SYMBOLS OF CERTAIN OLD TESTAMENT CHARACTERS
Reading edition
THE PROPHETS
Amos. A shepherd’s crook.
Daniel. A lion. A ram with four horns. Sometimes naked with hands outstretched and a lion on each side.
Ezekiel. A turreted gateway, in his hand a plan of the New Jerusalem.
Isaiah. A saw. Clothed in a sack. St. Matthew on shoulder.
Jeremiah. A wand in his hand.
Joel. Lions around him.
Obadiah. Pitcher of water and loaves.
Zechariah. A temple building. A stone covered with eyes.
THE PATRIARCHS
Abraham. A knife and brazier of fire.
Adam. A spade.
David. Harp. Sling of stones. Head of Goliath.
Elijah. Scroll and red robes. Fiery chariot. Sword.
Elisha. Two-headed eagle on shoulder.
Gideon. Fleece of wool.
Joseph. Purse.
Melchizedek. Priest and king.
Moses. Tablets of the Law. A rod. Horns of light. Burning bush. A rock. Some modern writers claim that the horns given to Moses by artists and sculptors grew out of an error in the translation of the ancient Hebrew, the early translators describing Moses in his descent from Sinai as facies cornuta (“his face was horned”) instead of “his face shone.” Other writers, however, assert that among all peoples, horns have symbolised power; that the Israelites, fresh from the land of bondage, familiar with horns upon the heads of Egyptian gods, would readily believe that Moses had miraculously received the mark of divinity and kingly power. That he really descended with solid horns upon his head was devoutly believed down to the middle ages.
Noah. Ark. Dove with olive branch. An oar.
Samson. Gates of city. Jaw bone of an ass.
Seth. Three seeds of the tree of life. A thread bound thrice around thumb.