SALT

Salt is used as a preservative, which means it is instrumental for making things

last longer. So when we say, “covenant of salt”, it simply means that the covenant
is perpetual and not to be broken, just as how salt preserves. Salt as a Symbol of
Friendship and Loyalty In Biblical days, friendship and loyalty are sealed
with salt. Why salt?

It is sometimes synonymous with the word “covenant”, and the scriptures

mentioned “covenant of salt” three times. 2 Chronicles 13:5 "Ought ye not to know
that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even
to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?"

Salt in the Bible

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The role of salt in the Bible is relevant to understanding Hebrew society during
the Old Testament and New Testament periods. Salt is a necessity of life and was a
mineral that was used since ancient times in many cultures as a seasoning,
a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, and as a unit of
exchange. The Bible contains numerous references to salt. In various contexts, it is
used metaphorically to
signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification.

Old Testament

An angel leads Lot out of Sodom and destroys the city; as in Genesis 19:25-26

The fate of Lot's wife, being turned to a pillar of salt, is found in Genesis 19:26.
This is the reason for the naming of the pillar on Mount Sodom, which is often
called "Lot's Wife".
Leviticus 2:13 and Ezekiel 43:24 illustrate the requirement of salt as part of
ancient Hebrew religious sacrifices. Leviticus 2:13 reads: "And every offering of
your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the
covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your
offerings you shall offer salt."[3]
Salt was cast on the burnt offering (Ezekiel 43:24) and was part of the incense
(Exodus 30:35). Part of the temple offering included salt (Ezra 6:9).
Salt was widely and variably used as a symbol and sacred sign in ancient
Israel Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5 illustrate salt as a covenant of
friendship. In cultures throughout the region, the eating of salt is a sign of
friendship. Salt land is a metaphorical name for a desolate no man's land, as
attested in Psalms 107:34, Job 39:6, and Jeremiah 17:6. The land of defeated cities
was salted to consecrate them to a god and curse their re-population, as illustrated
in Judges 9:45.
Newborn babies were rubbed with salt. A reference to this practice is
in Ezekiel 16:4: "As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord
was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed
with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths."

New Testament
The Salt and Light passages in the Sermon on the Mount make reference to
salt. Matthew's account differs slightly from that of Luke and Mark. Matthew
5:13 refers to his disciples as "the salt of the earth." This meaning is paralleled in
the following verse, Matthew 5:14, in the symbolism of the "light of the world."
Another view is that the Salt and Light passages refer to a duality of roles in the
disciples to be like a light from a city, viewable from all over the world, and to be
spread out as salt is:[4] to congregate and spread. Matthew, Mark, and Luke accord
in the discussion of salt "that has lost its taste." This is a reference to salt that is
contaminated with other minerals, causing a weakness in flavor or a bland
unpleasant taste.[citation needed] It may be a symbolic reference to the possibility of
abandoning or deviating from the gospel, especially due to the adulteration of its
teachings.[5] Another interpretation is that in a world filled with sin and deceit, it is
possible for one to become contaminated and thus unsuccessful at being an
effective disciple.[citation needed] Therefore, this verse serves as a warning for disciples
to be on their guard; to be in the world, but not of the world.[6]
Mark 9:49 speaks about the salting of the condemned, which is a rhetorical device
indicating the severity of the punishment. Mark 9:50 reads in part: "Have salt in
yourselves, and be at peace with one another." The salt in this verse refers to the
goodwill that "seasons" positive relationships between people. This is also a play
on the covenant of salt, indicating friendship and compassion. Colossians 4:6 uses
the metaphor of salt seasoning speech to indicate speaking with intelligence and
consideration.[7]
n the Bible, salt means at least three things. It makes food tasty, it preserves food
and it used to be a part of the sacrifice made to God. About the last meaning, it
says in Leviticus 2:13: “Put salt on every grain offering, because salt represents
the covenant between you and God. You must put salt on all your offerings.” So in
the Bible you read many times about the role of salt in relation to the covenant
between God and the people.

About the tastiness Job 6: 6 says: “Can that which is unsavory be eaten without
salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?”

Salt of the world

Later on, Jesus tells His disciples that they are the salt of the world (Matthew
5:13). If they are not making any difference in the world, they act like tasteless
salt. And you can conclude that the Christians have to go out into the world, out of
the salt-shaker, otherwise they can’t do their job. Interpreted in a practical way:
followers of Christ are there to preserve society from rotting away, to give it taste
and to point to God’s covenant.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its
saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown
out and trampled under people’s feet.”MATTHEW 5:13 (ESV)

How many times does the Bible mention the Covenant of salt?It is sometimes
synonymous with the word “covenant”, and the scriptures mentioned “covenant of salt”
three times. 2 Chronicles 13:5 "Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave
the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of
salt?"
 Salt in the Bible- 7 Important Salt Meanings and Biblical Symbolism
https://thebiblicalnutritionist.com/salt-in-the-bible
Web 28/10/2019 · Salt is used as a preservative, which means it is instrumental for making things
last longer. So when we say, “covenant of salt”, it simply means that the covenant is perpetual and
not to be broken, just as how salt preserves. Salt as a Symbol of Friendship and Loyalty
In Biblical days, friendship and loyalty are sealed with salt. Why salt?

The role of salt in the Bible is relevant to understanding Hebrew society during the Old
Testament and New Testament periods. Salt is a necessity of life and was a mineral
that was used since ancient times in many cultures as a seasoning, a preservative, a
disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, and as a unit of exchange. The Bible
contains numerous references to salt. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to
signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity,

1. The Top Bible Verses about Salt in Scripture - Bible Study …

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-salt
o Estimated Reading Time: 7 mins
o
 Matthew 5:13. 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it …
 Mark 9:50. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? …
 Mark 9:49. 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. Read Chapter All Versions.
 Colossians 4:6. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that …
See full list on biblestudytools.com