The Beautiful Symbolism of Snow in Scripture
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Depending on where you live, there can be a lot of varied opinions about snow. To some, this is a brilliant scene like something out of a movie. Snow blankets the streets and homes turn into a beautiful winter delight. Sledding, snowmen, and school cancellations bring excitement to children.
However, there are those who see snow from October through April and dread the harsh freezing temperature, power outages, snow shoveling, and the daily defrosting of cars on the way to work.
Living in the south, I tend towards the first group, so this time of year always gets me hopeful to see the majestic wonder of what only God our Creator could do to make water cause wonder.
But what does the Bible say about snow?
Leprosy Comparison: The Healing Power of God
“In addition the Lord said to him, ‘Put your hand inside your cloak.’ So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, resembling snow” (Exodus 4:6, emphasis added).
Leprosy was known as the “white disease.” Moses was provided with many miraculous signs to reveal God’s power. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary shares, “These miracles especially referred to the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. It belonged to Him only, to cast the power of the devil out of the soul, and to heal the soul of the leprosy of sin; and so it was for Him first to cast the devil out of the body, and to heal the leprosy of the body.”
Moses used the example of snow because his hand looked so diseased, yet it was not too difficult for our God to heal him.
Snow is also used in comparison to leprosy in Numbers 12:10, regarding Miriam, and 2 Kings 5:27, regarding Naaman.
Snow in the Summer? An Inappropriate Honor
Proverbs 26:1 is an interesting verse that states, “Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool” (emphasis added).
Think about how ridiculous it would be to see snow in the summer. It would not make sense, it would not fit the clothing we wear or the nature around us. God gives us this comparison to teach us to give honor where it is appropriate. This helps us to think about how ridiculous it would be for it to snow in summer when it is hot and swimming pools are ready for fun. We need to take seriously to whom we show honor.
Jesus’ Clothing and Hair Will Be Like Snow at His Return
Jesus is returning one day. He is called the Ancient of Days and He will come back for His bride, the church. We read in the Old Testament prophecy from Daniel, as well as the beginning and end of the New Testament that Jesus will have hair and clothing that is white like snow. This gives us this visual image of our Hero who is coming. He has waited the appointed time, He is perfectly pure, and He is perfectly ready to get us.
“His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow” (Matthew 28:3).
“The hair of his head was white as wool — white as snow — and his eyes like a fiery flame” (Revelation 1:14).
“As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire” (Daniel 7:9).
The Purpose of Snow in Bringing Life
“For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat…” (Isaiah 55:10).
Snow is the precipitation of winter. It helps to provide water that is soaked into the ground and used towards the spring blooms. In God’s goodness, He provides for the needs of the land and people through snow. When we ponder the Lord as our Creator God, we think about how He has still taken care of us even though we have corrupted the world with sin. Nowhere in the creation story is snow mentioned. In fact, some people believe that there was no actual rain in the beginning, based on Genesis 1:6-7 and Genesis 2:5.
Blue Letter Bible shares, “Thus the text seems to teach that there was no rain before the Fall, because there was sufficient water from the streams to irrigate the land. However, this does not mean that there was no rain after the Fall. After sin entered the world things radically changed.”
This means that the harsh winters that came as a result of the fall, God actually used to prepare the land for the springtime. He takes the blizzards during a cold season and allows the snow to soak into the ground so that the roots of the dead trees produce some beautiful and delicious harvests in the future. This causes us to remember how He truly can work things out for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). He can take unexpected trials in our lives and use them towards His praise.
Snow refreshes: Psalm 25:13 and Jeremiah 18:14
God’s Sovereignty as Creator
The Lord is the only One who can cause snow to fall upon the earth. He is the Creator of all things. When we read about His might and power in Job, we see Him use the concept of snow to point to hell taking away sinners like the heat of the ground melts the snow. We see that He stores up the snow, and commands it to fall. In its beauty and magnificence, we ponder the greatness of our God through His creation. God also shows His protection and provision for a mother encountering snow in Proverbs 31:21.
“As dry ground and heat snatch away the melted snow, so Sheol steals those who have sinned” (Job 24:19).
“For he says to the snow, 'Fall to the earth,’ and the torrential rains, his mighty torrential rains…” (Job 37:6).
“Have you entered the place where the snow is stored? Or have you seen the storehouses of hail?” (Job 38:22).
“He spreads snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes” (Psalm 147:16).
“Lightning and hail, snow and cloud, stormy wind that executes his command” (Psalm 148:8).
Snow as a Symbol of Purity
My personal favorite Bible verses regarding snow are those discussing the gift of salvation. God uses the metaphor of “whiter than snow,” surrounding the concept of purity, which comes from Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. He cleanses us and heals us from our sin-stained lives. This is a miracle. What can get whiter than snow? Snow is as white as white can get.
“If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye…” (Job 9:30).
“Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).
“’Come, let’s settle this,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool’” (Isaiah 1:18).
Jesus purifies us from our sin to the utmost. He does not make us mostly clean, but He makes us fully clean. We are made holy because of His holiness. Although we offered filthy rags, He has made us whiter than snow.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Alex Raths
