THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF NUMBERS
IN
SCRIPTURE
“Who has
measured the waters in the hollow of His hand;
and meted out heaven with a span;
and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales,
and the hills in a balance?”
Isaiah 40:12
“Teach us to
number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.”
Psalms 90:12
“As for God
His way is perfect.”
Psalms 18:31
All God’s
ways are perfect. His works are perfect and His words are perfect. Can
there also be perfection in His use of numbers? The Jews and Jewish
Christians of the Old and New Testament thought so and so did the Fathers of
the Catholic Church. St. Jerome, St. Augustine, and Pope St. Gregory I (the
Great) all wrote extensively of God’s design and the significance in
His plan of
salvation in the use of numbers.
In sacred
Scripture numbers usually have more significance than their quantitative
indicators. More often than not even when a number is used to indicate a
certain quantity the individual number given may point beyond the numerical
value to a symbolic significance. At other times the number given is not to
be taken literally and may represent an approximate value, a symbolic value,
or may indicate the use of hyperbole—an exaggeration or amplification to
illustrate a teaching point in the Biblical text. For example:
-
The six
day period of Creation
may not be literal but may represent a symbolic period of time that was
perfected on the seventh day when God rested—seven being one of the four
“perfect” numbers.
-
The
number of the 144,000 heavenly souls marked with the “seal of the living
God” in
Revelation chapter 7. Bible scholars both ancient and modern have
interpreted this number as reflecting the symbolic perfection of
redeemed man in terms of the “perfect” number 12 which signifies
perfection of government in Scripture multiplied by divine order (Ten
signifies divine order in scripture). 144,000 is the square of 12 times
the cube of 10.
-
In
Matthew 18:22 Simon Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive
a bother who has sinned against him. Peter asks “As many as seven
times?” Jesus’ response is “I say to you, not seven times but
seventy-seven times,” indicating not a literal 77 times but that
Peter’s forgiveness is to be given without limit—an abundance of
forgiveness using the “perfect” number 7 which represents both covenant
and spiritual perfection.
In addition
to the study of the symbolic significance of numbers in Scripture is the
study of the numbers formed by the letters of words themselves, which is
known by the Greek word gematria. This is the study of the words
formed of letters of the alphabet used as number figures. The Hebrews,
Greeks, Romans, and many other ancient peoples used their alphabets for
numbers. The Hebrews used all 22 letters of their alphabet plus 5
finals. The Greeks used the 24 letter alphabet and 3 additional
finals. The Romans only used 6 letters of their alphabet and their
combinations to form numbers: I= 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D =
500. The number 1,000 was formed by two D’s (combined to form an M
like figure). The Apostle John, writing during the time of the first great
Roman persecution of Christians, recorded in the Book of Revelations that
the number of the Beast was 666. Most ancient MSS (hand-written
manuscripts) of the book of Revelation record 666 as this significant number
while others manuscripts record the number as 616. Is it a coincidence that
all the Roman numeral added together total 666 (excluding the symbol for
1,000 which was not a separate letter/ number but two “D”= 500 place back to
back)? Is it also a coincidence that the gematria for Neron Caesar (an
alternate Hebrew spelling of the Emperor’s name in wide use in the 1st
century AD) totals 666 while the Greek spelling of Nero Caesar totals 616?
Six is the number of the beasts and of man (both created on the 6th
day). It is also the number which is symbolic of man’s nature to rebel
against the law of God.
Each number,
according to ancient tradition has significance, for example:
-
Three is the number of perfect completion for the Jews
and for Christians the number three symbolized the perfection of the
Godhead = Trinity.
-
Eight is
the number of salvation.
It is the
number of Christ, of the resurrection, and of the Second Coming. The
gematria of the name Jesus in Greek (the language of the Old Testament)
is 888: a trinity of eights, the fullness of salvation! As a matter of
fact, every name identifying the second person of the Trinity is a
multiple of 8 in Greek: Jesus Christ = 1480 (8 x 185); Lord = 800 (8 x
100); Savior = 1,408 (8 sq. x 32); Emmanuel = 25,600 (8 cubed x 50);
Messiah = 656 (8x 82); Son 880 (8 x110).
The study of
the significance of the use of numbers in Scripture requires a lifetime of
study and reflection, but lets start here:
ONE:
In sacred Scripture “one”, ehad, in Hebrew represents unity and is
the quintessential number of monotheism, the worship of one God.
-
This
concept of one as a unity of one God is expressed in the opening lines
of the first profession of faith found in Scripture, the Shema: “Hear
O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is One” [Deuteronomy
6:4].
-
One
as a cardinal number symbolizes Unity. The number One is indivisible and
not made up of any other number representing the unity of the One true
God in which there is no division
-
One
as an ordinal number denotes primacy, sovereignty, divine completeness
or perfection.
-
Christians recognized the number “one” in Scripture as symbolic of the
First Person of the Most Holy Trinity, God the Father.
TWO:
This number can mean difference, division, or double portion.
-
On the
second day God created light and darkness. [Genesis
1:3-4]
-
The Ten
Commandments were inscribed on two tablets of stone. [Exodus
31:18;
32:15;
34:1,
4,
29]
-
The
children of Israel were forbidden to collect manna on the Sabbath and
therefore were permitted to collect a double portion of manna on
Friday.[Exodus
16:5]
-
On the 6th
day of Creation God created two—male and female—of every species in
order that fertility might be a blessing to the earth. [Genesis
1:24-31]
-
In the
New Testament Christians also saw this number as a symbol of the second
person of the Trinity, the Incarnation of God the Son in the perfection
of His humanity and divinity.
