores God’s Law (Joel 1); Joel 1:12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
1 Kings 10:11-12 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
The almond is a well-known symbol of resurrection because it is the first tree to flower.
Ecclesiastes 12:5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
Jeremiah 1:11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
Almonds are the edible seeds of Prunus dulcis, more commonly called the almond tree. They are native to the Middle East. Almonds are one of the world’s most nutritious and versatile nuts, renowned for their many health benefits and culinary uses.
Genesis 43:11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
Exodus 25:33-34Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. Exodus 37:19-20 Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick. And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:
Numbers 17:8And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
The wood was evidently very precious and apparently came from East Asia. Tradition says that this was the famous sandal wood.
2 Chronicles 2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
2 Chronicles 9:10-11 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king’s palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.
It’s interesting that Swine, Boar and Sow are mentioned in Scripture, but not pig.
Swine is found in Proverbs 11:22, Isaiah 65:4, 66:3,17 Matthew 7:6, 8:3-32 Mark 5:11-16 Luke 8:32-33, 15:15-16. Boar is found in Psalm 80:13.
Sow (a female pig) is mentioned by Peter. He quotes a Proverb (26:11) and then seems to add to it.
2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Proverbs 26:11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
He’s writing about those professed to believe but have returned to their old ways 2 Peter 2:1-21; They are fools.
Proverbs (7) Similitudes: Proverbs 19:12The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass. Proverbs 20:2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. Proverbs 26:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. Proverbs 30:30A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
Ecclesiastes (1) Ecclesiastes 9:4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Song of Solomon (1) Song of Solomon 4:8 Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
The Lord’s promise in the 1000 years of peace: Isaiah 11:6-7 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. Isaiah 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: Isaiah 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. Similitudes: Isaiah 5:29, 15:9, 21:8, 30:6, 31:4, 38:13
Lamentations (1) Lamentations 3:10He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
Ezekiel (10) vision of future rulers: Ezekiel 1:10, 10:14 a similitude: Ezekiel 19:2-6, 22:25, 32:2 38:13 Ezekiel 41:19 So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the house round about.
Daniel (9) Daniel 6:7-27 Daniel in the Lions Den Daniel’s vision of coming kingdoms: Daniel 7:4The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
Hosea (4) a similitude: Hosea 5:14, 11:10, 13:7-8
Joel (1) Joel 1:6For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
Amos (4) Amos 3:4,8,12 5:19
Micah (2) a similitude: Micah 5:8
Nahum (3) Nahum 2:11-13 Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion’s whelp, and none made them afraid? The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin. Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
Zephaniah (1) a similitude: Zephaniah 3:3Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
Zechariah (1) a similitude: Zechariah 11:3There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
110 Old Testament references, most of which are similitudes.
Similitudes: Genesis 49:9Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? Numbers 23:24Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. Numbers 24:9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee. Deuteronomy 33:20 And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head. Deuteronomy 33:22 And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.
Samson and the Lion: Judges 14:5-9 Samson’s riddle: Judges 14:18
1 Samuel (3) David relates his killing of a Lion to King Saul 1 Samuel 17:34-37
2 Samuel (3) Similitudes: 2 Samuel 1:23, 17:10 2 Samuel 23:20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lion like men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
1 Kings (9) As statues: 1 Kings 7:29,36, 10:19-20 The disobedient man of God is slain by a Lion: 1 Kings 13:24-28 1 Kings 20:36 Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.
2 Kings (2) Lions used as Punishment: 2 Kings 17:25-26
1 Chronicles (2) Lion like men: 1 Chronicles 11:22, 12:8
2 Chronicles (2) As statues: 2 Chronicles 9:18-19
Job (5) Similitudes: Job 4:10-11The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad. Job 10:16 For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me. Job 28:8The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. Job 38:39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
Psalm (11) Psalm 7:2Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. Psalm 10:9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. Psalm 17:12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Psalm 22:13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. Psalm 22:21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. Psalm 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. Psalm 57:4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Psalm 58:6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD. Psalm 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Psalm 104:21The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
a large tawny-colored cat that lives in prides, found in Africa and northwestern India. The male has a flowing shaggy mane and takes little part in hunting, which is done cooperatively by the females. The New Testament does not speak of the actual Lion, but in similitudes.
2 Timothy 4:17Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Paul refers to the experience of Daniel to demonstrate Daniel’s faith in God. Hebrews 11:33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
Peter likens the devil to a roaring lion who will try to destroy believer’s. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Happenings in Heaven: Revelation 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Revelation 9:8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. Revelation 9:17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. Revelation 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Listed among the unclean animals. The horses of the Bible are almost exclusively war-horses, or at least the property of kings and not of the common people
Jacob’s (Israel) blessing on one of his son’s. Genesis 49:17Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
Moses and Miriam sing of Pharaoh destruction at the Red Sea. Exodus 15:1,19,21
References to the war horse: 1 Kings 10:29, 20:20,25
Horses were valuable: 2 Chronicles 1:17And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.
Haman believes HE will be honored but it is Mordecai the Jew who will be honored by the King and ride on his horse. Esther 6:8-11
Some interesting verses using horses in comparisons: Job 39:18-19What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?Psalm 32:9Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Psalm 33:17An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Psalm 76:6At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. Psalm 147:10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. Proverbs 21:31The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. Proverbs 26:3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
Isaiah makes 3 references: Isaiah 43:17, 63:13
Jeremiah makes 3 references: Jeremiah 8:6, 31:40, 51:
Amos 2:15 Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.
Zechariah makes 4 references: Zechariah 1:8, 9:10, 10:3, 12:4
James uses the illustration of a horse being controlled by a small bit but what can control out tongue. James 3:3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
9 references in new testament – 8 in Revelation
John writing in Revelation warns of what is coming (Revelation 6:2-8) and he describes the destruction as coming in on horses.
And I saw, and behold a white horse… And there went out another horse that was red: … And I beheld, and lo a black horse; … and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. Later in Revelation 9:7-17 the locusts that came out of the bottomless pit. They were like unto horses prepared unto battle; … And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. Then in Revelation 14:20 he describes how deep the blood would be: And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. Revelation 18:13And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
A description of the Lord Jesus at his second coming riding on a white horse, ending the 7-year Tribulation, the battle of Armageddon. Revelation 19:11-21
