Symbols & Types

This article explains the biblical typology of David, the shepherd boy who became king of Israel. David was the anointed of God, rejected by the established king, a man after God's own heart, a shepherd who risked his life for his sheep, a warrior who defeated Goliath, and the king who established Jerusalem as the capital. God made a covenant with David, promising that his throne would be established forever. This covenant finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the King of kings, and the Good Shepherd.

This article explains the biblical typology of Jonah, the prophet who was swallowed by a great fish and emerged after three days and three nights. Jesus explicitly identified Jonah as a type of Himself. He said, "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Jonah's mission to the Gentile city of Nineveh also foreshadows Christ's mission to the Gentiles. Jonah is a reluctant prophet; Christ is the willing Savior. The comparison highlights both the similarities and the superiority of Christ.

This article explains the biblical typology of Joseph, the son of Jacob, whose life contains remarkable parallels to the life and work of Jesus Christ. Joseph was the beloved son of his father, hated by his brothers, rejected, sold for silver, falsely accused, unjustly punished, and raised to a position of great authority. He saved his family and the nations during a time of famine. Joseph is one of the clearest types of Christ in the Old Testament. His life foreshadows the rejection, suffering, exaltation, and saving work of Jesus.

This article explains the biblical typology of Moses, the great prophet, deliverer, lawgiver, and mediator of the Old Covenant. Moses was uniquely qualified to serve as a type of Jesus Christ. He was preserved from death as an infant, chose to suffer with God's people, led Israel out of bondage, mediated the covenant, interceded for sinners, and spoke of a coming Prophet like himself. Deuteronomy records Moses' prophecy: "The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear." Jesus is that Prophet. He is greater than Moses in every way.

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred chest that resided in the Holy of Holies. The ark was the earthly throne of God, the place of atonement, and the container of the law. Every aspect of the ark—its wood, its gold, its contents, its cover, and its place—points to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ is the fulfillment of all that the ark represented.

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of bread, which throughout Scripture represents the Lord Jesus Christ as the true sustenance for the soul. From the manna in the wilderness to the showbread in the Tabernacle, and finally to the broken bread of the Lord's Supper, every aspect of bread points to Christ as the bread of life. Jesus explicitly declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of the bronze serpent that Moses lifted up in the wilderness. When the people of Israel were bitten by fiery serpents as judgment for their sin, God commanded Moses to make a serpent of bronze, put it on a pole, and promise that whoever looked upon it would live. Jesus Christ explicitly identified this bronze serpent as a type of Himself being lifted up on the cross for the salvation of all who look to Him in faith.

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of the door, which throughout Scripture represents the Lord Jesus Christ as the only entrance into salvation, safety, and the presence of God. In the Tabernacle, the tent of meeting, the ark, and the temple, doors marked the boundaries between the holy and the common, the inside and the outside. Jesus declared, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." He is the door of the sheep, the door of salvation, and the door to the Father.

This article explains the biblical typology of the high priest, who served as the representative of the people before God. The high priest was chosen from among men, appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins, and entered the Holy of Holies once per year on the Day of Atonement with the blood of the sacrifice. All of this pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, who is superior in every way. Christ is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron. He offered Himself once for all, entered the heavenly Holy of Holies with His own blood, and ever lives to make intercession for His people.

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of the lamb, which throughout Scripture points to the Lord Jesus Christ as the perfect, substitutionary sacrifice for sin. From Abel's offering to the Passover lamb to the daily sacrifices of the Old Testament, the lamb foreshadowed the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Christ is both the fulfillment of every lamb sacrificed and the final, once-for-all sacrifice.

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of light, which throughout Scripture represents the Lord Jesus Christ as the revelation of God, the source of truth, holiness, and life. In the creation account, God said, "Let there be light." The psalmist declares that the Lord is his light and his salvation. Jesus declared, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." Christ is the true light that gives light to every man, and believers are called to reflect His light to the world.

This article explains the biblical typology of the manna, the bread from heaven that God provided for Israel during their forty years in the wilderness. The manna appeared each morning, was white like coriander seed, and tasted like wafers made with honey. It was a daily provision that taught Israel to depend on God for their sustenance. Jesus explicitly identified Himself as the fulfillment of the manna, declaring, "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die." The manna is a clear type of Christ, the true bread from heaven.

This article explains the biblical typology of the mercy seat (Hebrew: kapporet), the solid gold cover of the Ark of the Covenant. The mercy seat was overshadowed by two cherubim of gold, and it was here that God promised to meet with Moses and speak to him. Once per year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat to make atonement for the sins of the people. The mercy seat is a clear type of Jesus Christ, who is the propitiation for our sins. Paul writes that God set forth Christ as a propitiation (mercy seat) through faith in His blood.