THREE:
In sacred Scripture the number 3 represents that which is solid, real,
substantial, and something in its completeness. This number usually
indicates something of importance or significance in God’s plan of salvation
by identifying an important event in Salvation History. This number
operates as a “sign-post” in Scripture study for the reader to “pay
attention” to the significance of the next event.
In the Old
Testament:
-
It is the
first of the 4 perfect numbers which are 3 (divine perfection); 7
(spiritual perfection); 10 (ordinal perfection); and 12 (governmental
perfection).
-
The earth
was separated from the waters on the 3rd day [Genesis
1:9-13]
-
There
were three Patriarchs of the children of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob/Israel
-
There are
three verses in the Priestly Blessing in which the Tetragrammaton, YHWH,
God’s holy covenant name, appears 3 times [Numbers
6:24-26].
-
Three
times the angelic Seraphim cry “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Isaiah
6:3 and
Revelation 4:8).
-
After the
Great Flood mankind descended from the three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham,
and Japheth. [Genesis
10:1-32]
-
Three
“men” announced to Abraham that his barren wife would bear a son [Genesis
18:14].
-
Abraham
was commanded to sacrifice his son after a 3-day journey to Mt. Moriah [Genesis
22:1-4].
-
Baby
Moses was hidden by his mother for 3 months [Exodus
2:1] and the adult Moses requests of Pharaoh that he let Moses take
his people on a 3 day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifice to
their God [Exodus
3:18].
-
There
were 3 divisions of the desert Tabernacle and later the Temple in
Jerusalem: the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies [Exodus
27:9;
26:1-30,
35-37;
31-34;
38:9-20;
21-31;
40:1-33;
1 Kings 6: 1-37].
-
God is
mentioned three times in the Shema (the first profession of faith in
Deuteronomy 6:4) and three times in the blessing in
Numbers 23:24.
-
There are
3 attributes of God mentioned in
Exodus 33:18-19: hen, rachum, and hesed (gracious, compassionate
/merciful, and loving kindness).
-
Of the 7
Holy Feasts of the Sinai Covenant, 3 are Pilgrim feasts in which every
man 13 years or older must present himself before God at the Temple in
Jerusalem. This command is repeated three time in scripture.[Exodus
23:14-17;
34:18-23;
Deuteronomy 16:16]
-
Jonah
spent 3 days in the belly of the great fish [Jonah
1:17]; Jonah took a 3 day journey across the city of Nineveh [Jonah
3:3]
In the New
Testament:
-
Jesus’
ministry lasted 3 years.
-
Mary
stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months [Luke
1:56]
-
Jesus was
missing for 3 days when He was 12 years old [Luke
2:46]
-
Jesus
took Peter, James, and John up on the Mt. of Transfiguration [Matthew
17]
-
Jesus
arose from the dead on the third day.[Genesis
1:9-13]
-
Saul was
blinded for 3 days [Acts
9:9]
-
The
theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity [1
Corinthians 13:13]
-
The
heavenly Jerusalem has 3 gates on each of its four sides [Revelation
21:13]
-
Christians saw three as symbolic of the Trinity, the triune nature of
God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
-
Three is
also recognized as the number of the Holy Spirit.
In Addition:
-
3
divisions of time: past, present, and future
-
3 persons
in grammar
-
Thought,
word, and deed complete the sum of human capacity.
FOUR:
The number 4 represents God’s creative works, especially works associated
with the earth:
-
4
cardinal directions N, S, E, W. with 4 Angels at four corners of the
earth holding back the 4 winds of the world [Revelation
7:1]
-
The
Covenant People of God had 4 divisions of daylight (Dawn - 9AM; 9AM-12
Noon; 12 Noon - 3PM; 3PM - Sunset)
-
4 lunar
phases
-
4 seasons
-
4 rivers
flowed out of Eden [Genesis
2:10]
-
4
consonants formed God’s covenant name YHWH
-
4
cherubim [Genesis
3:22-24;
Ezekiel 1:10]
-
In
Ezekiel’s vision of the heavenly throne/chariot the cherubim each had 4
faces with four wheels[Ezekiel
1:10-12]
-
4 women
gave birth to the fathers of the 12 Tribes of Israel
-
The
prayer shawl has 4 corners with 4 tassels [Numbers
15:38-39]
-
4
heavenly creatures. [Revelation
4:6-8]
-
Israelite
camp divided into 4 parts when camping around the tabernacle. [Numbers
2:1-34]
-
4th
book of the Bible is Numbers, in Hebrew B’Midbar = gematria 248
or 4 x 62
-
The
ancients considered there to be 4 elements, earth, fire, air, & water
-
Bible has
4-fold division of mankind: lands, tongues, families & nations. [Revelation
13:7]
-
4 cups of
wine are used at the Passover Seder.
FIVE:
This is the number of divine grace.
-
Five
kinds of animals were sacrificed under the Old Covenant: goats, sheep,
cattle, pigeons, & doves [Genesis
15:9;
Exodus 29:38;
Leviticus 1:1-17;
3:1;
4:3,
14,
23,
28;
5:6-7]
-
God
changed Abram’s name to Abraham by adding the letter/number 5 to his
name [Genesis
17:5]. He changes Sarai’s name by adding the same letter with the
value of “grace” to form the name Sarah [Genesis
17:15]. Abraham and Sarah were transformed by grace to become the
parents of a family from which the Messiah would be born
-
The
Tabernacle was measured in multiples of 5 [Exodus
25 - 27]
-
5 books
of the Torah (first 5 books of the Old Testament)
-
Matthew’s
Gospel is composed of 5 “books” composed of 5 narratives and 5
discourses
-
Jesus
bled from 5 wounds on the altar of the Cross
-
Daniel
procalimed the Fifth Kingdom to be an Everlasting Kingdom [Daniel
2:37-44]
SIX:
Both man and the serpent were created on the sixth day, therefore, the
number six represents both man and rebellion.
