Meaning of Numbers
in the Bible

The Biblical Meaning of the Number 11

There is not much concerning it in the Word of God, but what there is is significant, especially as a factor.

Who were the 11 dukes or chiefs of Edom?

The dukes of Edom were eleven in number and Edom, though closely related to Israel, was different from it in order and government, while the bitterest hatred existed between them. The word for "Duke" is a multiple of 13:

"And these were the names of the chiefs ("Dukes" in the KJV Bible) of Esau, according to their families and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth, Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar, Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Esau was the father of the Edomites." (Genesis 36:40-43, NKJV)

The 11 Sons of Jacob

The eleven sons of Jacob told of the disintegration and disorganization in Jacob's family, which made it possible for it to be said "one is not."

Eleven days from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea

From Horeb to Kadesh Barnea was a journey of eleven days (Deuteronomy 1:2). One more day would have carried them to the complete administration of all those wonderful laws which God had given them.

Eli, Hophni and Phinehas

Eli, Hophni and Phinehas have for their Gematria (substituting numbers for letters) the number 462, the factors of which are 11 and 42; both significant of the disorder in Eli's house, and of disintegration in Israel.

Jehoiakim reigned 11 Years

Johoiakim reigned eleven years when Nebuchadnezzar came up and began his disintegrating work on Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:36, 34:1; 2Chronicles 36:5,6).

Zedekiah reigned 11 Years

Zedekiah reigned eleven years when Nebuchadnezzar completed the work by putting an end to Israel's rule in Jerusalem (2Chronicles 36:11; Jeremiah 52:1), for "in the eleventh year the city was broken up" (Jeremiah 39:2).

The eleventh year of Ezekiel's prophecy

The eleventh year in which Ezekiel prophesied against Tyre (Ezekiel 26:1) and against Egypt (30:20 and 31:1) was the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in which Jerusalem was broken up. And the threefold repetition of it is to impress us with the fact that Tyre and Egypt should be broken up, as Jerusalem had been.

The 11 Apostles

The eleven apostles were witnesses even of the disintegration amongst the Twelve (Acts 2:14, etc.).

The 11th Hour

The eleventh hour (Matthew 20:6,9) is proverbial as being contrary alike both to what is right in order and arrangement.

Jesus lived a multiple of 11 years

The life of our Lord on earth was about 33 years (3 x 11), and then He was "cut off," and "we see not yet all things put under Him" (Daniel 9:26; Hebrews 2:8).

The eleven hundred days of defective administration

Eleven hundred occurs only twice, both referring to days of defective administration, marked by the fact that there was "no king":--

• Judges 16:5, the Philistine bribe which deprived Israel of their mighty judge and deliverer, Samson.

• Judges 17:2, etc., connected with the introduction of idolatry into Israel, which brought with it trouble and disintegration; added to God's order and ordinances for them; and in the end caused the ruin and loss of all government.

Dan and Ephraim were the two offending tribes, for Micah, who made the image with the eleven hundred shekels, was an Ephraimite, and the tribe that stole it and his priest was the Tribe of Dan. Both are omitted from the tribes in Revelation 7, according to the declaration of God in Deuteronomy 29:18-20, that the "man, woman, family, or tribe" which should introduce idolatry into Israel, "the LORD shall BLOT OUT HIS NAME."

Who were the 11 kings and rulers who offended themselves over God's servants?

Eleven kings and rulers were offended with God's servants for telling them the truth:

1. Pharaoh, Exodus 10:28.

2. Balak, Numbers 24:10.

3. Jeroboam, 1Kings 13:4.

4. Ahab, 1Kings 22:27.

5. Naaman, 2 Kings 5:12.

6. Asa, 2Chronicles 16:10.

7. Joash, 2Chronicles 24:21.

8. Uzziah, 2Chronicles 26:19.

9. Jehoiakim, Jeremiah 26:21.

10. Zedekiah, Jeremiah 32:3.

11. Herod, Matthew 14:3.

Joseph was eleven years in Potiphar's house:

Additional commentary on the Biblical Meaning of 11 *

The number 11 signifies disorder and judgment and is used 24 times in the Bible. The designation "11th" is used 19 times in scripture. Coming after 10 (law and responsibility), 11 represents the opposite — the irresponsibility of breaking the Law, which brings disorder and judgment.

In Genesis 11, men rebelled against God and built the tower of Babel. God judged them by confusing their language, resulting in chaos. In the 11th year of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, God executed His final judgment against Judah with the complete destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and the exile of the remaining Jews to Babylon.

The apostle John saw 11 things in connection with the final judgment (Revelation 20:12-14).