What Is the Significance of Salt in the Bible?

What Is the Significance of Salt in the Bible?

There are many ways to clearly communicate the truth. In the Bible, God uses prophecy, poetry, wisdom narrative, parables, and direct statements to communicate His will, His plans, and His truth. Because the various books that compose the Bible were written at different times, sometimes the cultural significance of something changed, but that doesn’t mean God didn’t use it. Salt is one of the things used in God’s Word to symbolically communicate certain truths that means something different depending on the context.

Where Do We See Salt in the Old Testament?

There are two ways salt commonly features in the Old Testament. While it is not overly symbolic, the times where it does come up have to do with the end of life, or being cut off.

Where Do We See Salt in the New Testament?

The use of salt as a point of symbolic comparison continues into the New Testament, though it changes. Jesus begins using salt in His ministry when He speaks about His followers. Saltiness is used to describe an aspect of a person’s passion, righteousness, and love for the Lord and people.

Why Is It Important to Understand Salt's Symbolism in the Bible?

Understanding what salt means at different points in the Bible can deepen the lessons that God is trying to impart, clarify various concepts, and ensure that a false teacher cannot twist its symbolism. This last point is key. Often, false teachers will take something that means one thing in one section of the Bible, but may mean something else somewhere else due to changes in time, culture, or the human author. They do this for their own selfish purposes, and not because it is God’s will or message.

A Prayer for Saltiness

Holy Father,

Thank you for being with me. Thank you for giving me life, and for my salvation through Jesus Christ. Lord, please help me to be more like Jesus, and to be more like what He asked me to be. Help me to be salt and light in a world that does not know You, so that I may have a testimony worthy of Your Son. Use my saltiness to help share the Gospel, so that others may come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Be with me, oh God. I also ask that my words be like fresh water in a desert, rather than salt water. Help me to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

In Your name I pray,

Amen.