Signs are crucial elements throughout the Bible, surfacing frequently as indicators of God’s power, an assurance of his promises, warnings against evil, or a manifestation of miraculous interventions in the lives of people. Traversing the breadth of the Old and New Testament, we discover a consistent pattern of signs being used as a tool of communication between the divine and the human realm.
Why Signs Hold Importance in the Bible
The importance of signs in the bible cannot be downplayed. They serve to announce significant events, underline God’s divine authority or act as prophetic warnings. Manifesting in various forms – whether as pillars of cloud and fire, the parting of the Red Sea or the feeding of five thousand – these signs underline the supernatural presence of God. They exist not just to amaze but to instruct, to reassure, and to guide those who witness them or hear of them.
What Forms Do Biblical Signs Take
Biblical signs transcend the constraints of natural law to display their divine origin. They may appear in the physical world as extraordinary natural events, like when God guided the Israelites out of Egypt using a pillar of fire and cloud. Similarly, the turning water into wine, walking on water or the resurrection of Lazaric by Jesus showcases the suspension of natural laws to unveil a divine hand at work.
When Are Signs Manifested in the Bible
The Bible reveals that signs often surface at crucial points in human history. They announce major shifts in divine-human relations, as when God vowed never to destroy the world by a flood again, offering the rainbow as a sign of His covenant. They also occur as a response to human doubt or fear, to imbue confidence or offer affirmation. In the New Testament, the birth of Christ, followed by various miracles performed by Him, serves as signs of the new era of salvation.
How Do People Respond to Signs in the Bible
Responses to signs in the Bible illustrate the human struggle between faith and doubt. These miraculous events often instigate awe, fear, and obedience among believers. However, they can also incite skepticism or mockery among unbelievers. The parting of the Red Sea led the Israelites to believe in God and his servant Moses. Yet, the Pharisees, who saw many of Jesus’s miracles firsthand, failed to recognize their significance and even accused Jesus of falsely portraying signs.
Who Interprets the Signs in the Bible
Interpretation of signs in the Bible is often made by prophets or chosen individuals. The prophet Daniel, for instance, was renowned for interpreting dreams, which were seen as signs from God. In the New Testament, Jesus served as the ultimate interpreter of signs. Often, it is through the understanding and articulation of these chosen few that the broader community grasps the significance of the signs presented before them.
What Are Implications of Disregarding Signs in the Bible
The Bible paints a clear picture of the dire consequences of ignoring or dismissing signs from God. These repercussions may range from personal suffering to wide-spread devastation. The Egyptian Pharaoh’s refusal to acknowledge the signs from Moses led to ten severe plagues that devastated Egypt. In the New Testament, Jesus warns that a wicked and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah, hinting at the severe consequences of disregarding God-given signs.
Below is our full list of bible verses on signs (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Signs
John 4:48
“48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”
Related Themes: Miracles
Matthew 16:4
“4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”
Luke 21:25-27
“25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
Related Themes: Armageddon
Genesis 1:14
“14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:”
Related Themes: Earth Seasons Earth Omnipotence
Mark 13:4
“4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?”
Matthew 16:3
“3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”
Related Themes: Discernment Hypocrisy Weather Earth
John 2:11
“11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”
Related Themes: Glorification Miracles
Matthew 24:3
“3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
Related Themes: Armageddon Earth
1 Corinthians 14:22
“22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”
Matthew 12:38
“38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Related Themes: Manipulation Gossip Boasting Narcissism Pride
Matthew 24:24
“24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
Related Themes: Discernment Earth Deception
1 Kings 13:3-5
“3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.”
Matthew 24:12
“12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
Related Themes: Lust Protests Apostasy Love Indifference
Matthew 24:11
“11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
Related Themes: Discernment Assurance Apostasy
Judges 6:17
“17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.”
Related Themes: Favor
2 Thessalonians 2:9
“9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,”
Matthew 24:30
“30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Related Themes: Earth
Matthew 24:14
“14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Related Themes: Technology Armageddon Preaching Revival
Acts 2:22
“22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”
Related Themes: Omnipresence Omnipotence
Acts 2:19
“19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:”
Related Themes: Purity
Exodus 4:1-9
“1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.”
Related Themes: Excuses
Acts 14:3
“3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
Mark 16:17-19
“17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
Related Themes: Miracles Deliverance Sickness Healing
Mark 8:12
“12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.”
Matthew 24:7
“7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”
Related Themes: Famine Pestilence
Matthew 24:29
“29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:”
Related Themes: Earth Armageddon
Matthew 24:33
“33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
Mark 13:22
“22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”
Matthew 24:4-5
“4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
Related Themes: Manipulation Discernment Peer Pressure
