The Bible often uses symbolism to teach spiritual lessons, and the use of salt in the Bible is no exception.

In this post, I will do a survey of all the uses of salt in the Bible and so answer the question, What is the meaning of salt in the Bible?

Our Bible Quotation of Focus

There is one use of salt in the Bible which, if correctly understood, is the key to unlock its meaning and this is our Bible quotation of focus.

“And every oblation [offering] of thy meat [grain] offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat [grain] offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.” Leviticus 2:13.

First of all, for those who are new to Bible notation, “Leviticus 2:13” is a reference to the Bible, which itself is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “Leviticus 2:13” is taken from the book of Leviticus in the Bible, the 2^nd chapter, and the 13^th verse.

Some Facts About God

God is a Family of three divine Persons, namely, the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit. This Family is known as “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) in the Bible. What is God like? “God is love.” 1 John 4:8.

What is the Covenant?

Before we can unpack our Bible quotation of focus, Leviticus 2:13, we must understand what is the covenant to which this verse refers.

God created the human race by first creating a human pair, a man named Adam and a woman named Eve.

Adam and Eve were created holy, with a perfect character of love identical to God’s character of love. However, Adam and Eve fell into sin which is evil and wrongdoing, and selfishness took the place of the love in their hearts.

The result of Adam and Eve’s sin was that every human being inherits their sinful disposition, and so is born with a sinful nature.

Now what is God to do since humanity is out of harmony with His character of love? For humanity is destined to receive eternal death (annihilation) from God because of their sins.

Well, God, not willing to see the human race become extinct, activated the everlasting covenant between God and Christ whereby humanity might be saved from eternal death (annihilation).

Thus, God covenanted with Adam and Eve that they would live according to God’s ways of love. This same covenant was then established with Noah after the flood destroyed all but eight people on earth.

Later, God established His covenant with Abraham, his son Isaac, and his grandson Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel.

All these covenants were symbolic of the covenant which God establishes with every person on earth who chooses to walk in God’s ways of love. All such persons make up what is known as “the Israel of God.” Galatians 6:16.

The Salt of the Covenant

Now that we have an understanding of the covenant, we want to understand what is “the salt of the covenant.” Leviticus 2:13.

God says, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3.

“And now, Israel [the Israel of God], what doth the LORD thy God require of thee?” Deuteronomy 10:12.

“Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5) and “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Leviticus 19:18.

That is, God loves humanity and He desires that they love Him in return. So then, the salt, the all-important component of the covenant, is love which is “a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31) to live.

For “though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1.

“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith [in God], so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [love], I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2.

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3.

God’s covenant then is “a covenant of salt [love] for ever before the LORD unto thee.” Numbers 18:19.

Unpacking Leviticus 2:13

Christ says, “I am that bread of life.” John 6:48. This means that just as literal bread nourishes the body, so Christ nourishes the spiritual life of the individual who chooses to walk in God’s ways of love.

In the case of such persons, it can be said that God “filleth thee with the finest of the wheat” (Psalm 147:14) which is Christ. For it “is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27), that is, the hope of fully reflecting Christ’s character of love.

Symbolically then, a “meat [grain] offering” (Leviticus 2:13) is an offering of Christ by the individual.

How? Well, Christ, “his name is called The Word of God.” Revelation 19:13. So, a grain offering is not only symbolically offering Christ, the bread of life, but also an offering of Christ, the Word of God.

How does one offer the word of God? By preaching through whatever medium, for example, through speech, printed paper, or through a website, that God calls you to use.

Now God says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2.

To preach the word then is to preach Christ as a symbolic grain offering to God which nourishes the spiritual life of the recipients of the message, if the offering meets God’s requirement.

God’s requirement is: “And every oblation [offering] of thy meat [grain] offering [which is preaching Christ] shalt thou season with salt [love]; neither shalt thou suffer the salt [love] of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat [grain] offering [which is preaching Christ]: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt [love].” Leviticus 2:13.

Those who preach Christ with “the love of God” (John 5:42) in their hearts are such “that they may offer unto the LORD [God] an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3.

Preaching with Power

God says, “Let your speech be alway with grace [the blessing of God’s unmerited favour to humanity], seasoned with salt [love], that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6.

Such persons can, therefore, say of themselves in truth, “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and of power.” 1 Corinthians 2:4.

