Topical Bible: Bowl: Figurative

◄ Bowl: Figurative ►

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In biblical literature, the term "bowl" is often used figuratively to convey various spiritual and moral truths. The imagery of a bowl can symbolize abundance, judgment, and the outpouring of divine wrath or blessing. This entry explores the figurative use of "bowl" within the context of Scripture, drawing from the Berean Standard Bible for relevant passages.

1. Symbol of Abundance and Blessing: In some instances, a bowl represents abundance and the overflowing blessings of God. For example, in Psalm 23:5, the psalmist declares, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." Here, the overflowing cup can be likened to a bowl filled to the brim, symbolizing the abundant provision and favor of God.

2. Instrument of Judgment: The book of Revelation frequently uses bowls as symbols of God's judgment. In Revelation 16:1, the apostle John writes, "Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, 'Go, pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath.'" These bowls contain plagues and judgments that are poured out upon the earth, representing the fullness and completeness of divine retribution against sin and rebellion.

3. Metaphor for Human Life and Experience: The imagery of a bowl can also be used to describe the human condition and the experiences of life. In Ecclesiastes 12:6, the Preacher advises, "Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken at the well." The breaking of the golden bowl symbolizes the fragility and transience of life, urging individuals to remember their Creator before life's inevitable end.

4. Representation of Prayer and Worship: In a more positive light, bowls are associated with the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8 describes a scene in heaven: "And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Here, the bowls filled with incense symbolize the prayers of believers, rising before God as a pleasing aroma.

5. Illustration of Divine Provision and Sustenance: The account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17:14-16 provides a narrative where a bowl signifies God's miraculous provision. The widow's bowl of flour did not run out during a time of famine, illustrating God's ability to sustain and provide for His people in times of need.

In summary, the figurative use of "bowl" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from divine judgment and human mortality to the abundance of God's blessings and the efficacy of prayer. Each usage underscores a deeper spiritual truth, inviting believers to reflect on the nature of God's interaction with humanity.

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Ecclesiastes 12:6
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
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Library

Letter Xlv. To a Lapsed Monk.
... You have mixed for your country a bowl of ill repute. ... time in the Holy Land, there
seems no reason why "Jerusalem" may not be taken in a figurative sense for ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter xlv to a lapsed.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... Indeed, the whole, in a manner, was a typical and a figurative thing ... These chapiters
had belonging to them a bowl made pummil-fashion,[7] and it was placed upon ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm