Bible verses about salt
Salt today is a common, inexpensive household seasoning for food. But, historically, salt was scarce and expensive. Roman soldiers were paid with salt. This precious mineral was used to preserve and season foods, as a disinfectant, and in religious ceremonies. Newborn babies were covered with salt to reduce infection. The Greeks thought of salt as divine, and if you threw salt over your shoulder, you were making a covenant promise of friendship to someone.
Salt is referenced in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Back then, salt was harvested from the Dead Sea near huge salt caves called Mount Sodom. Besides the practical uses of salt, the Bible speaks of salt symbolically relating to a person’s character. Here are some significant meanings of salt you’ll read about in the Bible.
Christian quotes about salt
“People don’t enjoy salt. They enjoy what is salted. We are the salt of the earth. We do not exist for ourselves.” John Piper
“The church must seek to be biblical rather than relevant. We are not going to leave a mark upon our culture because we have studied its ways and adapted ourselves to it. We are relevant when we reject the world outright and are its polar opposite! This present darkness provides a great opportunity for the church to be the salt of the earth, but if we mix with the very impurities we are supposed to expose… we are as useless as our culture already believes us to be.” Paul Washer
What is the significance of salt in the Bible?
In the Bible, salt symbolically signifies a person or people group’s character qualities, such as
- Purity
- Value
- Faithfulness
- Permanence
- Loyalty
In Biblical times, the warm climate made it challenging to keep foods fresh. Dry salting or brining meats or fish prevented spoilage and kept them indefinitely. Symbolically, a person who processes saltiness is someone with pure, faithful behavior.
Mark 9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
Luke 14:34 “Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned?”
Job 6:6 (ESV) “Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?”
Covenant of salt
God’s “covenant of salt” (2 Chronicles 13:5) was given to David as king. In other words, like salt, the kingly covenant was promised to last forever and could not be broken. Jesus fulfilled this promise by becoming a priest and king.
1 Timothy 6:13-15 “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of Lords.”
Leviticus 2:13 (NIV) “Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.”
Numbers 18:19 (NASB) “All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a permanent allotment. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the Lord to you and your descendants with you.”
Matthew 5:13 “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.”
Ezekiel 16:4 (NLT) “On the day you were born, no one cared about you. Your umbilical cord was not cut, and you were never washed, rubbed with salt, and wrapped in cloth.”
2 Chronicles 13:5 “Don’t you know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?”
Salt in sacrificial offerings
The Israelites were told to add salt to their ceremonial offerings, committing themselves to God. In this way, God and his people used salt to emphasize their loyalty and relationship to one another. Today, many Jewish people on Shabbath dip bread into salt to acknowledge their covenant with God.
Leviticus 2:13 (KJV) “And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.”
What does it mean to be the salt of the Earth?
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes his followers as “salt of the earth.”
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13 NIV)
Salt is everywhere. It’s easy to overlook its significance and the necessity of it in our everyday lives. Today, salt is used to make many things, including.
- Soap
- Clothing
- Paper
- Cleaning products
- Pharmaceuticals
- Plastic
- Pottery
- Leather
- Table salt
Of course, the oceans contain salt, but did you know salt covers approximately 70% of the earth? To say salt is common is an understatement. So, what did Jesus mean when he called his disciples the salt of the earth?
Jesus often spoke of everyday things in his teachings. Even so, it’s not understood what Jesus meant when he called his disciples salt. But, there was a good chance he was saying that although they were common, ordinary people. They had value and significance in God’s kingdom.
It’s the same for us today. Most of us are ordinary people, but we have significance in God’s kingdom and a unique purpose in the world. Like salt, we affect the world around us. Some of the ways we are the salt of the world include
- Influencing the world around us -As followers of Christ, we can bless others’ lives. Doing good adds savoriness or flavor to our lives and the lives of those around us. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6 ESV)
- Preserve those around us -Christians have the wonderful opportunity to bring hope to others. As we share the good news of Christ, we help preserve lives for eternity.
- A thirst to those around us- You get thirsty when you eat salty foods. Our lives should make others curious and thirsty for what we have as we live to honor God and God’s kingdom. When we love Christ, we naturally draw others to him.
- Stay faithful to Christ-Salt that loses its saltiness is worthless, according to Christ. You have lost your saltiness if you lose your desire to follow Christ. Your faith is flat and lacks taste.
Matthew 5:13 (NKJV) “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
Colossians 4:6 (NIV) “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Mark 9:50 (NASB) “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.”
Romans 13:14 (ESV) “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Colossians 3:10 (NLT) “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”
Colossians 3:12 (ESV) “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Galatians 3:27 “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Galatians 5:16 “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:24 (NASB) “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Why is salt important to Jesus?
When Jesus spoke of salt in his teachings, he knew his hearers were familiar with this mineral. It was valued and important to the people’s lives. He also knew the human heart and how we are easily drawn to other things besides God. He knew our temptation to fear, live independently from God, or follow the world’s ways instead of God’s.
So, salt was important to illustrate what was needed in a person’s life. There is a good chance he was also aware that his hearers knew the Old Testament and God’s promise of a covenant of salt, an eternal promise. So, not only did his hearers need reminding about their need to be salty, but of God’s salt or commitment to them.
