Biblical Numerology

Sometimes a number will embrace both its value of quantity (cardinal number) and its adopted value of quality. One example of this is the account of Creation. Scripture gives testimony to the order of Creation which was accomplished in six days. On the seventh day Creator-YHWH ceased from His initial work. While the seventh-day retains its value of quantity (the number after day six) it also exhibits a value (or quality) of completeness, fullness, totality and/or divine-accomplishment. 

If the use of the number seven faded after the Creation story, then we might not think much of it as a symbol. The fact is the number seven is used many, many times throughout the Bible. From the seven day creation, the seven pairs of clean animals that entered Noah’s ark, the priest sprinkling blood (or oil) seven times, the seven major feasts (appointed-times) of YHWH, the seven days of Unleavened-Bread, the seven Sabbaths (weeks) from Pesach (Passover) to Shavuot (Pentecost), the seven days of dwelling in booths during Sukkoth (Tabernacles), during Yahshua’s (Joshua’s) siege of Jericho on the seventh day marching around the city seven times with the seven priests bearing seven trumpets, in Proverbs wisdom (personified) built her house with seven pillars, the disciples collected seven baskets of bread fragments after Yahoshua multiplied the food and in the book of Revelation the number seven is used more than 50 times. It refers to the seven churches, seven spirits, seven golden lampstands, seven stars, seven seals, seven horns, seven eyes, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven thousand people, seven heads, seven diadems, seven plagues, seven bowls, seven mountains and seven kings.

There is another example of the use of the number seven. This occurs in Matthew 18:21-22.  (21) Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?” (22) Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times! Peter offers an interesting question as an answer to his own question. To forgive my brother ‘As many as seven times?’ would have likely exceeded the custom of the day to forgive someone up to three times which was probably determined by some of the religious leaders. Applying the number seven literally to Peter’s question would exceed the customary limit of three times, yet a hint of its symbolism would still resonate in the mind; that is, seven representing completeness, fullness, totality and /or divine-accomplishment.  

Yahoshua’s reply is curious because He combines the number seven with itself in His answer. First, He merges Peter’s use of the number seven with its symbolic meaning of totality or completeness into His answer (symbolic, because the final numeric answer is not literal, as you will see). Second, He expands on the number seven by using it again. But with this number seven He intensifies it by multiplying by ten, hence seventy. Third, He adds the two numbers with one another (7 + 70, sometimes expressed as 7 X 70) . The literal, mathematical answer is 77 (or 490) . . . do we want to discuss this as a mathematical solution? Of course not, the answer is obvious. Forgiveness is vital to YHWH’s plan for the Redemption of Mankind. When we embrace the forgiveness bestowed upon us through Yahoshua’s sacrifice, then we naturally impart forgiveness to others. The message is that there is no limit of forgiveness in the light of  true repentance. Then Yahoshua expounds on His answer to Peter by sharing a parable 

23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.  

24 As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed 10,000 talents was brought to him.  

25 Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made.  

26 Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’  

27 The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt.  

28 After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’  

29 Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’  

30 But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt.  

31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place.  

32 Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me!  

33 Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’  

34 And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. 

35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”                                             (Matthew 18:23-35)

In biblical usage, it is not far-fetched to say there is significance to the number seven other than its numerical value. Although the number seven has been primarily used as an example on this page, the use of other numbers are similar. These numbers are neither mystical nor super-natural, they are simply symbolic. Just as with other symbols that are used in the Bible, they are used as tools to reveal, or unveil, the purpose and heart of Father-YHWH. The context  in which numbers are used determines their meaning or significance.