-
666 is
the number of the Beast.
-
Man is
commanded to labor 6 days [Exodus
31:15]
-
The 6th
commandment is the sin of murder [Exodus
20:13]
-
The 6th
clause of the prayer of the “Our Father” petitions that we not be led
into sin and be delivered from evil. [Matthew
6:13]
-
The world
turned dark at the 6th hour Hebrew time (12 noon-1PM) when
Christ was on the cross. In Roman time the 6th hour is
6-7AM, when Jesus was being tried by the Roman governor Pilate [Gospel
of St. John 19:14].
-
Jesus
suffered on the cross for 6 hours (as he suffered that man might be
saved); from 9AM, (see
Mark 15:25) the hour of the first daily sacrifice in the Temple to
3PM, (see
Mark 15:33-34;
Mattew 27:45;
Luke 23:44) the hour of the last sacrifice, and gave up His life at
the beginning of the 7th hour (the number of perfection).
-
All six
of the letters which represent the number system of the Roman Empire
added together give the number 666: I = 1; V= 5; X= 10; L= 50; C = 100;
D= 500 [there is no letter/number M. 1000 was two Ds back to back which
resembled an M].
SEVEN:
Spiritual perfection and fullness or completion. It is the number of
Covenant and of the Holy Spirit.
-
7 is the
second perfect number.
-
In Hebrew
7 is shevah (shebah) from the root shava (shaba or sheba), to be full.
-
God
rested on the seventh day (Saturday) after creation [Genesis
2:2]
-
To swear
an oath in Hebrew is “to seven oneself”
-
There are
seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (CCC#1831;
Isaiah 11:1)
-
The
sacred Menorah has 7 branches, six on each side of a central shaft, and
7 cup shaped lamps for the olive oil
-
There
were 7 classes of furniture in the Tabernacle: Bronze Altar, Bronze
Laver, Golden Menorah, Golden Table of the Bread of the Presence, Golden
Altar of Incense, Ark of the Covenant, and the Seat of Atonement
-
The
Tabernacle was built in 6 days and dedicated on the 7th [Exodus
40:17]
-
It took
Solomon 7 years to build the Temple in Jerusalem. [1
Kings 6:37-38]
-
There are
7 holy annual feast days in the Sinai Covenant [Leviticus
23:1-44]
-
The Feast
of Passover is the 1st month of the liturgical year but the 7th
month of the civil year. [Exodus
12:1-2]
-
The Feast
of Tabernacles completes the cycle of Holy Days on the 7th
month of the liturgical year.[Leviticus
23:33-43]
-
There are
multiple sevens in the Book of Revelation including
·
seven Spirits
of God [
Revelation 4:5]
·
seven Seals [
Revelation 5:1]
·
seven Angels
with Seven Chalices [
Revelation 15:5-7]
-
mamals
and birds have a gestation of multiples of 7:
mouse:
21 days (3 x 7) |
cat 56
(8 x 7) |
Sheep
147 (21 x 7) |
hare &
rat, 28 ( 4x7) |
dog 63
(9 x 7) |
hen 21
(3 x 7) |
humans
280 days ( 40 x 7) |
lion 98
(14 x 7) |
Duck 42
(6 x 7) |
-
With
insects the ova are hatched in seven half-days (the wasp, bee, etc).
But with other insects it is seven whole days. The majority of insects
require from 14 (2x7) to 42 (6x7) days and the same applies to the larva
state.
-
Man’s
pulse beats on the seven-day principle. For six days out of seven it
beats faster in the morning than in the evening while on the seventh
day it beats slower. The seventh day is the day of rest!
-
7 days in
a week
-
7 colors
in the spectrum—the seven colored rainbow was the sign of the covenant
with Noah
-
There are
168 hours in a week = 7 x 24
EIGHT:
sh’moneh
in Hebrew, from the root shah’meyn “to make fat” or “to cover with
fat” which means to super-abound. The first of a new series: there are 7
days in a week; the 8th is the beginning of a new series of
days. It is the number of salvation, resurrection, and new
birth/regeneration.
-
Eigth is
the first cubic number (2 x 2 x 2). This is significant because the Holy
of Holies in both the Tabenacle and in the Temple were a perfect cube.[1
Kings 6:20]
-
8 is the
number of our salvation and the Second Coming. It is the day Christ
arose from the dead [Matthew
28:1-28;
Mark 16:1-8;
Luke 24:1-8;
John 20:1-10]
-
8 (okto
in Greek) days after the resurrection (literal Greek Translation) Jesus
appeared to his desciples this time with Thomas. [John
20:26]
-
The 8th
day which is Sunday, is the first day of the New Covenant.
-
8 people
were saved in the ark including Noah (Genesis
7:13)
-
On the 8th
day of an Israelite boy child’s birth he entered the old covenant by
circumcision [Genesis
17:10-12;
Exodus 22:29-30;
Leviticus 12:3]
-
God lit
the altar of the Tabernacle; this day was commemorated in the Feast of
Tabernacles (Sukkot) which was an eight day feast.[Leviticus
23:36-39]
-
The
feasts Passover (Nisan 14th) and Unleavened Bread 15th
-21st ) lasted 8 days and marked the beginning of the
Liturgical year [Leviticus
23:5-8while the Feast of Tabernacles lasted 8 days and marked the
end of the Liturgical year.
