Though himself invisible, the Holy Spirit may appear in symbolic form and his activities may be described metaphorically.
The dove
Matthew 3:16 parallels Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22 See also John 1:32
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
The wind or breath
Acts 2:2 This phenomenon accompanied the filling with the Spirit. See also Ezekiel 37:9–14 The same Hebrew word is here translated “breath”, “wind” and “spirit”; John 3:8, John 20:22
Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
The fire
Acts 2:3–4 See also Isaiah 4:4; Matthew 3:11–12 parallel Luke 3:16–17; 1 Thessalonians 5:19
They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
The oil of anointing
Water
John 7:37–39 See also Isaiah 44:3; John 4:14; 1 Corinthians 12:13
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
A seal
Ephesians 1:13 See also Ephesians 4:30
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth — the gospel of your salvation — you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
A deposit
2 Corinthians 1:21–22; Ephesians 1:14
A guide or shepherd
Isaiah 63:14 See also Isaiah 34:16
Like cattle going down to the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. You led Your people this way to make for Yourself a glorious name.
A voice
Hebrews 3:7–11 See also Ezekiel 2:2; Matthew 10:19–20 parallel Mark 13:11; John 16:13
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’”
God's gift
Acts 2:38 See also Acts 1:4, Acts 8:20, Acts 10:45, Acts 11:17
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The power of God
Luke 1:35 See also Luke 5:17, Luke 6:19, Luke 24:49
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.