Biblical symbolism

This is a living document containing symbolism found in the Bible.

3 ½ days (42 months, 1260 days): An incomplete or interrupted cycle of seven days, showing incompleteness or interruption.
4: A number of spatial completion: 4 corners of the earth, 4 winds, 4 horns of the altar, 4 sides to the tabernacle, temple, camp and city.
7: A number of completion and perfection, especially temporal completion: the Sabbath.
12: A number of completion of people: 12 tribes of Israel, 12 disciples, 144,000=12×12×1,000 Jewish martyrs.
49: 7×7: a number of special completeness. Particularly associated with the Jubilee year, the Sabbath of Sabbaths.
Bread: Part of a progression of Milk → Bread→ Wine. Adolescent food, mid-way through maturity. Bread can be eaten by children and adolescents and needs agriculture and a (relatively) short milling, kneading and baking process. Priestly food.
Census: Marking a people out as holy, dividing them from common and unclean people. Also, marking them out for holy war in particular. See also Measurement of place.
Days vs months: Days in contrast to months symbolise sun (solar calendar) or light in contrast to moon (lunar calendar) or darkness.
Fire: Either refining and purifying, or consuming an acceptable offering, or destroying an enemy devoted to destruction. See also salt.
Hyacinth (sapphire/blue): A colour of priestly garments and tabernacle fabrics.
Measurement of place: Marking a place out as holy, dividing it from common and unclean places. See also Census.
Milk: Part of a progression of Milk → Bread → Wine. Immature food, early on. Milk is drunk by infants and just needs a cow to produce it.
Salt: Crystalline fire: either adds flavour to perfect an offering, and or destroys with infertility.
Trumpets: Calling to worship or to war; destruction of a rebellious city; accompanying offerings; making way for the Day of Atonement; making way for the presence of the Lord; the voice of the Lord.
Wine: Part of a progression of Milk → Bread → Wine. Mature food. Wine is drunk by adults and needs viticulture (vines take a while to grow) and a long fermentation period. Kingly food.