Bible Numerology
Bible numerology is the symbolic use of numbers used in the Scriptures. Understanding the meaning of numbers gives a person a clearer knowledge of divine truths. Here are some of the numbers in the Bible and what they refer to:
The number 1 refers to the one God. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5 also James 2:19).
The number 2 refers to duality. “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31).
The number 3 refers to the three persons of the Godhead (Matthew 28:19); the three items in the Ark of the Covenant: Ten Commandments, Aaron’s staff, and the jar of manna; the gifts of grace faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).
The number 4 refers to God’s work. “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree” (Revelation 7:1 also Ezekiel 14:21)
The number 5 refers to God’s instruction. The five-division of the Book of Psalms and the five books of the Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
The number 6 refers to man and imperfection. The number 666 is symbolic to Satan (Revelation 13:18).
The number 7 refers to God and perfection. After the creation of the world, the Lord blessed and rested on the 7th day (Genesis 2:2-3).
The number 8 refers to rebirth and resurrection. Eight specific individuals were resurrected beside Jesus in the Bible. The numerical value of Jesus’s name adds to 888.
The number 9 (3 x 3) refers to divine blessings. The 9 fruits of the spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
The number 10 refers to completeness. The Ten Commandments – God’s moral law (Exodus 20:3-17).
The number 11 refers to judgment. John viewed 11 things connected to the end time judgment (Revelation 20:12).
The number 12 refers to God’s work. There are: 12 tribes of Israel (Genesis 49:28), 12 disciples (Matthew 12:2-4), and 12 gates in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10-14).
The number 13 refers to rebellion. Nimrod, who is associated with the rebellion at the Tower of Babel, was the 13th descendant of Ham.
The number 14 refers to a double measure of spiritual perfection (7 x 2). There are 3 sets of 14 generations in Jesus’s lineage (Matthew 1:17).
The number 19 refers to God’s order. Eve was mentioned 19 times in the Bible and the house of Israel had 19 kings before the Northern Kingdom was taken.
The number 25 refers to a grace period. In Ezekiel’s vision temple, he wrote. “In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city—on that very day the hand of the Lord was on me and he took me there“ (Ezekiel 40:1).
The number 30 is the time for ministry. Jesus started His earthly ministry at the age of 30.
The number 40 refers to trials. At the time of Noah, the “rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights” (Genesis 7:12). The Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness. Jesus fasted 40 days. “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry…” (Matthews 4:1-3).
The number 42 refers to the time of the persecution of the church. “People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months” (Revelation 13:4).
The number 50 refers to deliverance and joy. Jubilee came on the 50th year. “Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan” (Leviticus 25:10).
The number 70 refers to leadership. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance” (Exodus 24:1).
The number 120 refers to a time of probation. God gave humanity 120 years to repent of their wickedness. “And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:3).
The number 153 refers to a great blessing. “So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn” (John 21:11).
The number 390 refers to the period of Israel’s defection. “I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the people of Israel” (Ezekiel 4:1-5).
The number 666 refers to the Antichrist. “This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666” (Revelation 13:18).
The number 1000 refers to the Millennium. Satan will be bound for a 1000 years on earth. “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him in the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations any more until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time” (Revelation 20:1-3).
The number 144,000 refers to the church. “Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel” (Revelation 7:4).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