That is, “ye are the salt of the earth [the reflector of God’s character of love on earth]: but if the salt have lost his savour [if you have lost the love of God], wherewith shall it be salted [how shall the world be blessed by you]? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men [your preaching is of no value].” Matthew 5:13.

“For every one shall be salted with fire” (Mark 9:49), shall be “baptize[d]…with the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] (Matthew 3:11) who causes the individual to have a heart burning with love for God, “and every sacrifice [every offering to God] shall be salted with salt [love].” Mark 9:49.

In other words, “By him [Christ] therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15.

So then, “salt [love] is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness [if love is gone], wherewith will ye season it [how shall we offer to God and offering with love]? Have salt [love] in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Mark 9:50.

Consecration

The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision (supernatural mental imagery) by God of a Temple complex in which were offered sin offerings and burnt offerings.

God said to Ezekiel, “Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house [Temple], without [outside] the sanctuary. And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.” Ezekiel 43:21, 22.

In every case, a sin offering is a symbol of Christ who is humanity’s Sin Bearer and Substitute.

For God says, “All we [humanity] like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD [God] hath laid on him [Christ] the iniquity [wickedness] of us all.” Isaiah 53:6. Thus, Christ, the Innocent One, stood in the place of guilty humanity as their Substitute and, by His death, bore the sins of every human being and exhausted the penalty of eternal death for their sins.

Moreover, God said to Ezekiel, “When thou hast made an end of cleansing it [the altar], thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish. And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD.” Ezekiel 43:23, 24.

Here the burnt offerings are a memorial of the work of Christ for humanity in that He opened the way to eternal life for sinful mankind. These offerings are a call by God for humanity to be consecrated to God with love (salt) in gratitude for the blessings of God through Christ.

Salt for Sacrifices

Now “Darius the king [of Persia]” (Ezra 6:1) said to the nations surrounding the Jews, “I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house [Temple] of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.” Ezra 6:8.

“And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail.” Ezra 6:9.

The salt was needed for the sacrifices of the Jews to God, for God said, “Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt [love].” Mark 9:49. That is, the salt is symbolic of the love for God that should accompany the worship of God through the sacrifices made to God.

“Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes [of Persia] gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.” Ezra 7:11.

“I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.” Ezra 7:21, 22.

“Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?” Ezra 7:23.

This is another example of the salt being needed for the sacrifices of the Jews to God and it is symbolic the love for God that should accompany the worship of God through the sacrifices made to God.

The Salt Sea (Dead Sea)

“The salt sea [Dead Sea is located] at the south end of Jordan.” Joshua 18:19.

The Salt Sea (Dead Sea) is a lake into which flows the Jordan River from the north. Once the water flows into the Dead Sea there is no way for it to flow out. In the intense desert sun, the water evaporates thus increasing the saltiness of the Dead Sea. Because of its high salt content, the sea contains no fish nor usual sea life.

What is the spiritual lesson that God is teaching by the Dead Sea? The Dead Sea symbolises the person who takes all and gives nothing. That is, they are the recipients of God’s love but no love flows out from them to others. So, such persons are a curse to the world instead of being a blessing.

We are not to condemn all these people though as worthy of eternal death (annihilation). For God says, “Such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified [made holy by God], but ye are justified [declared righteous by God] in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the [Holy] Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11. You are now qualified by God to receive eternal life from Him.

Salt Water

God asks humanity, “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” James 3:12.

Here fresh water is able to quench one’s thirst and, hence, is good for the body, unlike salt water which cannot be refreshing.

What is the spiritual lesson? God says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34.

“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things [fresh water]: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things [salt water].” Matthew 12:35.

That is, a person either has a “a perverse [crooked] heart” (Proverbs 12:8) or “an honest and good heart.” Luke 8:15.

So, “I [God] say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified [declared righteous by God], and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [by God to eternal death (annihilation)].” Matthew 12:36, 37.

A Pillar of Salt

Now God says, “The men of Sodom [and its people] were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” Genesis 13:13.

“And [God] delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them [in Sodom], in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds).” 2 Peter 2:7, 8.

So, God sent two angels to take Lot out of the wicked city of Sodom. “And it came to pass, when they [the two angels] had brought them [Lot, his wife, and two daughters] forth abroad [outside], that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” Genesis 19:17.

“Then the LORD [God] rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone [sulphur] and fire from the LORD out of heaven.” Genesis 19:24.

“But his [Lot’s] wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:26.

