Symbolic Themes of the Human Body in the Bible

Head / Forehead

Symbol: Authority, identity, will, consecration, allegiance.

Exodus 28:36–38 (NKJV):
You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD… it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

Ezekiel 3:7–9 (NKJV):
Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads…

Revelation 7:3 (NKJV):
‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’

Revelation 13:16 (NKJV):
He causes all… to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads.

Hair

Symbol: Strength, glory, consecration, wisdom.

Numbers 6:5 (NKJV):
All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head… he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

Judges 16:17 (NKJV):
‘If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.’

Proverbs 16:31 (NKJV):
The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.

1 Corinthians 11:15 (NKJV):
But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

Eyes

Symbol: Perception, understanding, desire, moral outlook.

Matthew 6:22–23 (NKJV):
The lamp of the body is the eye… if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

Genesis 3:6 (NKJV):
So when the woman saw that the tree was… pleasant to the eyes… she took of its fruit and ate.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV):
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth…

John 9:39–41 (NKJV):
Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see…’

Ears

Symbol: Hearing, obedience, receptivity.

Romans 10:17 (NKJV):
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Ezekiel 12:2 (NKJV):
They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear…

Jeremiah 6:10 (NKJV):
Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot give heed…

Matthew 11:15 (NKJV):
He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Exodus 21:6 (NKJV):
His master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.

Nose / Breath

Symbol: Life, spirit, discernment, anger.

Genesis 2:7 (NKJV):
And the LORD God… breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Ezekiel 37:9–10 (NKJV):
‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’

Exodus 15:8 (NKJV):
And with the blast of Your nostrils the waters were gathered together…

Psalm 18:8 (NKJV):
Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth…

Mouth / Tongue / Lips

Symbol: Speech, truth, confession, deceit, worship.

Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV):
Death and life are in the power of the tongue…

Romans 10:9–10 (NKJV):
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus… with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

James 3:6 (NKJV):
The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity…

Isaiah 6:5–7 (NKJV):
‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips…’ Then… he touched my mouth with it…

Psalm 119:103 (NKJV):
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Neck

Symbol: Stubbornness, pride, submission.

Exodus 32:9 (NKJV):
And the LORD said… ‘I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!’

Jeremiah 7:26 (NKJV):
Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck…

Matthew 18:6 (NKJV):
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better… a millstone were hung around his neck…

Shoulders

Symbol: Burden-bearing, responsibility, authority.

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV):
And the government will be upon His shoulder…

Luke 15:5 (NKJV):
When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Arms

Symbol: Strength, power, help.

Deuteronomy 33:27 (NKJV):
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…

Isaiah 53:1 (NKJV):
Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

Hands

Symbol: Action, work, blessing, sin, covenant.

Psalm 90:17 (NKJV):
Establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.

1 Timothy 2:8 (NKJV):
I desire… that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands…

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NKJV):
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…

Revelation 13:16 (NKJV):
He causes all… to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads.

Fingers

Symbol: Skill, precision, divine writing.

Exodus 31:18 (NKJV):
He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony… tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Luke 11:20 (NKJV):
But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Heart

Symbol: Center of thought, will, emotions, moral character.

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV):
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV):
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?

Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV):
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you…

Matthew 5:8 (NKJV):
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Bowels / Inner Parts

Symbol: Compassion, emotion, deep feelings.

Philippians 1:8 (NKJV):
For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:12 (NKJV):
Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering…

Loins

Symbol: Strength, readiness, reproduction.

Ephesians 6:14 (NKJV):
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth…

1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV):
Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober…

Legs / Feet

Symbol: Walk, conduct, direction, stability.

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV):
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Isaiah 52:7 (NKJV):
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news…

Ephesians 6:15 (NKJV):
Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace…

Proverbs 4:26 (NKJV):
Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.

Blood

Symbol: Life, atonement, covenant.

Leviticus 17:11 (NKJV):
For the life of the flesh is in the blood… it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

Matthew 26:28 (NKJV):
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV):
Without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Bones

Symbol: Strength, structure, inner being, vitality.

Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV):
A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Ezekiel 37:4–5 (NKJV):
‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD… surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.’

Skin / Flesh

Symbol: Mortality, vulnerability, sin nature.

Job 19:26 (NKJV):
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.

John 1:14 (NKJV):
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…

Note:

  • The exact word for the body part may not be in NKJV but in the original language. Check other translations, even into other languages.
  • The scriptures are not full in some cases, please reference your Bible.
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)

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