Academy of Integrated Christian Studies

Tanhril, Aizawl Mizoram

Topic: Introduction: Symbols of the Holy Spirit

Introduction
Holy Spirit has its uniqueness in terms of its appearances in the Bible. The way how it
represents itself and appears in various forms as symbols had its significance in the Bible on
the basis of the context of the Bible during its own time. In this paper, we shall highlight the
symbols of Holy Spirit that will enable us to understand the significance of those symbols.

1. Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit according to the Scripture is a person same in essence with God the Father
and Jesus Christ the Son. He is also revealed in the Scripture as having the same essential
Deity with the Father and the Son and he has to be worshiped, loved and obeyed to, in the
same way the Father and the Son. The other way is to be regarded as the blasphemy of the
Holy Spirit.1 The Holy Spirit is a person because he possesses intelligence, shows feelings
and has a will. He exhibits the actions of a person, he guides the believers to speak in truth
(John 16:13), convicts’ people of their sins (John 16:8), perform miracles (Acts 8:39) and he
intercedes for the believers (Romans 8:26).2

2. Symbols of Holy Spirit

1
John F. Walvoord, The Person of the Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1954),
5.
2
Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology (Canada: Victors Books,1986), 343.

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2.1. Dove:
Both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, Dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit.
Dove in biblical symbolism primarily is the symbol for peace and it also signifies the
gentleness of the Spirit.3 The picture of the Holy Spirit as a dove is also seen in the flood
account in Genesis 8.4 There is a great similarity between the flood account and the baptism
of Jesus found in all four books of the Gospel. In the flood account Noah open the window of
the ark and sent forth a dove and during Jesus’s baptism, the heaven opened and a dove
descended from heaven.5 The dove that was sent out found no resting place so it returned to
the ark. So, in the Old Testament the Spirit has no resting place in the hearts of man because
of their sinfulness. The second time it was sent out comes back with an Olive leaf which
means a hope pointing towards the coming of Christ. At the baptism of Jesus, the Spirit
remained upon Jesus (John 1:32) finding his abiding place. 6 For the Jews, dove is more than a
symbol of peace and gentleness; it is also a sin offering which the poor substituted for the
lamb (Leviticus 5:7).7

2.2. Fire:
Fire is used in the scripture in many senses. Isaiah 4:4 describe the Spirit as the “the spirit of
burning.” The Hebrew word seraphim mean “the burning ones.” The seraphim are the one
that reflects the glory of God’s Spirit. 8 Another occasion was in the exodus journey where the
Israelites show the presence of God in the burning cloud over the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34–
38). In the wilderness journey the Israelites were also protected by the pillar of cloud and
there are other many occasion in the Old Testament that fire was used. Orton Wiley opines
that this symbolism of the fire points forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit in the day of
the Pentecost.9 On that day of Pentecost, a divided tongue of fire sat upon each of the
disciples (Acts 2:3). Right after this, the scripture said that they were filled with the Spirit
(Acts 2:4). This is considered to be the fulfilment of God’s promise. Holy Spirit purifies and

3
H. Orton Wiley, Christian Theology, Vol II (Kanas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1953), 332.
4
George Ferguson, Signs and Symbols in Christian Arts (London: Oxford University Press, 1961), 15.
5
C. Gordon Brownville, Symbols of the Holy Spirit (Illinois: Tyndale House Publisher, 1978), 16.
6
Wiley, Christian Theology, Vol II…, 332.
7
Stanley M. Horton, What The Bible Says About The Holy Spirit (Missouri: Gospel Publishing House,
2005), 90.
8
W.A. Criswell, The Holy Spirit in Today’s World (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1966),
84.
9
Wiley, Christian Theology, Vol II…, 333.

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strengthens the believer. Fire symbolised the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the
believers.

2.3. Wind:
Hebrew word for spirit ruach can mean wind, breath, or spirit. It is used to represent a wide
range of expressions in relation to nature, the life of animals and man, and God. 10 In John 3:8,
Jesus said, “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not
know where it comes from or where it goes...” The wind although invisible can be felt. So is
the Spirit which is not visible but can be felt. 11 From this passage we see the divine
immaterial invisible aspect of the Spirit yet able to accomplished the sovereign work of
God.12
In Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples who were in the room, they
heard a sound from heaven like a rushing violent wind and the room was filled with the Holy
Spirit. In this passage, we see that the wind symbolises the coming of the Holy Spirit.

