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Salt in the Bible

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There are over thirty-two references to '''salt''' <ref>'''Salt''' is the every day term for the chemical compound ''Sodium Chloride'' (''NaCl''); it occurs naturally in many parts of the world and is particularly prevalent in the area of the ''[[Dead Sea]]''. '''Halite''' is the mineral form of sodium chloride.</ref><ref>An interesting quality of salt is that when it is used it looses itself. Example, (1) when used in cooking the salt can not cannot be seen; it makes its contribution and is "gone". (2) In various chemical processes, salt "dissipates" after it has fulfilled its purpose.</ref> in English translations of the Bible. Probably the most familiar being the story of Lot's wife who turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back at the city of Sodom in [[Genesis ]] 19:26. The other and the story is where of [[Jesus Christ refers ]] refering to his followers as the "salt of the earth" in Matthew 5:13. In Scripture, salt is metaphorically used in different contexts to signify different meanings. <ref> ''See the OW article on:'' '''[[Hermeneutics]]''' to understand how to approach reading and understanding Scripture from an Orthodox perspective. </ref>
{{Inprogress|Ixthis888}}== [[Old Testament]] references==<!---All OT text will be referenced using the CCEL online version of The [[Septuagint]] LXX: Greek and English by Sir Lancelot C.L. Brenton <ref>[http://www.ccel.org/bible/brenton/ '''The Septuagint LXX''' by Lancelot and Brenton (CCEL)] (in Greek and English)</ref>, or the NKJ version of the Bible.--->
==Old Testament References==<!---All OT text will be referenced using From the CCEL online version Books of [[The Septuagint]] LXX: Greek and English by Sir Lancelot C.L. Brenton <ref>[http://www.ccel.org/bible/brenton/ '''The Septuagint LXX''' by Lancelot and Brenton (CCEL)] (in Greek and English)</ref>, or the NKJ version of the Bible.---> ===From the PentateuchLaw ===*'''[[Genesis]]''' 14:3 "All these ''[Gr. agreed.]'' met with one consent at the salt valley; this is ''now'' the sea of salt." (Gr. θαλασσα των αλων <ref>Text without diacritical marks </ref>).*'''[[Genesis]]''' 19:26 "And his wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."*'''[[Book of Leviticus|Leviticus]]''' 2:13 ''Every offering of your meal offering you shall season with salt; neither shall yo allow the salt of the covenant of God to be lacking from your meal offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.''*'''[[Book of Numbers|Numbers]]''' 18:19 ''Search for reference in progress''*'''[[Book of Numbers|Numbers]]''' 34:3 ''Search for reference in progress''*'''[[Book of Numbers|Numbers]]''' 34:12 ''Search for reference in progress''*'''[[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]]''' 3:17 ''Reference to a salt-sea'' - in progress''*'''[[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]]''' 29:23 ''"And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and '''salt''', and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of '''Sodom, and Gomorrah''', Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath ..."''
===From the Historical Books===
*'''[[Book of Joshua |Joshua]] (Jesus Navi)''' 3:16, 12:3, 15:2, 15:5, 15:62, 18:19 {''OW Note: References to be checked against Septuagint''}*'''[[Book of Judges|Judges]]''' 9:45 ''"And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt."''
*II Kingdoms (II Samuel) 8:13
*IV Kingdoms (II Kings) 2:20, 2:21
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==Etymology of Salt=
Notes: The OT and NT were not originally written in English and salt is the english translation for the original words. What where were the original words in Greek/Hebrew? How does latin influence today's understanding of this word and does it influence the interpretation of scripture?
Old Latin words and idioms can have no bearing on how "salt" was used as a symbol in the Old and New Testaments, since the Bible was never written in Latin but in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
--->
==Characeteristics Characteristics of Salt==
Knowledge of the characteristics of salt is one way to assist in the allegorical interpretations of the Scripture passages.
* Salt is a needed mineral:Salt is an essential element in the diet of not only humans but of animals and even of many plants. It is one of the most effective and most widely used of all food preservatives and has even been used to preserve Egyptian mummies. It's industrial, medical and other uses are almost without number.
* Salt is a taste enhancer:
* Salt is used as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge in many cultures:In many cultures, it is traditional etiquette to offer bread and salt to visitors.* Salt was used as a currency in many cultures: Ezra 4:14: Salt has served as currency at various times and places in history and has been the cause of warfare between places. There are records outside of the Scriptures that place an importance on salt in commerce during the Medieval ages and earlier still in Nepal and the Sahara salt was used in trade. These records provide a glimpse into how salt would have been used even earlier still. During the 15th-century, in Russia, the monks [[monk]]s from the [[Solovetsky Monastery]] would make salt that became the base for the monastery's economic power. The salt that they produced was black and was created by using ground grain and seaweed that when dried on stoves would turn black.
* Salt was used in sacrifices: Leviticus 2:13
{{stub|''[The characteristics of salt and how they can be applied to Old and New Testament Scripture.]''}}
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* Salt is connected with miracles: Genesis 19:26, I Kings 2:21
What do the Church fathers have to say about the "salt" term in Scripture? List of articles discussing this:
*[http://jydiscovery.blogspot.com/2008/08/salt-of-earth-and-light-of-world-from.html/ A reading from the homilies of St John Chrysostom on Mt 5. 13-16], non Orthodox based blog.
 
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==Notes==
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