Lot’s wife looked back longingly for her life in evil Sodom and she became a pillar of salt. Here the pillar of salt reminds us of the Dead Sea. Lot’s wife received God’s mercy in delivering her from Sodom which was to be destroyed by God, but she had no gratitude nor love in her heart for God’s deliverance.

Salt Pits

God says, “I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people [Israel], and magnified themselves against their border.” Zephaniah 2:8.

“Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles [thorny weeds], and saltpits [salt pits], and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil [plunder] them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.” Zephaniah 2:9.

“This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.” Zephaniah 2:10.

Here the salt pits are desolate of life just like the Dead Sea which can support none of the typical sea life. Symbolically, the salt pits represent those persons who lack the Holy Spirit who causes love to be in the hearts of those with whom the Holy Spirit dwells.

A Salt Land: Israel

God told ancient Israel that if they refused to walk in His ways of love, He, God, would bring upon Israel “all the curses of the covenant.” Deuteronomy 29:21.

Israel, under God’s curse, would then be such “that the whole land thereof is brimstone [sulphur], and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath.” Deuteronomy 29:23.

Such a desolation of Israel would symbolise their lack of the Holy Spirit, that is, their lack of love.

A Salt Land: The Individual

Now “thus saith the LORD [God]; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh [a human being] his arm [his deliverer], and whose heart departeth from the LORD [God]. For he shall be like the heath [juniper shrub] in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” Jeremiah 17:5, 6.

Now the person who loves and trusts God will say, “Blessed be the LORD [God] my strength…my goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust.” Psalm 144:1, 2.

So, here again the salt land symbolises the lack of love in the heart of those whose heart departs from God to trust in human beings for deliverance.

Jotham’s Curse

Jotham, the son of a man named Gideon, said to the people of Shechem, “My father [Gideon] fought for you, and adventured [risked] his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: And ye are risen up against my father’s house [household] this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten [seventy] persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother.” Judges 9:17, 18.

“If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal [Gideon] and with his house [household] this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.” Judges 9:19.

“But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.” Judges 9:20.

“And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.” Judges 9:21.

God’s Curse Upon Shechem

“When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten [seventy] sons of Jerubbaal [Gideon] might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren [brothers].” Judges 9:22-24.

“And Abimelech fought against the city [Shechem] all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.” Judges 9:45.

“And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold [high place] of the house [temple] of the god Berith. And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.” Judges 9:46, 47.

“And Abimelech gat him [went] up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.” Judges 9:48.

“And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold [high place], and set the hold [high place] on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.” Judges 9:49.

So, God brought a curse upon Shechem, and Shechem was sowed with salt symbolizing the lack of love displayed in their murderous plot with Abimelech.

God’s Curse Upon Abimelech

“Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.” Judges 9:50.

“But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them [went] up to the top of the tower. And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard [near] unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.” Judges 9:51, 52.

“And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake [break] his skull.” Judges 9:53.

“Then he [Abimelech] called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay [kill] me, that men say not of me, A woman slew [killed] him. And his young man thrust him through, and he [Abimelech] died.” Judges 9:54.

“And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.” Judges 9:55. So, God brought a curse upon Abimelech.

God’s Repays Evil

“Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren [brothers]: And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal [Gideon].” Judges 9:56, 57.

Conversion to Christ

Let us consider the case of God’s prophet, Elisha. “And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray [entreat] thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught [bad], and the ground barren.” 2 Kings 2:19.

“And he [Elisha] said, Bring me a new cruse [salt cellar], and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.” 2 Kings 2:20.

“And he [Elisha] went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD [God], I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.” 2 Kings 2:21.

What does all this mean? Well, God says, “The waters…are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Revelation 17:15.

For “if any man [or woman] be in Christ [is converted to Christ], he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17) in that the love of God has replaced selfishness in the heart.

Thus, those who have been converted to Christ and, hence, have the love of God in their hearts, represented by the salt in a new salt cellar, can themselves convert multitudes to Christ, represented by the healing of the waters.

Ezekiel’s Prophecy

The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision (supernatural mental imagery) by God of a Temple. “Then said he [God] unto me [Ezekiel], These waters issue out [from the Temple] toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.” Ezekiel 47:8.

“And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever [wheresoever] the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither [there]: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither [where] the river cometh.” Ezekiel 47:9.

“And it shall come to pass, that the fishers [fishermen] shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.” Ezekiel 47:10.

“But the miry places [swamps] thereof and the marishes [marshes] thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.” Ezekiel 47:11.

