Numbers As Symbols

Uplook – February 2024 — Grace & Truth Magazine

Numbers As Symbols

There can be little doubt that numerals are used in Scripture as symbols. By comparing the instances in which a numeral is employed, the hidden idea often may be determined. The significance of some numbers is too obvious to be mistaken; that of others is less apparent. In some cases the symbolic number may be discovered where the numeral itself is not mentioned. Under “Three” we may, for example, class the law, the psalms and the prophets; or spirit, soul and body. Below we give a few references for each number we are considering.

One: Supremacy, exclusiveness.

• One Jehovah, or Lord (Dt. 6:4; Isa. 42:8; Zech. 14:9).
• One God and Father (1 Cor. 8:6; Gal. 3:20; Eph. 4:6; Mk. 12:29; 1 Tim. 2:5).
• One God (1 Cor. 8:4).
• One Lord (Eph. 4:5).
• One Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11,13).
• One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5).
• One body (1 Cor. 12:11,13; Eph. 4:4).
• One hope, one faith, one baptism (Eph. 4:4-5).
• One offering that has perfected forever those who are being sanctified (Heb. 10:14).

Two: Distinctness, and therefore adequate testimony and fellowship when in agreement.

• Two witnesses are needed (Dt. 19:15; 2 Cor. 13:1).
• Caleb and Joshua witnessed for the land (Num. 14:6-9).
• Two spies were sent over the Jordan (Josh. 2:1).
• Two olive trees that are typical of two witnesses (Zech. 4:3; Rev. 11:3-4).
• God’s word and His oath show the immutability of His counsel (Heb. 6:17-18).
• Two are to agree in asking (Mt. 18:19).
• As few as two or three can be gathered to Christ’s name (Mt. 18:20).

Three: Divine fullness or completeness, and thereby perfection in testimony.

• God the Father, Son and Spirit (Mt. 28:19). This fullness was pleased to dwell in the Son of His love (Col. 1:19).
• Three times the voice came from heaven in respect to the Lord Jesus (Mt. 3:17, 17:5; Jn. 12:28).
• The Lord Jesus is Prophet, Priest, and King (Mt. 21:11; Heb. 4:14; Rev. 19:16).
• He is Son of God, Son of Man and Son of David (Jn. 1:34; Lk. 5:24; Mt. 1:1).
• Three bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit – being One (1 Jn. 5:7 KJV, NKJV).
• Three bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water and the blood – agreeing as one (1 Jn. 5:8).
• The Scriptures, comprising the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms, bear witness to Christ (Lk. 24:44).
• Faith, hope, and love are elements of the Christian life (1 Cor. 13:13).
• A threefold cord is not easily broken (Eccl. 4:12).
• Three also describes perfected experience (Lk. 13:32; Gen. 22:4; Acts 9:9).
• The fullness of our being set apart of God, in spirit, soul, and body (1 Th. 5:23).

Four: Completeness in that which is created or ordained of God.

• The river flowing out of Eden became four rivers (Gen. 2:10-14).
• Four winds from the four quarters of heaven (Jer. 49:36).
• Four corners of the earth (Rev. 20:8).
• The arranging of the camp of Israel was under four standards, or banners (Num. 10:14-28).
• Ezekiel saw four living creatures, each had four faces, four wings, and four hands (Ezek. 1:5-8; compare Rev. 4:6).
• Four things that are never satisfied (Prov. 30:15), are not understood (v.18), the earth cannot bear (v.21), are exceeding wise (v.24), and are stately in their walk (v.29).

Five: Human weakness in its appreciation of obligation.

• During the dedication of the tabernacle each prince offered for a peace offering two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs (Num. 7:17-83).
• Weakness in contrast to the power of the enemy, five will chase a hundred (Lev. 26:8).
• The disciples could only provide five barley leaves and two small fish when the 5,000 were fed (Jn. 6:9).
• Paul said he would rather speak five words to teach others than 10,000 words in an unknown tongue (1 Cor. 14:19).
• In the parable of the virgins, five were wise and five foolish (Mt. 25:2).

Six: Incompleteness, imperfection (one short of the perfect number seven).

• Solomon had six steps to his great throne (1 Ki. 10:19); but it was not elevated enough to save him from idolatry (11:1-8).
• The weight of gold coming to Solomon annually was 666 talents (1 Ki. 10:14); yet he had to confess it was vanity and vexation of spirit (Eccl. 2:1-11).
• The Jews at Cana had six waterpots for purification (Jn. 2:6), which expressed the insufficiency of ordinances to meet man’s need.
• The number of the beast will be 666 (Rev. 13:18), being imperfect in every way.

