Overview
The Bible addresses salt across 32 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Joshua, 2 Kings and Ezra. Closely related themes include Sea, the, Sodom, Water and Valleys. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Lot, Abimelech and Abishai.
Key Bible verses about salt
Old Testament
Genesis
Numbers
All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.
Joshua
That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephoth–maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth–jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth–pisgah:
And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:
And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En–gedi; six cities with their villages.
2 Kings
And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.
Ezra
Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
Ezekiel
And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
And thou shalt offer them before the Lord, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the Lord.
But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.
New Testament
Mark
People in the Bible and salt
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying salt for yourself
- Begin with Genesis 14:3, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Joshua, 2 Kings and Ezra each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Lot, Abimelech and Abishai and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Sea, the, Sodom, Water and Valleys.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about salt?
The Bible addresses salt across 32 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Joshua, 2 Kings and Ezra. Closely related themes include Sea, the, Sodom, Water and Valleys. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Lot, Abimelech and Abishai.
How many Bible verses are about salt?
The Bible references salt in 32 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention salt?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 14:3: “All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with salt?
Lot, Abimelech and Abishai.
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