The South Rose Window
This is the "Old Testament Rose windows," lovely in design and color, containing the
symbols of twelve prophets in the outer quatrefoils. The coloring itself has been used
symbolically. The deeper and richer tones of the background become increasingly lighter as the
eyes are directed to the center, where the broken Tablet of Stone, symbolizing the laws of
Jehovah, is encircled by rays of light.
Starting at the top and reading clockwise we find the symbols of the four major prophets and
eight minor prophets. These ancient symbols relate to their writings, prophecies, or incidents
from their lives.
- Isaiah: The tongs and saw, symbolic of his vision, cleansing, and his
martyrdom.
- Nahum: A broken yoke, symbolizing that the yoke shall be broken off and the
bands burst.
- Habakkuk: Holy temple of the Lord - "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the
earth keep silence before him."
- Daniel: Two lions, symbolic of the Lord's deliverance of Daniel from the
lions
- Haggai: Temple under construction, symbolic of the word of the Lord, carries by
the angels.
- Zechariah: A winged scroll, symbolic of the word of the Lord, carried by the
angles.
- Jeremiah: A well, with a sweep, symbolic of spiritual refreshment.
- Amos: The shepherd's crook and club, symbolic of his occupation.
- Obadiah: The pitcher and bread, symbolic of his word in verses 7 and 16.
- Ezikiel: Turreted gateway, symbolic of the house of Israel.
- Jonah: The gourd vine, symbolic of the gourd vine prepared and taken away by the
Lord.
- Micah: Broken sword and lance, from his words, "they shall beat their sword into
plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against
nation.