-
The
priesthood of Aaron and his sons was consecrated on the 8th
day [Leviticus
9:1]
-
David,
God’s anointed, is the 8th son of Jesse [1
Samuel 16:10-13]
-
There are
8 classes of furniture in the Temple [1
Kings6:15-8:9]
-
Solomon
finishes building the Temple in the 8th month of the 7th
year. [1
Kings 6:37-38;
8:1-2] The celebration and dedication lasted eight days [1
Kings 8:66]
-
The
dimensions of the Temple are based on the number 8 [1
Kings 7:10]
-
There are
8 miracles of the prophet Elijah [1
Kings 17 - 2 Kings 13]
-
Jesus
rose from the dead on the 8th day of His week of Redemptive
Passion (Sunday is both the first day of the week and the day that
follows the seventh day the old covenant sabbath; the eighth day) [Matthew
28:1;
Mark 16:1-2;
Luke 24:1-3
-
There are
8 petitions in the Lord’s Prayer [Matthew
6:9-13]
-
There are
8 Beatitudes (or 7 depending on how one counts them) [Matthew
5:1-12]
-
the
gematria of Jesus in Greek, Iesous, is 888 (I = 10, e= 8, s=200,
o=70, u=400, s=200)All the names for Jesus are multiples of 8
-
Scientists have identified 88 constellations
-
Scientists now believe there are only 8 planets (Pluto’s erratic orbit
suggests it was once a moon of Neptune)
-
In the
Book of Revelation:
SEVEN AND
EIGHT:
together
these numbers form a remarkable connection. As we have noted seven,
according to its etymology, means that which is spiritually complete, while
eight denotes that which is superabundant. God’s holy covenant name is
expressed in Hebrew by the four consonants YHWH which have a value of 10, 5,
6, and 5. Added together their total is 20 + 6 but multiplied by 3 (the
Triune God) their value is 70 (7x10) +8 or spiritual perfection times
perfection of order plus superabundant salvation.
Yahweh's
covenants are also 7 and 8: 7 in the Old Testament and the 8th in the New
Covenant in Christ
The classes
of furniture in the desert Tabernacle and in the Temple reflected the
numbers both 7 and 8.
Desert Tabernacle
Exodus 25:10-30:21;
37:1-40:33 |
Solomon’s Temple
1 Kings 6:1-13;
2 Chronicles 3:1-5:14 |
1.
Ark of the Covenant |
1.
Ark of the Covenant |
2.
Seat of Atonement (Mercy Seat) |
2.
Seat of Atonement (Mercy Seat) |
3.
Golden Alter of Incense |
3.
Golden Alter of Incense |
4.
Golden Menorah |
4.
Golden Menorah |
5.
Golden Table for the Bread of the Presence |
5.
Golden Table for the Bread of the Presence |
6.
Bronze Sacrificial Altar |
6.
Bronze Sacrificial Altar |
7.
Laver for the holy water |
7.
Laver for the holy water |
|
8.
Bronze Sea for ritual cleansing |
NINE:
This number is related to the number six, being the sum of its factors
(3x3=9, and 3+3=6). It is significant of the end of man and the sum of all
man’s works. Nine is therefore the number of finality or judgment.
-
It was in
the ninth year of the prophet Hosea that the king of Assyria destroyed
the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and carried the
people away into exile [2
Kings 17:6].
-
It was in
the ninth year of King Zedekiah’s reign that Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon conquered the Southern Kingdom of Judah, destroying the city of
Jerusalem and the Temple [2
Kings 25:1].
-
It was
the ninth hour, Jewish time (3PM) when Jesus gave up His life on the
cross for the sins of the world [Matthew
27:46].
TEN:
Perfection of divine order
ELEVEN:
disorder: 10 + 1 or 12 – 1; also disorganization, unfulfillment,
imperfection.
-
At
Kadesh-Barnea the Children of Israel traveled 11 days from Mt. Sinai.
In one more day they could have been in the Holy Land but their faith
failed them. [Deuteronomy
1:2]
-
The last
two Kings of Judah each reigned 11 years before the Babylonian conquest
of Judah.
·
Jehoiakim [2
Kings 23:36;
24:1;
2 Chronicles 36:5-6 ]
·
Zedekiah [2
Chronicles 36:11;
Jeremiah 52:1; ]
TWELVE:
Perfection of government. Twelve is the number of the Church, both the Old
Covenant Church of Israel founded by 12 physical fathers (the 12 sons of
Israel) and the New Covenant Church founded by 12 spiritual fathers (the 12
Apostles). This number also has a relationship to rule along with multiples
of 12.
-
12 signs
of the zodiac (these ancient symbols are found in Jewish synagogues of
the 1st century AD)
-
The
circle of the heavens = 360’ (12 x 30)
-
The
product of 3 (perfection of divinity) x 4 (the number of the earth)
-
12 tribes
of Israel
-
12
prophets of Old Testament
-
12 months
of a year
-
Jesus is
12 when He questions the scholars in the Temple [Luke
2:41]
-
12
legions of angles [Matthew
26:53]
-
12
Apostles [Matthew
10:2-4;
Mark 3:13-19;
Luke 6:13]
-
12
foundations of the Heavenly Jerusalem
Revelation 7:4;
21:16,
17
THIRTEEN:
An
ill omen representing hostility, rebellion, apostasy, defection, corruption.
-
13 is the
6th prime number.
-
Judas is
considered to be the thirteenth; Jesus is #1 plus the 12 holy Apostles;
Judas is always named last in the list of Apostles [Matthew
10:2-4;
Mark 3:16-19;
Luke 6:13-16].