2.4. Water:
The Holy Spirit is also symbolised by water. Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman in John
4:14 spoke about a well of water springing up to everlasting life. Jesus also talks about the
abundance of the Holy Spirit in John 7:38 as “rivers of living water” which is connected with
its sources. The well that John wrote on chapter 4 became the spring of living water in
chapter 7. This is seen as a prediction of the ministry of the Holy Spirit that begun on the day
of Pentecost and that continues till the present day.13 Wiley wrote:14
“Rain signifies the refreshing and reviving influences of the Spirit (Deut. 32:2; Psalms
72:6; Hosea 6:3; Zech. 10:1). The dew represents the mellowing and enriching influences of
the Spirit (Isa. 18:4; Hosea 14:5). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is peculiarly set forth by
Ezekiel under the symbol of the “sprinkling of clean water” and the impartation of the Spirit
(Ezek. 36:25–27)”
A classic of Pentecostal theology also taught that the water from the river mentioned
in Ezekiel 47:1-12, could symbolised the Holy Spirit. 15 The water signifies the abundance of
Spirit and the power and eternal life that springs from the Spirit of God. It also represents the
10
Stanley M. Horton, Holy Spirit (Springfield: Gospel Publishing House, 1973), 18.
11
Criswell. The Holy Spirit in Today World…, 83–84.
12
Walvoord. The Person of the Holy Spirit …, 24.
13
Walvoord. The Person of the Holy Spirit …, 23.
14
Wiley, Christian Theology, Vol II…, 332.
15
Horton, What The Bible Says About The Holy Spirit…, 71.

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cleansing ministry of the Holy Spirit. 16 Vincent G. Nyoyoko wrote, “The Holy Spirit, like the
wind, is sovereign, invisible, inscrutable, indispensable life giving and irresistible.” 17

2.5. Oil:
Oil is used for anointment during the Old Testament time. Priest, Prophets and Kings were
the only ones who were anointed during this time. In the New Testament, oil is used for many
different purposes. Some to mention are, in Revelation 6:6 it is used as food, James 5:14 and
Mark 6:13 uses as a medicine. In the parable of the ten bridesmaids in Matthew 25:3–8 it is
seen that five bridesmaids were not prepared, there lamp has no oil in it. 18 Considering the
importance and sigificance of oil in the lives of people from the Bible, the oil which the other
five virgins kept in their lamp could also depict or symbolize the Holy Spirit. It is taken as a
type of the Holy Spirit that is actively present in the heart of the believer.19

2.6. Seal:
In the New Testament there are three instances where the Holy Spirit is depicted as sealing
the redemption of the believers, 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30. In the Old
Testament, seal was used among men to show ownership, it is a symbol of a complete
transaction (Jeremiah 32:10). The same imagery is also brought forward into the New
Testament. God seal us as his own (2 Timothy 2:19; Revelation 7:3-8). The seal shows our
safety and security.20

2.7. Clothing:
Many occasions can be seen in the Bible where the scripture uses clothing as symbols to
reveal the spiritual truth (2 Cor. 5:3; Eph. 4:24; 6:11–17; Col 3:10,12; 1 Thess. 5:8 Rev. 19:8,
13–14). In Luke 24:49, in the instruction of Christ to his disciple, Jesus told them to wait for
the coming of the Spirit that they be “clothed with power from on high.” Walvoord stated
that, “The use of the figure of clothing for this indicates its outward character, its covering of
human wickedness, and it function as an official vestment identifying a person as a divine
representative.”21

16
Walvoord. The Person of the Holy Spirit …, 23.
17
Vincent G. Nyoyoko, “The Understanding of The Holy Spirit in the New Testament with particular
reference to the Acts of the Apostles,” Indian Journal of Theology, no. 37 (1995): 81.
18
Walvoord. The Person of the Holy Spirit …, 24.
19
Horton, What The Bible Says About The Holy Spirit…, 103.
20
Criswell. The Holy Spirit in Today World…, 86-87.
21
Walvoord. The Person of the Holy Spirit …, 19.

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Conclusion
From the above discussion it can be concluded that there are many instances in the Bible
where visible, rational object are use to explain and to bring out the meaning of the things
which are difficult for human mind to comprehend. Especially in regard to the Holy Spirit the
Bible uses many symbols or emblems. The dove is use to represent peace, fire represent the
work of the spirit in the believer’s life like purification, strengthening. Wind the regeneration
work of the Holy Spirit, the water signifies the abundance of Spirit and the power and eternal
life that springs from the Spirit of God. Oil represents the anointing work of the Holy Spirit.
The seal represents the finished transaction. Clothing represents the divine representative.

Bibliography
Brownville, C. Gordon. Symbols of the Holy Spirit. Illinois: Tyndale House Publisher, 1978.

Criswell, W.A. The Holy Spirit in Today’s World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing
House, 1966.

Ferguson, George. Signs and Symbols in Christian Arts. London: Oxford University Press,
1961.

Horton, Stanley M. Holy Spirit. Springfield: Gospel Publishing House, 1973.

Horton, Stanley M. What The Bible Says About The Holy Spirit. Missouri: Gospel Publishing
House, 2005.

Nyoyoko, Vincent G. “The Understanding of The Holy Spirit in the New Testament with
particular reference to the Acts of the Apostles.” Indian Journal of Theology, no. 37
(1995): 76-87.

Ryrie, Charles C. Basic Theology. Canada: Victors Books, 1986.

Walvoord, John F. The Person of the Holy Spirit. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing
House, 1954.

Wiley, H. Orton. Christian Theology, Vol II. Kanas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1953.