Meaning of Numbers: The Number 15
The English word "fifteen" for the number 15 appears 24 times in 24 King James Bible verses. The word "fifteenth" is recorded an additional 18 times in 18 KJV verses. Combined, these two words are found the most in the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers (7 times each). The New Testament lists these words a total of 5 times in 5 verses.
The meaning of the number 15 in the Bible is rest. This rest comes after deliverance that is represented by fourteen. The 15th day of the first Hebrew month (Nisan) is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It is a high holy day where no servile work is to be done.
And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. (Leviticus 23:6 - 7, KJV).
Day 15 of the seventh Hebrew month (Tishri 15) is the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. It is also a commanded day of rest.
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. (Leviticus 23:34 - 35, KJV).
Appearances of Number Fifteen
Judah's righteous King Hezekiah, who was quite sick, was informed through the prophet Isaiah that he would soon die (2Kings 20:1). After hearing this news he tearfully prayed that God would remember his works and how he served him with his whole heart. The Lord heard his prayer and granted him 15 more years of life.
Return again and tell Hezekiah the prince of My people, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add fifteen years to your days . . .'" (2Kings 20:5 - 6, HBFV).
Hezekiah would ultimately live to the age of 54 (2Chronicles 29:1).
The name Pharaoh gave Joseph was Zaphnathpaaneah, a name of fifteen letters.
The book of 1Peter has material from fifteen Old Testament books.
Two of the top ten most frequently mentioned women in the word of God, Abigail and Miriam, are mentioned 15 times.
The longest words in the King James translation that are not names contain fifteen letters. They include words such as administrations (1Corinthians 12:5), bloodguiltiness (Psalm 51:14), fellowprisoners (Romans 16:7), notwithstanding (Exodus 16:20), righteousnesses (Isaiah 64:6), stumblingblocks (Jeremiah 6:21) and unrighteousness (Leviticus 19:15).
Biblical History and Fifteen
God caused the earth to be flooded in 2313 B.C. due to humanity's dedication to wickedness and violence. At least three billion people received the death penalty for their unrepentant sins.
The Bible states that the floodwaters that came upon the earth reached a height of 15 cubits above all the mountains (Genesis 7:20). 15 cubits, if we assume a cubit is between 17.5 to 20.4 inches (44.5 to 52 centimeters), it means the flood was between 21.87 and 25 feet (6.66 to 7.77 meters) above the highest peak!
And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered (Genesis 7:19 - 20, KJV).
In 1875 B.C., as the sun set to begin Nisan 15, God promised Abraham that he would bear a son in his old age. He also revealed that although his descendants would end up as slaves in a foreign country (Egypt) they would eventually be freed.
And He said to Abram (Abraham), "You must surely know that your seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, (and shall serve them and they shall afflict them) four hundred years.
And also I will judge that nation whom they shall serve. And afterward they shall come out with great substance. (Genesis 15:13 - 14, HBFV).
In 1845 B.C. God tested Abraham, at the age of 115 years old, by commanding he sacrifice his son Isaac who was fifteen years old. After the patriarch passes this severe test the Lord affirms that he will surely bless him.
And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice (Genesis 22:18, HBFV).
Abraham, the father of the faithful, lived between 1960 and 1785 B.C. He lived long enough to see his son Isaac turn 75 years old and his grandson Jacob (later Israel) reach 15. His family buried him with his beloved wife Sarah who had died around 1823 B.C.
In 1445 B.C. God miraculously delivered Israel's firstborn from the death angel at midnight on Nisan 14 which was the first Passover (Exodus 12:23 - 29). Then, during the day portion of Passover, the Israelites spoiled the Egyptians in fulfillment of God's prophecy found in verse 14 of Genesis 15.
After gathering great wealth the children of Israel began to gather at Rameses for their journey out of the country (Exodus 12:37, Numbers 33:3). On Nisan 15 the Israelites started to leave Egypt, a momentous time known as "night to be much observed."
And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, it was even on that very same day, all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
It is a night to be much observed to the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord to be observed by all the children of Israel in their generations. (Exodus 12:41 - 42, HBFV, see also Deuteronomy 16:1).
It was in year 15 of Tiberius Caesar's reign that John the Baptist's ministry began.
Now in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother was tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene . . .
the word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he went into all the country around the Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; (Luke 3:1 - 3).
In 30 A.D., as the sun was setting ending Nisan 14 and beginning Nisan 15, Jesus' body is placed in a Garden Tomb (Matthew 27:57 - 61, Luke 23:50 - 55, John 19:38 - 42). He will be dead and buried for three complete days until, at sunset on Saturday, April 8, he is resurrected from the dead!
