[Total appearances of "shadow": 71 verses.]
Light and darkness are very common themes in the Bible, so it's no surprise that the word "shadow" also makes a lot of appearances. Let's start with a verse that probably everyone has heard before (especially if you are a Coolio fan.)

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." - Psalms 23:4

Well, that just makes you feel protected, no? Don't get too comfortable though, the Bible giveth and the Bible taketh away.

"Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away." - Psalms 144:4

Well then. That's sobering.

[Total appearances of "needle": 3 verses.]
Ok, so "needle" isn't exactly a very common term in the Bible. In fact, although it appears in 3 verses, those 3 are all basically saying the same thing, just from different authors: Matthew, Mark and Luke. But it's a very famous verse that deserves a spot on this list.

"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." - Matthew 19:24

I prefer the Matthew version because it says "again". Obviously it wasn't the first time Jesus said this, even if the other time/s weren't recorded!

[Total appearances of "cloud": 94 verses.]
The wise among us would say that the Bible never says that God literally lives up in the clouds, despite many of our artistic renditions of this, but "cloud" is a very common term in the Bible nonetheless.

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." - Matthew 17:5

Hmm, it does seem that God sometimes hangs out in clouds to talk to people though.

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle." - Revelation 14:14

Ohhhhhh yeah, Revelation never disappoints with the visual imagery!

[Total appearances of "snake": 0 verses.]
Wait just a second, the word "snake" appears in 0 verses? But the… Adam and Eve… the apple… the temptation… and so on? Nonetheless, it is true that "snake" appears in 0 verses. However, "serpent" appears in 36 verses. Close enough?

"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:" - Genesis 3:4

Spoiler alert: It lied.

But Genesis isn't the only appearance of the serpent, you probably know this next one from that famous movie.

"And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent." - Exodus 7:10

Just check out these wicked special effects! Oh yeah!

[Total appearances of "pharaoh": 235 verses.]
Speaking of that Pharaoh guy, he's in the Bible quite a lot. Well, in Exodus quite a lot, anyway. Mostly known for God hardening his heart, then unhardening his heart, then hardening his heart again, then… well, you get the idea.

"And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so." - Exodus 14:4

Which uh. I think we all know where that story went.

"And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts." - Exodus 11:5

Ouch.

[Total appearances of "dust": 102 verses.]
If you grew up going to Catholic church like I did you probably heard over and over that you were made from dust.

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7

And I'll bet you can imagine what you turn back into when you die.

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." - Genesis 3:19

I don't believe this stuff anymore but it's still interesting to think about.

[Total appearances of "sword": 384 verses.]
The Bible isn't exactly known for being the most non-violent work, but then again, one of the key moments in the Bible is specifically about rejecting violence.

"Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." - Matthew 26:52

Jesus was basically like yo, if you live by the sword, you die by the sword. We also get this one.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12

The pen is mightier than the sword, or something.

People still liked their swords though.

[Total appearances of "sheep": 179 verses.]
I'm convinced that there were only like 3 different kinds of animals back in Biblical times, because all of the stories that have animals in them use the same few animals. Ah well.

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?" - Luke 15:4

But hey, can't argue with that one. Unlike my teammates when I play Fortnite with fills, Jesus doesn't leave anyone behind.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." - Matthew 7:15

But you better watch out for those fake sheep.

Jesus really liked his sheep metaphors.

[Total appearances of "star": 14 verses.]
The word "star" only appears in 14 Bible verses, but they're some pretty important ones!

"When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was." - Matthew 2:9

I'm sure a lot of us know the story of the 3 wise men following the star of Bethlehem. The birth of Jesus is a pretty big deal in Christianity. I think there is even some kind of holiday related to it. But you know what else involved a star?

"And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit." - Revelation 9:1

Yep. That there is the fall of Satan and the creation of HELL. Revelation hits hard again. Not for the last time…

[Total appearances of fire": 506 verses.]
Yes, I know Fire Man also took 1st in my last list but what can you do? "Fire" is mentioned in a whopping 506 verses of the Bible. It's on the list of the most commonly used words in the Bible. And it is connected to some bangers.

"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed." - Exodus 3:2

Fire was how God appeared to Moses to pass on the 10 commandments.

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" - Matthew 3:11

And apparently how Jesus would baptize us when he came, with fire. But let's not forget…

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." - Revelation 21:8

Oh. So that's how it is, Revelation. Welp.