-
Ishmael,
the illegitimate son of Abraham was 13 years old when he was
circumcised. [Genesis
17:23]
-
Leaven is
a sign for sin. The gematria for leaven, zumee in Hebrew is 13.
-
The
Virgin Mary often appears on the 13th day of the month. This
number obviously has no power over her. Remember it was prophesied that
her son would crush the head of the serpent in
Genesis 3:15.
FOURTEEN:
7
x 2 = double measure of spiritual perfection. 7 is the number of covenant
and divine perfection and 2 is the number of the Incarnation.
-
The
genealogy of Jesus in St. Matthew's Gospel is divided into three sets of
14 generations [Matthew
1:1-17]
-
The
gematria of David's name is 14
FIFTEEN:
3 x 5; 5 = grace and 3= divine perfection of the Godhead. This number
symbolizes acts wrought by the energy of divine grace.
-
15 is 7 +
8 = Covenant (7) and Resurrection (8); when Jesus manifest himself as
God and defeated death and Satan (Resurrection was on Sunday, the 8th
as well as the 1st day).
-
15 is a
special mark of the energy of divine grace issuing in glory.
-
The 15th
day of the 1st month = Feast of Unleavened Bread begins at
sundown after the Passover sacrifice (Sundown begins the next day for
the Hebrews). It is the day of the Last Supper [Leviticus
23:6].
-
The 15th
day of the 7th month is the final feast of the liturgical
year, the Feast of Tabernacles. [Leviticus
23:34]
SEVENTEEN:
Perfection of spiritual order
-
The 7th
prime number.
-
17 can
mean double spiritual perfection 2 x 7 + 3.
-
17 is
also the sum of two perfect numbers 7 + 10 = perfection of spiritual
order. For example see
Romans 8:35-39 = series of 7 blessings in the form of questions
followed by 10 answers. Also see
Hebrews 12:18-24 where Old Covenant and New are contrasted. 7
statements refer to Old Covenant and 10 to the New. In both these New
Testament passages the New (10) is superior to the Old (7).
-
The 17th
of Nisan of Passion Week was the Feast of Firstfruits and Jesus’
Resurrection when He defeated sin and death (which was Sunday the 8th
day)[Leviticus
23:11-14;
Matthew 28:1-6]
TWENTY:
This number is the double of 10, and may in some cases signify its
concentrated meaning. But its significance seems to be connected with the
fact that it is one short of 21. That is to say, if 21 is the three-fold 7,
and signifies divine (3) completion as regards spiritual perfection (7),
then twenty, being one short of 21, it would signify expectancy, and
there are numerous illustrations in Scripture to support this explanation
THIRTY:
Being 3 x 10 this number denotes in a higher degree the perfection of
divine order, as marking the right moment.
-
Jesus was
30 years of age at the commencement of His ministry (Luke
3:23).
-
Joseph
was thirty when he began to be Vizier of Egypt. [Genesis
41:6
-
David was
also 30 when he began his reign. [2
Samuel 5:4]
-
A priest
began his duties at age 30 (he was a “deacon” for 5 years from age
25-30), and he retired by age 50.
FOURTY:
This number is recognized as an important number, both on account of
the frequency of its occurrence and with the uniformity of its association
both as a time of consecration and as a period of trial.
-
40 day
epic periods during the great flood. [Genesis
7:4,
12,
17,8:6]
-
40 days
Moses was on the Mountain to receive the Law of the Sinai Covenant [Exodus
24:18]
-
40 days
the children of Israel were tested while Moses was on the mountain
-
40 days
Moses was on the Mountain after the golden calf. [Exodus
34:28]
-
40 days
of Jonah in the Assyrian city of Nineveh [Jonah
3:4]
-
40 days
Ezekiel lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah’s
transgression [Ezekiel
29:11]
-
40 days
Jesus fasted in the wilderness before his trial of temptation by Satan [Matthew
4:2;
Mark 1:13;
Luke 4:2]
-
40 days
Jesus taught His disciples after the Resurrection. On the fortieth day
He ascended to the Father. [Acts
1:3]
-
40 years
was the age of Isaac when he married Rebekah [Genesis
25:20]
-
40 years
from the first Pentecost at Sinai to the taking of the Promised land [Joshua
5:6]
-
40 years
from the Resurrection to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in
70AD
-
40 years
of Moses in Egypt (by Jewish Tradition)
-
40 years
of Moses in Midian before his return to Egypt
-
40 years
Israel ate manna [Exodus
16:35;
Deuteronomy 29:5]
-
40 years
was Joshua's age when Moses sent him to reconnoiter on Canaan [Joshua
14:7]
-
40 years
Eli judged Israel [1
Samuel 4:18]
-
40 years
of war between Israel and the Philistines
-
40 years
of David as King. [2
Samuel 5:5;
1 Chronicles 29:26-27]
-
40 years
of Solomon as King. [2
Chronicles 9:30]
FOURTY-TWO:
is
a number connected with the Beast in the book of Revelation. An important
part of his career is to last 42 months (Revelation
11:2;
12:5) or 3 ½ years. Another number associated with the Beast is 1,260,
which is 30 x 42. In Scripture the number 42, or the relationship between 42
(months) and 3 ½ (years/ days or days of years), seems to be associated with
God’s divine plan especially climaxing in a short but intense period of
tribulation/judgment as the numbers are used in Daniel and Revelation (see
Daniel 7:25 &
12:7; see
Revelation 11:2,
11;
12:14;
13:5). This number is also associated with the number 1,260: 31/2 years
= 42 months = 1,260 days, in
Revelation 11:3 &
12:6. In the Book of Revelation there is a chiastic pattern formed with
these numbers: A. 42 months =
Revelation 11:2; B. 1260 days =
Revelation 11:3; C. 3 ½ days =
Revelation 11:9; C. 3 ½ days =
Revelation 11:11; B. 1260 days =
Revelation 12:6; A. 42 months =
Revelation 13:5
FIFTY:
is
the number of jubilee or deliverance. It is the issue of 7x7 +1 or 7
squared + 1, and points to deliverance and rest following on as the result
of the perfect consummation of time.