It was on Pentecost in 30 A.D. that 120 of Jesus' disciples received God's spirit. The miraculous manifestation of power astonishes those gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Holy Day! Those who saw the display of God's power, and heard Peter's message urging repentance, came from at least 15 areas of the known world.
". . . Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
"Both Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya which are near Cyrene, and the Romans who are sojourning here, both Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians; we hear them speaking in our own languages the great things of God." (Acts 2:9 - 11, HBFV).
Acts 15, which takes place in the middle of 49 A.D., delineates the famous Jerusalem Conference. This conference is attended by the original apostles as well as Paul, Barnabas, Titus and many others. After many debates those in attendance agree that God does not require non-Jews (Gentiles) to be circumcised before they can receive salvation.
Parables
Chronologically, the fifteenth parable Jesus gave during his ministry is the parable of the Sower. He gave it between October 28 A.D. and early 29 A.D.
The Sower parable is unique in that it is the first one where it is recorded the disciples were completely baffled by it! It caused them to not only privately ask Jesus about its meaning but also why he taught using parables in the first place (see Matthew 13:10 - 17, Mark 4:10 - 13, Luke 8:9).
And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow. And as he was sowing, some of the seed fell by the way; and the birds came and devoured them.
And some fell upon the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up because the soil was not deep enough; But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they did not have roots, they dried up.
And some of the seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. And some fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit - some a hundredfold, and some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold. (Matthew 13:3 - 8, HBFV).
The Number 15 and Promises
There are at least fifteen promises to Christians listed in the book of Matthew.
1) The Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).
2) We will be filled with righteousness (5:6).
3) We shall see God (5:8).
4) We will be called the children of God (5:9).
5) Our names confessed before God the Father (10:32).
6) We will be given rest (11:29).
7) God will consider us part of his family (12:50).
8) We shall become fully converted (18:3).
9) We shall be great in God's Kingdom (18:4).
10) We will be able to receive Christ (18:5).
11) Our requests made with others will be granted (18:19).
12) Christ will be with us (18:20).
13) We will be saved (24:13).
14) We serve Jesus by serving others (25:40).
15) Jesus will always be with us (28:19).
A Most Unusual Request
The minor prophet Hosea's wife, named Gomer, had left him and committed adultery with another man. God, after she had sinned, commanded the prophet to reconcile with his adulterous wife. Hosea, in obedience to the Lord, redeems his wife for 15 silver shekels and some barley.
The Lord said to me (Hosea), "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes."
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley (Hosea 3:1 - 2, NIV).
Why was Hosea commanded to reconcile with his unfaithful wife? His relationship was symbolic of the Lord's relationship with Israel. God considered himself in a marriage relationship with ancient Israel (Jeremiah 3:14). His people, however, committed gross spiritual adultery by rejecting him and worshipping pagan deities. The "sacred raisin cakes" were likely employed in the worship of such false gods.
Hosea was symbolic of God willing to redeem his wife Israel in spite of her spiritual whoredoms.
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 15
Three and five are factors of 15. Fifteen contains the digits one and five. Interestingly, this number is equal to the addition of the first five digits or 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5.
In the Old Testament, the Biblical chapters of Joshua 5, 14, Judges 12, 1Samuel 11, 21, 2Chronicles 14, Ezra 9, Esther 3, Psalm 17, 92, 144, Isaiah 47, 52, Jeremiah 19, Ezekiel 35, Hosea 5, 10, Amos 1, 3, 9, Micah 5, Nahum 1, Zephaniah 2, Haggai 1 and Zechariah 6 contain 15 verses in the King James Bible.
In the New Testament, the chapters Acts 6, 2Corinthians 9, 1Timothy 2, Titus 2, 3 and Revelation 20 have 15 verses in the KJV.
For Christians, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15) pictures rest from their sins, having had them removed by Christ's shed blood on Passover. Tishri 15 (in the seventh month of the Hebrew sacred calendar) begins the Feast of Tabernacles. For the children of Israel, it pictured rest from the long harvest season. They were to dwell in booths in remembrance of their trek in the wilderness.
Prophetically, Tishri 15 also pictures the coming Millennium when the world will have rest from sin because of the binding of Satan on the Day of Atonement. Under Christ's reign, salvation will then be offered to the world, becoming the great spiritual harvest of God for 1,000 years.
The Lord commanded that those who made a special vow to him of a person could redeem that person for a certain amount of money. Those who were sixty years old or older could be redeemed for 15 shekels if they were male or 10 shekels if female.
"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate persons to the Lord by giving equivalent values . . . If it is a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels and of a female at ten shekels (Leviticus 27:2, 7, NIV).