Meaning of Numbers
in the Bible

This number has been considered in connection with the number eight, to which the reader is referred (see notes on 8 and 13 together).

There are at least 13 famines mentioned in the Scriptures. They are:

1. Genesis 12:10
2. Genesis 26:1
3. Genesis 41:54
4. Ruth 1:1
5. 2 Samuel 21:1
6. 1Kings 18:1
7. 2Kings 4:38
8. 2Kings 7:4
9. 2Kings 25:3
10. Nehemiah 5:3
11. Jeremiah 14:1
12. Luke 15:14
13. Acts 11:28

The destruction of Jericho is stamped with the number thirteen, though not by gematria, for the city was compassed once each day for six days, and seven times on the seventh day, making 13 times in all (6+7).

The enemies of God and his people, as named in Scripture, are generally multiples of 13. The primary example of this is the great enemy himself, Satan. Although we may give the English for the sake of clearness, the Gematria (the values formed by the letters of the words themselves) are always based on the original Hebrew or Greek:

• Satan, in Hebrew = 364 (13 x 28)

• Satan, in Greek = 2197 (13³)

• "That old serpent, even Satan" = 2756 (13x212)

• "Ha-Seraph" (Numbers 21:8) = 585 (13x45)

• Beelzebub = 598 (13 x 46)

• Belial - 78 (13x6)

• Dragon (Revelation 12:9) = 975 (13 x 75)

• Serpent = 780 (13x60)

• Murderer = 1820 (13 x 140)

• Tempter = 1053 (13x81)

• The Scape-goat = 585 (13 x 45)

• The Lion (Psalm 91:13) = 338 (13x26)

• "As a Lion" (1Peter 5:8) = 1885 (13 x 145)

• "The Power of the Enemy" (Luke 10:9) = 2509 (13 x 193)

• "Your adversary, the Devil, as a roaring lion" = 6032 (13x464)

• Fowler (Psalm 91:3) = 416 (13x32)

• "Who is called the Devil and Satan" = 2197 (13³)

• "Seven Devils" = 572 (13 x 44)

• "Because the Prince of this world is judged" (John 16:11) = 5577 (13²x33)

• "When he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar" (John 8:44) = 7072 (13x544)

The longest name of a Bible book, Thessalonians, is 13 characters.

The number thirteen is associated with rebellion and depravity and is used fifteen times in the Bible. All the names of Satan are divisible by thirteen. Nimrod, the chief rebel after the flood, was the thirteenth in the line of Ham. In their thirteenth year of servitude, the kings of the nations rebelled (Genesis 14:4). Twelve represents the government of God and thirteen represents the governments of men in rebellion against God.

Moses wrote of Israel’s 21 rebellions in Deuteronomy 31:

"for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death?" (Deuteronomy 31:27, NKJV)

When this scriptural reference is added across (3 + 1 + 2 + 7), you get the number 13, which represents rebellion.

Haman the Agagite had a decree signed on the thirteenth day of the first month that on the thirteenth day of the 12th month all Jews in the Persian Empire were to be killed:

"In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, 'There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.'

"And the king said to Haman, 'The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.' Then the king’s scribes were called on the THIRTEENTH day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded - to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king’s signet ring.

"And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the THIRTEENTH day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions." (Esther 3:7-9, 11-13, NKJV)

The dragon, a symbol for Satan, is found thirteen times in Revelation. Satan is behind all rebellion against God.

In Mark 7 Jesus mentions thirteen things that defile a person. He said that "'What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed:

1. evil thoughts
2. adulteries
3. fornications
4. murders
5. thefts
6. covetousness
7. wickedness
8. deceit
9. lewdness
10. an evil eye
11. blasphemy
12. pride
13. foolishness.

All these evil things come from within and defile a man.' " (Mark 7:20-23, NKJV)

In Romans 1, where the apostle Paul lists 23 things against sinful men, the thirteenth in the list is haters of God:

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all

1. unrighteousness
2. sexual immorality
3. wickedness
4. covetousness
5. maliciousness
6. full of envy
7. murder
8. strife
9. deceit
10. evil-mindedness
11. they are whisperers
12. backbiters
13. HATERS OF GOD
14. violent
15. proud
16. boasters
17. inventors of evil things
18. disobedient to parents
19. undiscerning
20. untrustworthy
21. unloving
22. unforgiving
23. unmerciful

who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:28-32, NKJV)