-
On the 50th
day after leaving Egypt God met Israel at Sinai, = the first Pentecost
(this Greek word means “50th day”). [Exodus
19:1;
14-16]
-
50 is
grace = 5 multiplied by perfect order = 10.
-
In the 50th
year, known as a Jubilee year, all debts were to be forgiven, all Hebrew
slaves were to be freed, and all land returned to the original owner. [Leviticus]
-
On the 50th
day after the Resurrection the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in the
Upper Room, the second Pentecost. [Acts
1:3;
2:1]
SEVENTY:
is
another combination of two of the perfect numbers, 7 and 10 and signifies
perfect spiritual order carried out with all spiritual power and
significance.
-
There
were 70 nations before the Tower of Babel. [Genesis
10:1-32
-
70 men
built up the nation of Israel when Israel first entered Egypt. [Genesis
46:27]
-
70 elders
met God on Sinai and ate a sacred meal. [Exodus
24:9-10]
-
70 elders
of Israel comprised the Sanhedrin (court of law).
-
Jesus
chose 70 disciples [Luke
10:1]
ONE
HUNDRED AND TWENTY:
is made up of 3 forties (3x40 = 120). Applied to time therefore it
signifies a divinely appointed period of probation. Applied to persons it
points to a divinely appointed number during a period of waiting.
-
120
priests were present at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. [2
Chronicles 5:12]
-
According
to the oral law 120 people were required to form a congregation
-
120
disciples were present in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit descended.
[Acts
1:15]
-
120 is a
factor in the number of those who returned from Babylon, 42,360 (120 x
353). [Ezra
2:8-66]
-
120 is a
factor of the number 144,000 who will be sealed from the 12 Tribes of
Israel in the book of Revelation (120 x1200 = 144,000). [Revelation
7:4]
-
The Great
Synagogue was composed of 120 members [Nehemiah
10:1-10]
ONE
HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE:
An abundance
of ink has been spilled in an attempt to discern the significance of this
number. It is a number which has taxed the minds of some of the greatest
Biblical scholars. All have believed that there must be something deeply
significant and mysterious in this number from the solemn way in which it is
introduced in
John 21:11 “Simon Peter went and drew the net to land full of great
fishes, one hundred and fifty three.” St. Augustine has pointed out the
comparison and contrast between the two miraculous catches of fish, one at
the beginning and the other at the end of Christ’s ministry (after his
Resurrection). He and other scholars see in this number some connection
with the “saved” who are “caught up” in Peter’s net, meaning the Church.
St. Jerome also saw that there was some deeper meaning in the number, and
records that there were 153 sorts of fish in the Sea of Galilee which
symbolized all kinds of men enclosed in the Gospel net. Both St. Augustine
and Pope St. Gregory the Great noticed that 17 is the sum of the perfect
numbers 10 (perfect order) and 7 (spiritual perfection). St. Gregory
multiplied 17 by 3 and again by 3 to get 153. Augustine used addition and
took the sum of all the digits up to and including 17 as amounting to
exactly 153. They also noted that the expression “Sons of God”
occurs 7 times, and that the gematria of this expression in Hebrew is
exactly 153. In Greek the gematria of “Sons of God” is 3213 or 3 x 7
x 153. The gematria in Greek for the word fishes is 1224 or 8 x 153.
The gematria for “the net” adds up to 1224 or 8 x 153.
AN EXAMPLE
OF THE USE OF NUMBERS IN
ST.
MATTHEW’S GOSPEL
As a
Levitical priest, the Apostle Matthew was intimately aware of the symbolic
link between letters and numbers. He manipulated the genealogy of Jesus of
Nazareth to reflect the significance of the Hebrew gematria of King David’s
name which was the number 14 [D = 4, V= 6, D= 4; Hebrew was written only in
consonants] and the significance of number symbolism in his division of the
42 generations from Abraham to David to Jesus the Messiah. Matthew’s
manipulation of the genealogy is reflected in the fact that he dropped the
names of the 3 Judahite kings in Jesus’ line: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and
Zedekiah [see
2 Chronicles 36:1-13], doubled the use of the name of both King David in
verse 6 and King Jechoniah in verses 11 and 12 in the beginning of his 2 and
3 sets, and added the name of Tamar’s other son Zerah (not in the line of
descent) to make his list reflect the symbolism he desired in the total
number of names/ males, and to produce 3 sets of 14 generations for a total
of 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus of Nazareth.
-
The
Hebrew gematria for Abraham’s name is 808
-
The
Hebrew gematria for David’s name is 14 (double spiritual perfection)
-
The Greek
gematria for Jesus’ name (language of New Testament) is 888 (8=
salvation)
-
Abraham’s
name is mentioned 7 times the Gospel of Matthew (spiritual perfection)
and 3 times in Matthew’s chapter 1 toledoth. 3 is fullness and
completion and in NT trinity.
-
David’s
name is mentioned 5 times in Matthew’s toledoth. 5 is the number of
grace.
