Salt in the Bible ..................?

Question

Explain why salt is a necessity and what it means or stands for in the Bible.

Answer 1

The Bible takes note of salt as an essential part of man’s diet, as a seasoning for food. (Job 6:6) Under the Mosaic Law anything offered on the altar to Jehovah had to be salted, not because of flavor, but doubtless because salt represented freedom from corruption or decay. Large quantities of salt evidently were stored on the temple grounds for this purpose. Ezra saw to it that plenty was on hand for the sacrifices.


Because of its preservative qualities, the word “salt” came to have connotations of high esteem and honor both in ancient languages and in modern ones.

Salt also became a symbol of stability and permanence. Therefore, in the Bible a binding covenant was called “a covenant of salt,” the parties often eating a meal together, with salt, to seal it. (Numbers 18:19) Under Mosaic Law, salt was to be added to sacrifices offered on the altar, doubtless denoting freedom from corruption or decay.

Interesting Historical Facts

Throughout history, salt (sodium chloride) has been such a precious commodity that wars were even fought over it. One of the contributing causes of the French Revolution was the high tax on salt imposed by Louis XVI. Salt was also used as a valuable medium of exchange. Moorish merchants traded salt for gold, gram for gram, and some central African tribes used slabs of rock salt as money. The English word “salary” comes from the Latin salarium (from sal, salt), referring to the early Roman soldier’s wages, part of which was an allowance of salt. The Greeks paid for slaves with salt, giving rise to the expression “not worth his salt.”

During the Middle Ages, certain superstitions developed around salt. The spilling of salt was considered to be a portent of doom. For example, in Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the “Last Supper,” Judas Iscariot is depicted with an overturned saltcellar in front of him. On the other hand, up until the 18th century, sitting above or below the position of the salt at a banquet table indicated one’s social rank, the honored position being above the saltcellar, near the head of the table.



Modern-Day Use of Salt

Today salt continues to be a precious commodity, used for seasoning food, preserving meat, and manufacturing soap and glass, among other things.

a particularly interesting use is in the public health field. For example, in many countries of the world, salt is fortified with iodine to combat endemic iodine deficiency, characterized by goiter (an enlargement of the thyroid gland) and in severe cases by mental retardation. Also, some countries add fluoride to salt to prevent dental caries.

While salt is essential for good health—regulating blood volume and pressure—what about the controversial association between salt intake and high blood pressure? Doctors have routinely restricted salt and sodium intake in hypertensive patients. About one third to one half of people with high blood pressure are salt sensitive. In this case a lower salt intake has been shown to lower blood pressure.

Salt certainly adds to the enjoyment of food, as Job indicated when he asked: “Will tasteless things be eaten without salt?” (Job 6:6) We can truly be grateful to our Creator, “who furnishes us all things richly for our enjoyment,” including that precious commodity salt.

Answer 2

Salt was used as a preservative to keep food from turning rotten and it was also used to season bland tasting food.

In the same way salt is used as a symbol of the preserving power of the gospel message and the new life that it gives to rotten lives corrupted by sin. Hearing the good news really brightens up a person's life just like salt makes ordinary food taste a lot better.

Answer 3

Before the days of refrigeration, salt was the only way to preserve meats. Salt wasn't as easy to get as a trip to the grocery store, either. In Roman times, soldiers were paid in salt rations. That's where the word "salary" comes from.

Answer 4

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 (New International Version). The meaning is that your words should not be harsh or bitter, but yet seasoned with salt so that they are well received by those to whom they are directed. God Bless.

Answer 5

what verse are you refering to

Matt.5:13 You are the salt of the earth

With a little you can light up a big social area. Only a pinch of soul-salt will savour the lives of hundreds, or even thousands.http://www.nccg.org/FAQ182-Salt.html

Answer 6

You mean the "Pillar of Salt" ...thing? Or... Salt was probably as valuable or more valuable than gold, back then... Salt was used as a spice (little or no seasoning, back then) as a preservative (obviuosly, no refrigeration, yet) and as a medicinal (although rubbing it into wounds is not suggested!)

Answer 7

Some times its just a mineral in there. Sometimes its the properties of the mineral. When God says that we are the salt of the earth, he means that we add flavor, and spice things up.

Answer 8

When Jesus said we are the salt of the Earth he meant that we are what makes the world viable, our faith is what adds "flavour" just as food would be tasteless or fresh without salt thats the way the world would be without us in it spreading His word.

Answer 9

Salt provides flavor. It has a preservative effect, it is good for the body in minerals. It stands for stability and standard base mineral, which translates to character. As Jesus noted in the parable. If you lose your witness (become saltless) do to your lack of care for it, who will believe you later (it becomes good for nothing but to be road dust)?

Answer 10

Lot's wife turned to salt when she looked back at burning Sodom and Gamorah against God's warning.

Answer 11

Salt is still used in the same sense today, actually. It is used to flavour things and to preserve them (especially meats from the days of no freezers). I think you can apply it from there.