This article explains the biblical typology of the Passover lamb, which was sacrificed in Egypt on the night of the tenth plague. God commanded each Israelite household to take a lamb without blemish, kill it at twilight, and strike its blood on the doorposts and lintel. When the Lord passed through Egypt to strike the firstborn, He saw the blood and passed over those houses. The Passover lamb is a clear and explicit type of Jesus Christ. Paul declares, "For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." The blood of the Lamb protects believers from the wrath of God.

This article explains the biblical typology of the red heifer, a unique sacrifice described in Numbers 19. The red heifer was to be without blemish, never yoked, and entirely red. It was slaughtered outside the camp, and its blood was sprinkled seven times toward the tabernacle. The entire heifer—skin, flesh, blood, and dung—was burned with cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet. The ashes were mixed with water to make the water of purification, used to cleanse those who had become ceremonially unclean through contact with a dead body. The red heifer is a striking type of Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice cleanses believers from the defilement of sin and death.

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of the rock, which throughout Scripture represents the Lord Jesus Christ as the foundation, refuge, source of living water, and object of salvation. From the rock that Moses struck in the wilderness to the rock of refuge in the Psalms, and finally to Christ as the cornerstone of the church, the rock points unambiguously to the person and work of the Messiah. Paul explicitly declares, "That rock was Christ."

This article explains the biblical typology of the five main offerings described in Leviticus: the burnt offering, the grain offering, the peace offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. Each offering was a shadow pointing to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The burnt offering speaks of Christ's total dedication to God. The grain offering speaks of Christ's sinless humanity. The peace offering speaks of the fellowship accomplished through Christ's blood. The sin offering speaks of Christ bearing the guilt of sin. The trespass offering speaks of Christ paying for specific offenses. Together, they form a comprehensive picture of the work of Christ on the cross.

This article explains the biblical typology of the scapegoat, one of the two goats used on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The high priest took two goats: one was sacrificed as a sin offering, and its blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat. The second goat, the scapegoat, was presented alive before the Lord. The high priest laid his hands on the head of the scapegoat, confessed over it all the iniquities of Israel, and sent it away into the wilderness by the hand of a fit man. The scapegoat carried the sins of the people into a uninhabited land. This goat is a type of Christ, who bore our sins away, never to be remembered again.

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of the shepherd, which throughout Scripture represents the Lord Jesus Christ as the one who cares for, leads, feeds, protects, and lays down His life for His sheep. The Old Testament prophets spoke of God as the Shepherd of Israel. Jesus declared, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." He is the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd, who seeks the lost, rescues the helpless, and leads His flock to eternal pastures.

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of the Tabernacle, the portable dwelling place of God among Israel in the wilderness. The Tabernacle, with its outer court, holy place, and holy of holies, its furniture and sacrifices, is a divinely designed pattern of heavenly realities. Every part of the Tabernacle points to Jesus Christ and the salvation He accomplished. The writer of Hebrews explicitly states that the Tabernacle was a copy and shadow of the true sanctuary in heaven.

This article explains the biblical typology of the temple, the dwelling place of God among His people in Jerusalem. The tabernacle and later the temple were where God placed His name, where sacrifices were offered, and where the priests ministered. Jesus explicitly identified Himself as the fulfillment of the temple. He said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." John explains, "He was speaking of the temple of His body." The temple was a type of Christ, who is the true dwelling place of God among men. In Christ, God tabernacled among us. The temple also points to the church and to the body of each believer as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

This article explains the biblical typology of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and later in the temple. The veil was a thick curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet thread and fine woven linen, with cherubim woven into it. It barred all access to the presence of God except for the high priest, who entered only once per year on the Day of Atonement with blood. At the moment Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This supernatural event signified that access to God was now open to all through the broken body of Jesus Christ.

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of the vine, which throughout Scripture represents the Lord Jesus Christ as the true source of spiritual life and fruitfulness. Israel was called God's vineyard and vine, but it failed to produce good fruit. Jesus declared, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." Believers are the branches who must abide in Christ to bear fruit. Without Him, they can do nothing.

This article explains the biblical symbol and type of water, which throughout Scripture represents the Lord Jesus Christ as the source of spiritual cleansing, refreshment, and eternal life. Water is essential for physical survival; Christ is essential for spiritual life. From the rivers of Eden to the rock of Horeb, from the laver of the Tabernacle to the living water offered to the Samaritan woman, water points to Christ. Jesus declared, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

This article explains the biblical typology of the water from the rock, which God provided twice during Israel's wilderness journey. At Rephidim, the Lord commanded Moses to strike the rock, and water came out for the people to drink. At Kadesh, the Lord commanded Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck it twice in anger. Paul explicitly identifies the rock as a type of Christ: "They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." The rock struck once points to Christ crucified once for all. The rock struck twice inappropriately points to the danger of repeating or mishandling the sacrifice of Christ.