Matthew’s
manipulation of the list of Jesus’ ancestral line
Matthew
manipulates the names of Abraham’s descendants into 3 sets of 14 individual
male descendants or as he tells us in
Matthew 1:17 “The sum of generations is therefore: fourteen from
Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Babylonian deportation; and
fourteen from the Babylonian deportation to Christ.” He manipulates the
list to get 3 sets of 14 generations each to create 42 names
of the list of the descendants of Abraham to bring attention to the link
between the names and the covenant promise to Abraham and David by Yahweh.
David’s name is # 14 in the list and the gematria of his name is the
number 14. The number 42 also has significance. 42 divided by 12,
the number of Israel, yields 3 ½. This is a prophetic number in both Daniel
chapter 12 and in Revelation. See
Daniel 12:1-13 (focus on
verse 7 which adds up to 3 ½ ). 3 ½ is half of 7. It is an imperfect
number. Note: both St. Jerome and Pope St Gregory the Great wrote
extensively about and gematria its significance in Scripture. Sir Isaac
Newton wrote more about gematria and numbers in Scripture than he did about
the theory of gravity.
List of
generations in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter One’s "genealogy of Jesus of
Nazareth":
Set #1
1. Abraham |
fathered |
Isaac |
|
2.
Isaac |
fathered |
Jacob |
|
3.
Jacob |
fathered |
Judah |
|
4.
Judah |
fathered |
Perez |
|
|
|
|
additional names of Zerah and Tamar (woman #1) |
5.
Perez |
fathered |
Hezron |
|
6.
Hezron |
fathered |
Ram
|
|
7.
Ram |
fathered |
Amminadab |
|
8.
Amminadab |
fathered |
Nahshon
|
|
9.
Nahshon |
fathered |
Salmon |
|
10.
Salmon |
fathered |
Boaz |
|
|
|
|
Rahab
(woman #2) |
11.
Boaz |
fathered |
Obed |
|
|
|
|
Ruth
(woman #3) |
12.
Obed |
fathered |
Jesse |
|
13.
Jesse |
fathered |
|
|
14.
David |
|
|
|
There are 14
generations
There are 27 total male names (repeats and counting Zerah’s name)
There are 3 names of gentile women
Total names: 30 names (note: it was necessary to add Zerah’s name to make
30 names)
Set #2
David |
fathered |
Solomon |
Uriah’s
wife
(note: David’s name is repeated) |
1.
Solomon |
fathered |
Rehoboam |
|
2.
Rehoboam |
fathered |
Abijah |
|
3.
Abijah |
fathered |
Asa
|
|
4.
Asa |
fathered |
Jehoshaphat |
|
5.
Jehoshaphat |
fathered |
Joram |
|
6.
Joram |
fathered |
Uzziah |
(3
missing kings) |
7.
Uzziah |
fathered |
Jotham |
|
8.
Jotham |
fathered |
Ahaz |
|
9.
Ahaz |
fathered |
Hezekiah |
|
10.
Hezekiah |
fathered |
Manasseh |
|
11.
Manasseh |
fathered |
Amon
|
|
12.
Amon |
fathered |
Josiah |
|
13.
Josiah |
fathered |
[see #14] |
|
14.Jechoniah |
|
|
[deportation of Judah to Babylon] |
There are 14 generations (no repeats)
There are 29 names of males total if you include Uriah
There is 1 female mentioned but not counted because unnamed
(the wife of Uriah- 4th gentile woman. 4 is the number of the earth)
Set #3
(after the deportation to Babylon; notice no restoration is
mentioned)
1.Jechoniah |
fathered |
Shealtiel |
|
2.Shealtiel |
fathered |
Zerubbabel |
|
3.
Zerubbabel |
fathered |
Abiud |
|
4.
Abiud |
fathered |
Eliakim |
|
5.
Eliakim |
fathered |
Azor |
|
6. Azor |
fathered |
Zadok |
|
7.
Zadok |
fathered |
Achim |
|
8.
Achim |
fathered |
Eliud |
|
9.
Eliud |
fathered |
Eleazar |
|
10.
Eleazar |
fathered |
Matthan |
|
11.
Matthan |
fathered |
Jacob |
|
12.
Jacob |
fathered |
Joseph |
|
13.
Joseph |
husband of |
Mary |
(the 5th
women) mother of |
14.
Jesus the Christ |
|
|
(bringing true restoration to Israel) |
Matthew
manipulates the list by counting Jechoniah twice in order to get 14
generations in the final set. Jesus’ name is the 14th generation
but if you count all the names without repeats Mary’s name is the 14th
name with Jesus name coming after 6 sets of 7 as the 7th 7.
There are 27 names total in this set.
The total of
all the names given in each set is 86. 8 is the number of salvation, 80 the
number of salvation times divine order (10), and 6 is the number of man.
Matthew’s message is that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David and the
King of Kings who has come to bring salvation to Israel and to mankind.
AN EXAMPLE
OF THE SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE OF NUMBERS IN ST. MARK’S GOSPEL
In St. Mark’s
Gospel Jesus is the authoritative Son of God and God’s triumphant envoy come
to suffer and die in order to claim victory over sin and death. Mark
continually focuses on the immediacy of the proclamation of Jesus’ message
of salvation and his accounts of Jesus’ teachings are often presented in a
central theme sandwiched between two related or concurrent events. An
example of Mark’s skillful telling of the events of Jesus’ teaching coupled
with word repetition and the symbolism of numbers is found in the account of
the healing of Jarius’ daughter and the woman with an issue of blood in
Mark 5:21-43. The account begins with the petition of Jarius, the
president of the local synagogue. Jarius’ 12 year old daughter [Mark
5:42] is at the point of death and he pleads with Jesus to come to his
house to heal his daughter [Mark
5:23;
35] before it is too late. As Jarius leads the way, Jesus follows with
a large crowd pressing upon Him. Suddenly Jesus feels a surge of His
healing power pass from Him. He stops, turns to the crowd and demands
Who has touched my clothes? A woman in the crowd has suffered from an
issue of blood which has rendered her ritually unclean for 12 years.