Interpretation of Ezekiel’s Prophecy

In the case of Ezekiel’s prophecy, the waters which issue out of the Temple represent the Holy Spirit who heals the waters, that is, who heals the multitudes of their sinful nature, thus bringing love into their hearts.

The fishermen symbolise Christians, true followers of Christ, who are “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19), that is, “the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.” 1 Corinthians 4:1. The fish represent those converted to Christ by the ministry of Christians and who will, hence, receive eternal life from God.

However, the swamps and marshes given to salt are symbolic of those who, despite the work of the Holy Spirit and of Christians to win them to Christ, choose to continue in their evil ways. Such people will receive eternal death (annihilation) from God.

To sum up all of what has been said regarding Ezekiel’s vision, it is a prophecy of the end times just before judgment day. According to this prophecy, there will be two groups of people in the world in the end times—those who are converted to Christ and those who are not.

Then when all people in the world shall have made their final decisions for or against Christ, Christ will come to the earth a second time. For Christs says, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man [and woman] according as his [or her] work shall be.” Revelation 22:12.

The City of Salt

God said to ancient Israel, “Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them [the Canaanites], and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.” Deuteronomy 9:3.

“Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them [the Canaanites] out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.” Deuteronomy 9:4.

For “the LORD thy God shall deliver them [the Canaanites] unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed. And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.” Deuteronomy 7:23, 24.

So, God drove out the wicked Canaanites and divided the land of Canaan among the twelve tribes of Israel. Accordingly, “this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families” (Joshua 15:20), “in the wilderness…the city of Salt.” Joshua 15:61, 62.

The City of Salt, being one of the cities of the wicked Canaanites, was located in the wilderness which was essentially a desert. Hence, salt here represents the barrenness of the Canaanites in that they lacked the love of God in their hearts.

The Valley of Salt

God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt through their leader, Moses. “And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel…Let us pass, I pray [entreat] thee, through thy country.” Numbers 20:14-17.

But “he [Edom] said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.” Numbers 20:20, 21.

Therefore, God gave a prophecy regarding Edom through a man named Balaam. “Balaam the son of Beor hath said [prophesied], and the man…which saw the vision of the Almighty [God]…there shall come a Star [Prince] out of Jacob [Israel], and a Sceptre [Ruler] shall rise out of Israel, and…Edom shall be a possession, Seir [Edom] also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.” Numbers 24:15-18.

Centuries later, king “David gat [got] him [himself] a name when” (2 Samuel 8:13) “Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand [men].” 1 Chronicles 18:12.

Edom remained in the possession of the southern kingdom of Judah until the reign of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. For Israel had been divided into two kingdoms, with the kingdom of Israel being the northern kingdom.

However, “the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day…because he” (2 Chronicles 21:10), “Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah” (2 Kings 8:16), “had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.” 2 Chronicles 21:10.

Half a century later, “Amaziah [king of Judah] strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote [killed] of the children of Seir ten thousand.” 2 Chronicles 25:11.

This then is the history regarding the Valley of Salt. Here salt represents the lack of love in the hearts of the Edomites, and the Valley of Salt was the place where God chose to give Israel victories over their enemies, the Edomites.

Salt as Food

A man named Job said, “Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?” Job 6:6.

Here God refers to salt as a desirable seasoning or flavouring for food.

Salt for Newborn Babies

God says, “And as for thy nativity [birth], in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.” Ezekiel 16:4.

Apparently, it was the custom of people in those days to apply salt to the skin of a newborn baby.

Conclusion

In this post, we have gone through all the various uses of salt in the Bible and we have seen that it has different meanings both literal and symbolic.

One important point to note regarding the interpretation of the Bible, is that a symbol such as salt can have exactly opposite meanings in the Bible depending on the context in which it is used.

In this way, God develops our ability to learn and reason, to know and to understand. By this means also, God makes His deepest truths known only to the diligent seeker of Bible truths, while the superficial reader of the Bible finds only surface truths.

Now the word of God is a comfort. Also, “the entrance of thy [God’s] words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple [the naïve and gullible].” Psalm 119:130.

That is, the word of God, the Bible, gives efficiency and wisdom to the diligent Bible student who works to win people to Christ.

Be not then naïve and gullible so that the sophistries and deceptions of Satan, the angel who is the enemy of God and humanity, keep you from having a loving relationship with God. For then you will lose eternal life with God and instead receive eternal death (annihilation) from God.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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