Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5364 key

A tool for opening a locked door. Used mainly symbolically in Scripture to speak of Jesus Christ's victory over death and his authority over believers, or of the need of deliverance from the imprisonment brought to human nature by sin and the law.

Keys for opening doors

Judges 3:23-25; 1 Chronicles 9:27; Luke 3:20; Luke 11:7; John 20:19,26; Acts 5:23

The symbolic use of keys

As a symbol of Jesus Christ's complete authority

Revelation 3:7 See also Isaiah 22:22

As a symbol of Jesus Christ's ultimate victory over death and hell

Revelation 1:18

As a symbol of Satan's ultimate defeat

Revelation 20:1-3 See also Revelation 9:1

As a symbol of Jesus Christ's authoritative ministry through his church

Matthew 16:19 Usually understood as illustrating how God's forgiveness is made effective through preaching the gospel.

As a symbol of living faith

Isaiah 33:6 See also Matthew 13:52

Being locked up as a symbol of obstacles to faith

Galatians 3:23 See also Luke 11:52

See also

5215  authority
5299  door
5344  imprisonment
5375  law
8020  faith