Seven: Spiritual completeness, generally in good but occasionally in evil.

• It is the sum of three and four.
• There are seven days in a week. Every seventh day was a day of rest (Ex. 23:12); every seventh year was a year of rest for the land (Lev. 25:1-4), and every seven times seven years brought the jubilee in the 50th year (vv.8-11).
• Creation was complete on the seventh day, God’s rest being the result (Gen. 2:2-3).
• There were seven lamps to the golden candlestick (Num. 8:2; consider Zech. 4:2).
• The blood of an offering was sprinkled before the LORD seven times (Lev. 4:6,17, 8:11).
• The Christian is exhorted to spiritually keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was a feast Israel was to keep for seven days after the Passover. The believer’s life is not to consist of malice and wickedness, but of sincerity and truth. Seven days indicates that this should be continual (1 Cor. 5:7-8).
• John, writing to seven churches, spoke of seven spirits before the throne of God (Rev. 1:4).
• There are seven abominations in man’s heart (Prov. 26:25).
• In Revelation, where “seven” is frequent, the first beast is shown to have seven heads and ten horns (Rev. 13:1).
• Forgiveness is to be “seventy times seven” (Mt. 18:22).

Eight: A new departure outside of, but connected with, creation-order, hence in resurrection.

• Circumcision was on the eighth day, indicating the entering into a new covenant (Gen. 17:12).
• Eight souls were saved in the ark, through whom the new world was repopulated (1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5).
• The new form of the future Roman empire will be the eighth (Rev. 17:11).
• Resurrection-day may be called the eighth, the day after the Jewish Sabbath (Jn. 20:1).

Ten: Complete ground of human responsibility.

• Pharaoh was visited by ten plagues (Ex. 7–12).
• The Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17, 34:28).
• Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchisedek (Gen. 14:20; Heb. 7:2).
• The Israelites gave a tenth to the Levites, and they gave a tenth to the priests (Num. 28:21,29).
• Ten virgins went forth to meet the bridegroom (Mt. 25:1-13).
• Ten servants were entrusted with minas to do business until the nobleman returned (Lk. 19:13).
• In the last form of the Roman empire there will be ten kings, represented by ten horns (Rev. 17:12,16).

Twelve: Completeness administratively, that is, in what is set forth or displayed toward man.

• The first most divisible of the earlier numbers.
• There were 12 patriarchs (Gen. 49), ancestors of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ex. 28:21), who were or will be commemorated in the 12 loaves on the table (Lev. 24:5-8), the 12 stones in the breastplate (Ex. 28:21,29-30), their 12 names on the shoulders of the high priest (v.12), the 12 stones taken out of Jordan (Josh. 4:3), the 12 stones placed in the bed of the river (v.9), and in a crown of 12 stars (Rev. 12:1).
• Through the 12 disciples the Lord fed the hungry multitudes (Lk. 6:13-16, 9:10-17).
• The 12 apostles will sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes (Mt. 19:28).
• New Jerusalem will have 12 foundations for its walls with the names of the 12 apostles; it will have 12 gates, consisting of 12 pearls with the names of the 12 tribes inscribed. The gates will be attended by 12 angels (Rev. 21:12-21).
• There are 12 hours in the day, in which the children of light may walk (Jn. 11:9).
• The flexibility of administrative perfection may be seen in factors of 12:
• Six-twos: Two disciples in each of the six companies sent to preach (Mk. 6:7).
• Two-sixes: Six loaves in each of the two rows of showbread (Lev. 24:5-8).
• Three-fours: Four rows of three names each on the breastplate (Ex. 39:9-14).
• Four-threes: Three gates on each of the four sides of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:13).

Forty: Complete evaluation to bring to light good or evil; a product of 10x4.

• During the flood, it rained for 40 days and nights (Gen. 7:12).
• Moses was 40 years in the desert, being himself tried (Acts 7:29-32); he was in the mount two periods of 40 days, which were times of trial to the Israelites (Ex. 24:18, 34:28).
• The spies were 40 days searching the land (Num. 13:25).
• The tribes were tested 40 years in the wilderness (Acts 13:18).
• Goliath challenged Israel 40 days (1 Sam 17:16).
• Saul, David, Solomon and Jehoash were each tested by a reign of 40 years (Acts 13:21; 2 Sam. 5:4; 1 Ki. 11:42; 2 Ki. 12:1). Elijah’s period of testing at Horeb was 40 days (1 Ki. 19:8).
• Nineveh was given 40 days to repent (Jon. 3:4).
• The Lord Jesus was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan (Mk. 1:13).
• The Lord presented Himself alive after His resurrection for 40 days, speaking about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).