John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
1 John 2:6 “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
What does the Bible say about salt?
What does it mean to be salt and light?
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, giving light to everyone in the house. (Matthew 5:13-15 NIV)
Like salt, light was a precious commodity in the ancient world. These two still have a powerful impact today.
In Jesus’ teachings recorded in Matthew, he is making a distinction between his followers and the world. His followers are to be different, to influence the world around them for good. In the same way, as Christians, we can be light to those around us. Here are a few ways we display light in our world.
- Illuminate the darkness- As Christians, we live a life that honors God. Our choices should make the world around us a better place. For instance, choosing not to gossip at work should set us apart. People should feel safe with us, knowing we won’t talk about them behind their backs.
- Choose to follow God rather than the world- Light isn’t consumed by darkness, and neither should we be caught up in what the world says is important. The world values money, power, sex, and looking beautiful. If we make these things our gods, we lose sight of God.
- Influence the world around us- Being light means we seek ways to tell others about Christ and his promises. Our priorities are similar, but ultimately, our lives are dictated by Christ and the Bible. Our lives will make others curious about what motivates us, allowing us to share about Christ and his kingdom.
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:15 “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Luke 8:16 “No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.”
Luke 11:33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.”
Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Psalms 119:104-105 “Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
Praying for more saltiness
Psalm 40:8 “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 119:133 “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.”
Psalm 44:18 “Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from Your path.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Ephesians 6:18 “Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.”
Where do we see salt in the Old Testament?
- In their sacrifices, God called them to use salt-You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt. (Leviticus 2:13 ESV)
- Newborns were covered with salt to prevent infection- And as for your birth, on the day you were born, your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. (Ezekiel 16:4 ESV)
- God makes a salt covenant with his people- All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and your offspring with you. (Numbers 18:19 ESV)
- An example of someone who longs for the world- But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26 NIV)
In Genesis, we read about Lot and his family living in an evil city called Sodom. Lot knowingly chose to live here despite the city’s evil reputation. His choice almost led to his death and the death of his entire family, except that an angel intervened to save their lives. At the last moment, while dragged away from the city about to be destroyed, Lot’s wife looked back and suddenly turned to salt. The analogy here is that she was destroyed for turning back longingly to the world rather than looking forward to the salvation God had provided for them.
Of course, we’re all guilty of looking back at times. It may seem like unbelievers have an easier life than you do. But ultimately, no matter how tempting the world can be, following Christ will give us peace that surpasses understanding and eternal joy.
An old Christian song expresses the heartache and hope for believers tempted to look back as Lot’s wife did. Make this your prayer to him.
Don’t Look Back by Fireworks
I should be a pillar of salt
I’ve looked back so many times
I should be a pillar of salt
I’ve looked around
And turned from the light
Don’t let go of what you know
To be the light at the end of the road
Boy, don’t look back, it is ahead of you
When you put your hand to the plow
Don’t look back
And when you take that final vow
Don’t look back
And when you hear the angels sing
Alleluia
Don’t look back
I want to be a giver of love
He’s forgiven me so many times
I want to be a giver of love
He set me free
So I’ve turned to the Lord
Don’t let go of what you know
To bе the light at the end of thе road
Boy, don’t look back, it is ahead of you
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When you put your hand to the plow
Don’t look back
When you take that final vow
Don’t look back
Genesis 19:26 (KJV) “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
Luke 17:32-33 “Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.”
Ezekiel 43:24 “You are to offer them before the LORD, and the priests are to sprinkle salt on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the LORD.”
Examples of salt in the Bible
Salt and friendship
Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. (Mark 9:50 ESV)
When Jesus told his disciples to have salt in their lives to be at peace without one another, he was probably eluding to the Old Testament tradition of using salt to confirm a promise of friendship. He knew that relationships are messy and that it is easy to lose sight of being committed to a friend when disagreements occur. He wanted us not to give up on our friends but to be loyal and pure in how we relate.
Salty words
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6 NIV)
In his letter, Paul reminded the believers in the church of Colossae to relate to unbelievers with thoughtfulness. He reminded them to have words “seasoned with salt,” meaning pure words that made their hearers thirsty to know more about God.
Exodus 30:34-35 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal part of each. With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.”
Psalm 107:33-34 “He changes rivers into a wilderness And springs of water into a thirsty ground; A fruitful land into a salt waste, Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.”
2 Kings 2:20-22 “He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” 22 So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.”
Deuteronomy 29:23 “The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger.”
James 3:12 “Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.”
Zephaniah 2:9 “Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah— a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever. The remnant of my people will plunder them; the survivors of my nation will inherit their land.”
Judges 9:45 “Abimelech fought against the city that whole day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he tore down the city and sowed it with salt.”
Ezra 6:9 “Whatever is needed-young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem-must be given them daily without fail.”
2 Samuel 8:13 “And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.”
Conclusion
In calling his followers to be the salt of the earth, Jesus validated our worth and encouraged us to influence the world around us. He also referenced common Old Testament teachings about salt in sacrifices, cleansing, and making promises to others, wanting Christians to love him rather than the temporary things of this world.
Your life may not feel like the salt of the earth, but you can ask Jesus to help you draw closer to him. In those moments, it’s important to remember his work on the cross for you and that God still loves and works in and through you for your goodness and God’s glory.
