Biblical Numerology

Biblical numerology is symbolism portrayed through numbers in the Bible. While numerical symbolism is studied by most theologians, the extent of symbolism is debated. While many numbers in the Bible, especially in the book of Daniel and Revelation, contain symbolic meaning, the majority of the numbers only portray their literal, mathematic connotations, devoid of any symbolic significance. (In other words, numbers that don't fit the pre-conceived meanings are ignored.)

Numerical Meaning
One: Unity

There can be no doubt as to the significance of this primary number. In all languages it is the symbol of unity. As a cardinal number it denotes unity; as an ordinal it denotes primacy. Unity being indivisible, and not made up of other numbers, is therefore independent of all others, and is the source of all others.

Notable Uses
* Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
* Ephesians 4:5 "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."
* John 10:30 "I and the Father are One."
* Revelation 4:2 "Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne."
* Oneness of God

Two: Division
Three: Divine Perfection (Also Resurrection)
Notable Uses
* Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
* Matthew 12:40 "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
* Three major feasts appear in Jewish tradition (Exod. 23:14-19)
*# Feast of Unleavened Bread
*# Feast of Harvest
*# Feast of Ingathering
* Prayer was urged three times daily (Dan. 6:10; Ps. 55:17)
* The sanctuary was divided into three parts: vestibule, nave, and inner sanctuary (1 Kings 6:2-22)
* Three-year-old animals were prized for special sacrifices (1 Sam. 1:24; Gen. 15:9)
* When it applies to rebirth it can be seen in the story of Jonah (Jonah 1:17; Matt 12:40)
* The Jesus' resurrection took place after 3 days (Matt 26:61)
* The ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter is three, as stated in 1 Kings 7:23: "And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about."

Four: Earth
Notable Uses
* Four corners of the earth (Isa 11:12)
* Four seasons
* Four directions - North South East West
* Bible mentions four winds (Jer 49:36)

Six: Man (also Incompleteness)
Notable Uses
* Man was created on the sixth day (Gen 1:26)
** The number six is never used in a negative sense
* 6 is one number short of 7 which is perfection - Man falls short of God's perfection (Rom 3:23)

Seven: Perfection (Completeness)
Notable Uses
* Seven days in a week.
* Seven of the 10 commandments begin with the word "not."
* 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 parables in Matthew, and 7 promises to the churches.
* There are 7 "eternals" in Hebrews which are:
*# A priest for ever (1:6)
*# Eternal salvation (1:9)
*# Eternal judgment (6:2)
*# Eternal redemption (9:12)
*# Eternal spirit (9:14)
*# Eternal inheritance (9:15)
*# Everlasting covenant (13:20)
* Jesus said 7 things on the cross:
*# Luke 23:34 "Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots
*# Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise"
*# Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" -- which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
*# John 19:26 "When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son"
*# John 19:28 "Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."
*# John 19:30 "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit"
*# Luke 23:46 "Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last."

Eight: New Beginning
Notable Uses
* 8 people on Noah's Ark (2 Pet. 2:5)
* Circumcision on 8th day (Gen. 17:12)
* God made 8 covenants with Abraham
* The eighth day is the first day of a new week
* The eighth note begins a new octave in the musical scale

Nine: Fruit
Notable Uses
* 9 fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) - Galatians is the ninth book of the New Testament
* Human gestation takes nine months

Twelve: Governmental Perfection
Notable Uses
* The twelve tribes of Israel
* Twelve Apostles
* 12 foundations in the heavenly Jerusalem

Forty: Cleansing

* In the story of Noah it rains for forty days and forty nights
* Jesus fasts in the desert for forty days
* Israelites wandered for forty years

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