Meaning of Numbers
in the Bible

The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 21

Twenty-one times total in the Books of 1Kings and 2Kings is a reference made to the sins of Jeroboam (the first king of the Northern tribes of Israel after their split with Judah) and how Israel's subsequent kings and the people continued to walk in them:

" 'Moreover the Lord will raise up for Himself a king over Israel who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam; this is the day. What? Even now! For the Lord will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land which He gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their wooden images, provoking the Lord to anger. And He will give Israel up because of THE SINS OF JEROBOAM, WHO SINNED AND WHO MADE ISRAEL SIN.' " (1Kings 14:14-16, NKJV throughout)

"Now Nadab THE SON OF JEROBOAM became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin by which he had MADE ISRAEL SIN." (1Kings 15:25-26)

"So Ahab said to Elijah, 'Have you found me, O my enemy?' And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord: 'Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. I will make your house like the HOUSE OF JEROBOAM the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, AND MADE ISRAEL SIN.'" " (1Kings 21:20-22)

"Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His sight. For He tore Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel from following the Lord, and made them commit a great sin. FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WALKED IN ALL THE SINS OF JEROBOAM which he did; they did not depart from them . . ." (2Kings 17:19-22)

Additional commentary on the Biblical Meaning of 21 *

The number 21 also pictures the exceeding wickedness of sin. There were 21 major rebellions by the children of Israel during their wilderness journey.

Thirteen, the number of depravity, sin and rebellion, and the number 21, are closely associated. The symbolism of 21 in the Bible is the outgrowth of 13 and pictures the fruit of that nature: "Rebellion and depravity" (13) plus a "new beginning" (8) equals 21, portraying one’s "new beginning" into the depths of satanic depravity.

On the 21st day of the first month, the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, God executed His final judgment against Pharaoh and his armies — the symbol of the exceeding wickedness of sin.

The 21st day of the 7th month, the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, portrays the end of the Millennium when Satan and the demons are temporarily loosed. Immediately they lead people into war and rebellion. Then God executes His final judgment against Satan and the demons — the ultimate in the exceeding wickedness of sin (Revelation 20:10).

What are the 21 sins which show the wickedness of SELF?

In 2Timothy 3 the apostle Paul writes of 21 sins which show the exceeding wickedness of self and sin. He begins the chapter with a warning and then gives his list: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be . . .

1. lovers of themselves,
2. lovers of money,
3. boasters,
4. proud,
5. blasphemers,
6. disobedient to parents,
7. unthankful,
8. unholy,
9. unloving,
10. unforgiving,
11. slanderers,
12. without self-control,
13. brutal,
14. despisers of good,
15. traitors,
16. headstrong,
17. haughty,
18. lovers of pleasure
19. rather than lovers of God,
20. having a form of godliness
21. but denying its power." (2Timothy 3:1-5, NKJV)