She confesses that she has touched Jesus’ garment—probably touching
one of the tassels of his prayer shawl, one of the tzitziyoth of His
talit [Numbers
15:37-39]—believing if only she could touch Him she would be healed.
Jesus replies to the woman: My daughter, ….your faith has
restored you to health; go in peace and be free of your complaint [Mark
5:34].
While Jesus
was speaking to the woman some people from Jarius’ house arrive with the
distressing news that the child has died, but Jesus urges Jarius to have
faith. Arriving at Jarius’ home Jesus only allows 3 Apostles to
accompany Him: Peter, James and John Zebedee. Addressing the weeping
relatives Jesus insists that the child is not dead but only asleep. When
the assembled relatives ridicule Jesus He turns them out of the house, only
permitting the 2 parents and His 3 Apostles—5 people, to remain with
Him. Together with the child and Jesus there are 7 in the room when
Jesus commands the child to “get up!” Mark records The little girl got
up at once and began to walk about, for she was 12 years old.
Do not miss
the other significant repetitions. In addition to the number “12”, and the
word “daughter” applied to both the child and the woman; the words “may
be saved [cured]” are applied to the daughter in
5:24 and in are spoken by the woman in
5:28; and the word “faith” is spoken by Jesus to the woman in
5:34 and to Jarius in
5:36.
The central
theme which unites both these stories is healing, purification, restoration,
and new life—not just of these two daughters of Israel but of the
healing and restoration Jesus is bringing to all of Old Covenant Israel.
12 is the number of perfection in government and, therefore, the number
which signifies the Church. Just as Jesus raised the child of Jarius to new
life, so will He raise up the faithful remnant of Old Covenant Israel to
become the faithful New Covenant people of God. The selection of the 3
Apostles is a sign that what is about to happen is of theological
significance; the 5 people invited by Jesus to come into the room
when the child is healed signifies the gift of God’s grace applied through
the faith of the believers, and the 7 gathered together, including
Jesus and the child, signifies the healing and regenerative power of God the
Holy Spirit—7 is the number of spiritual perfection. In St. Mark’s
Gospel the healing and restoration of these two daughters of Israel
signified the healing and restoration of the faithful covenant people of God
who embraced Jesus as the promised Messiah. It is through this faithful
remnant that Jesus will establish the New Covenant and the Universal Church
through will the whole world “may be saved”.
GEMATRIA
FOR THE NUMBER 666 IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
“There is
need for shrewdness here: anyone clever may interpret the number of the
beast: it is the number of a human being, the number is 666.”
Revelation 13:18
[Some ancient manuscripts record the number 616 instead of 666]
TABLE 1
Examples
of Gematria for Neron Caesar and Nero Caesar in Hebrew and Jesus in Greek[Hebrew
letters are read from right to left]
nwrn
rsq - (Neron Caesar)
|
wrn
rsq - (Nero Caesar)
|
Iesous - Jesus
|
Q = 100
S = 60
R = 200
N = 50
R = 200
W = 6
N = 50
Total 666 |
Q = 100
S = 60
R = 200
N = 50
R = 200
W = 6
Total 616 |
I =
10
E = 8
S = 200
O = 70
U = 400
S = 200
Total 888 |
TABLE 2
The
gematria of Roman numerals
I |
1
|
V
|
5
|
X
|
10
|
L
|
50
|
C
|
100
|
D
|
500
|
Total
|
666 |
The total of
the Roman numbers is 666 [the “M” for 1,000 is two “Ds” back to back; there
are only 6 Roman numerals]. 666 is the number of the Beast. Caesar was
Rome and Rome was Caesar and Caesar claimed to be a god. The word for “god”
in Greek is theos. Caesar god is Caesar (or in Greek, kaisar) theos.
The gematria is:
K
|
20
|
A
|
1
|
I
|
10
|
S
|
200
|
A
|
1
|
R
|
100
|
TH
|
9
|
E
|
5
|
O
|
70
|
S
|
200
|
Total
|
616
|
-
666 is a
trinity of 6s; never to be a 7
-
6 is the
number of man, especially as man in rebellion against God:
-
Goliath was 6 cubits and a span (1
Samuel 17:4)
-
King
Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue of himself to be worshipped. It was
60 cubits high and 6 cubits across (Daniel
3:1)
The number 7,
however, represents perfection, fullness and completion—especially
perfection through the work of the Holy Spirit. In
Revelation 19:16 there are 2 titles for Christ which St. John reveals to
us form one “name.” Is he telling us to add the words together to determine
the gematria of the titles? The gematria of “King of kings, Lord of lords”
in Aramaic (leaving out the “and”) equals 777—a trinity of perfection in
contrast to the Beast’s number 666 which will never achieve perfection.
The
significance of numbers in Holy Scripture is far greater than just the
numerical value of each individual number. Deciphering and discerning that
significance only adds to the mystery and wonder of the study of Sacred
Scripture. But Sacred Scripture, the written word, cannot be separated from
the Living Word, Jesus Christ. In the study of the words of God, written
down for us in human terms that we can understand, we cannot begin to
understand the spiritual meaning of the one without a living union with the
other, our savior Jesus the Christ. And it is through the great and true
teacher God the Holy Spirit, who was sent to us by God the Son, that the
truth and wonder of God’s works will be revealed to us.
“Great are
the works of Yahweh, to be treasured for all their delights.”
Psalms 111:2
Michal Hunt
1998/ revised 2007 |