In biblical times, salt was a valuable commodity, used not only for seasoning and preserving food but also for religious and covenantal purposes. The concept of being "salted" carries significant theological and symbolic meanings throughout the Scriptures.

Covenantal Symbolism

Salt is prominently featured in the context of covenants. In the ancient Near East, salt was a symbol of enduring agreements. The "covenant of salt" is mentioned in the Bible as a perpetual covenant. In Numbers 18:19 , God declares to Aaron, "All the holy contributions that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and your sons and daughters as a permanent portion. It is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD for you and your offspring." This indicates the lasting and unbreakable nature of God's promises.

Sacrificial Use

Salt was also an essential element in the sacrificial system. Leviticus 2:13 instructs, "And you shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You must not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering. Add salt to all your offerings." The inclusion of salt in offerings symbolized purity, preservation, and the enduring nature of the covenant between God and His people.

Metaphorical Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus uses the metaphor of salt to teach about the influence and responsibility of His followers. In Matthew 5:13 , Jesus states, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be salted? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Here, salt represents the preserving and purifying influence Christians are to have in the world. The warning about losing its savor underscores the importance of maintaining one's faith and witness.

Judgment and Purification

Salt is also associated with judgment and purification. In Mark 9:49 , Jesus says, "For everyone will be salted with fire." This enigmatic statement suggests a process of purification and testing, where believers are refined through trials, much like salt purifies and preserves.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient world, salt was a precious resource, often used as a form of currency. Its preservative qualities made it indispensable for food storage, especially in a time without refrigeration. The biblical use of salt reflects its cultural significance and the deep spiritual truths it conveys.

Spiritual Lessons

The biblical references to salt encourage believers to live lives that reflect the purity, preservation, and covenantal faithfulness symbolized by salt. Christians are called to be a positive influence in the world, maintaining their distinctiveness and commitment to God's truth. The imagery of salt serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring nature of God's promises and the transformative impact of a faithful life.(imp. & p. p.) of Salt.233. halizo -- to salt
... Cognate: 233 -- to apply salt (make salty). See 217 (). Word Origin from hals
Definition to salt NASB Word Usage made salty (1), salted (1). salt. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/233.htm - 6k

3795. opsarion -- fish
... fish. Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of optos; a relish to other food
(as if cooked sauce), ie (specially), fish (presumably salted and dried as a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3795.htm - 6k

2548. chamits -- seasoned (with salt)
... 2547, 2548. chamits. 2549 . seasoned (with salt). Transliteration: chamits
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-meets') Short Definition: salted. ...
/hebrew/2548.htm - 6k

4420. melechah -- saltiness, barrenness
... From malach (in its denominative sense); properly, salted (ie Land ('erets being
understood)), ie A desert -- barren land(-ness), salt (land). ...
/hebrew/4420.htm - 6k

4414b. malach -- to salt, season
... Word Origin denominative verb from melach Definition to salt, season NASB Word Usage
rubbed with salt (1), salted (1), season (1). 4414a, 4414b. ...
/hebrew/4414b.htm - 5k

Salted with Fire
... SALTED WITH FIRE. 'Every one shall be salted with fire.'"Mark 9:49. Our ...
life. 'Every one shall be salted with fire' in that sense. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/salted with fire.htm

And in that Day this Thought Presented Itself to his Disciples...
... [1777] Every [24] one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall
be salted with salt. [1778] How good [25] is salt! but ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxv and in that.htm

False Ambition Versus Childlikeness.
... Some regard the worm as a symbol of the gnawings of remorse, and the fire as a symbol
of actual punishment.] 49 For every one shall be salted with fire. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxiii false ambition versus childlikeness.htm

A Look Ahead
... The saltiness has been lost out, and the man using it wakes up to find out how great
is the loss, loss of what he thought he had salted, and loss of time ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/1 a look ahead.htm

Lucius of Castra Galb?? Said: "Since the Lord Hath Said in his ...
... Galb?? [1627] said: "Since the Lord hath said in His gospel, Ye are the salt of the
earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, that which is salted from it ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 14 22 lucius.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... But if the salt hath lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? ... "If the
salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 24 upon our lords.htm

Chapter vi.
... "But [53] if the salt have lost [54] its savour, wherewith shall it be salted?"
ie, If ye, by means of whom the nations in a measure are to be preserved [from ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter vi.htm

Strong Son of God
... fire is not quenched. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every
sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but ...
/.../mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/chapter ix strong son of.htm

The Morning-Meal in the Pharisee's House - Meals and Feasts among ...
... Then, generally, the bread was dipped into salt, or something salted, etiquette
demanding that where there were two they should wait one for the other, but not ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii the morning-meal in.htm

Salt Without Savour
... 'Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall
it be salted? ... 'Wherewithal shall it be salted?' says the Master. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/salt without savour.htm

Salted (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Salted (6 Occurrences). Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt
of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? ...
/s/salted.htm - 8k

Salt (45 Occurrences)
... of RV "salted"). All meat-offerings were seasoned with salt (Leviticus 2:13). ... Newborn
babes were bathed and salted (Ezekiel 16:4), a custom still prevailing. ...
/s/salt.htm - 34k

Navel (4 Occurrences)
... by Ezekiel: "In the day thou wast born thy navel (ie umbilical cord) was not cut
neither wast thou washed in water to cleanse thee; thou wast not salted at all ...
/n/navel.htm - 9k

Saltiness (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Saltiness (3 Occurrences). Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt
of the land, but if the salt may lose savour, in what shall it be salted? ...
/s/saltiness.htm - 7k

Savor (51 Occurrences)
... The adjective "savory" occurs only in Genesis 27:4, 7, 9, 14, 17, 31 ("savory food")
and the Revised Version (British and American) Isaiah 30:24 (margin "salted...
/s/savor.htm - 28k

Nothing (769 Occurrences)
... Nothing (769 Occurrences). Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth, but
if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? ...
/n/nothing.htm - 40k

Nativity (9 Occurrences)
... 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither
wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all ...
/n/nativity.htm - 11k

Lost (85 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lost (85 Occurrences). Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt
of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? ...
/l/lost.htm - 32k

Lose (59 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lose (59 Occurrences). Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of
the land, but if the salt may lose savour, in what shall it be salted? ...
/l/lose.htm - 24k

Loses (17 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Loses (17 Occurrences). Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of
the land, but if the salt may lose savour, in what shall it be salted? ...
/l/loses.htm - 10k

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