The Bible is full of number references. As I have read through the Bible over the last several years I have discovered that there are no random numbers in the Bible. Now I know that God has much more to reveal within them for all of us.
Why is this important? Some try to use numbers to find magical powers or predict future events. For me, the true power in knowing the significance of the numbers is understanding the deeper meaning behind God’s words in the Bible.
Jesus told us the numbers were significant and that we should understand them.
“When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”” Mark 8:19-21
With Jesus’ challenge to understand, let’s look at the numbers individually to see what they mean.
A Summary of the Numbers and their Meaning
2 – surely will happen – “And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.” Genesis 41:32
3 – accomplishment – The number is used when things are being completed/overcoming darkness, like Jesus life and death. 30 years, 3 year ministry, Death and resurrection at age 33, 3 hours of darkness, 3 days in the grave. On the day of Pentecost 3,000 souls were saved. Jonah was 3 days in the whale.
4 – struggle – The number is used when dealing with our earthly challenges, 40 days of rain on the flood, 400 years of slavery, 40 years in the wilderness, 40 days of temptation for Jesus, Goliath taunting the Israelites for 40 days. Jacob said when he was 130 years (1+3=4) that his days had been “few and evil.” Additionally, God with you in the struggle. Neh 9:21 “Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness…”
5 – God’s work in action – This number is used to show God is working. David picked up 5 stones when he killed Goliath(1 Sam 17:40), Jesus fed the 5,000 with 5 loaves. The Holy Spirit arrived 50 days after Jesus crucifixion (penta = 5) Those saved increased to 5,000 after Peter spoke before the counsel(Acts 3:4). “These were the chief officers who were over Solomon’s work: 550 who had charge of the people who carried on the work.” 1 Kings 9:23
6 – Evil – This number is well recognized as evil. The mark of the beast is 666, Goliath was 6 cubits tall and had a spear that weighed 600 shekels. The idol Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego refused to bow down to was 60 cubits tall and 6 cubits broad(Daniel 3:1). The number 6 though is more nuanced than just evil, it also includes God cleansing evil. Ex. Noah 600 years old when the floods came. 6 water pots used for purification that Jesus turned into wine(John 2:6).
7 – Rest/Completion – This number is used to show something is in rest or restoration. God rested on the 7th day of creation. The Israelites were to rest on the 7th day of the week. Israelites left their fields barren on the 7th year. The Israelites were in exile in Babylon for 70 years so that the land of Israel could have its rest from the people(Jer 25:11 and Lev 26:34). On the 7th time of the 7th day of marching around Jericho the walls fell down. People were to forgive their neighbor 7 times and then 70 times 7 times when Jesus answered them.
8 – Newness – This number indicates that things are being made new. There were 8 people on the ark that re-populated the earth(1 Peter 3:20, Noah, 3 sons, wives). Jesus rose on the 8th day (first day of the new week:7+1) to establish a new covenant. Boys were circumcised on the 8th day.
12 – Fulfillment – This number is referred to when God is fulfilling his promises. There were 12 tribes of Israel. There were 12 disciples. In revelation the new city is dimensioned by 12. May be related to the number 3(1+2).
15 – 1+5 is 6. God’s cleansing of unrighteousness.(possible 3×5-God’s accomplishment through His work or 7+8 – newness through God’s perfection) “The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.”
Genesis 7:20, 24 Prophet buying his wife back out of prostitution. “So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.” Hosea 3:2
Notes:
0 – This is used for scale. 5 loaves feeding 5,000 shows the scale of the feeding miracle, the extra 0s likely are not more meaningful.
Combinations
The digits of the numbers add up to be significant.
-Jeremiah 25:3b this is the twenty-third(5- Jeremiah doing God’s work) year in which the word of the LORD has come to me; and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you have not listened.
– Sometimes the digits may be multiples of each other. 15 = 3*5. God accomplishing through His work.
5 and 2
The combination of 5 and 2 appears multiple times in the Bible. Most famously in the feeding of the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. It also appears in Gen 45:6 Joseph said famine for 2 years and 5 more coming. Jesus fed the hungry with 5 loaves and 2 fish. The Israelites coming to Egypt were 70 people and each family group significant. Nehemiah 6:15 “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.” The wall gave them rest from being attacked by their enemies.
FAQ
-What is significant about the chapters and verse numbers in the Bible?
A- Probably nothing. The numbers of the chapters and verses were added later. When people referred to the Old Testament in New Testament times, they referred to the first sentence of segments rather than chapters. For example, when Jesus was on the cross, he said “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” In this He was referencing back to Psalm 22 that foretold of His crucifixion.
In the next part, we will look at a few well known stories in the Bible and see how the numbers become significant.
