Meaning of Numbers
in the Bible

Bible Meaning of Numbers
1  -  2  -  3  -  4  -  5  -  6  -  7
8  -  9  -  10  -  11  -  12  -  13  -  14
15  -  16  -  17  -  19  -  30  -  40  -  666
INTRODUCTION

An essential key to understanding the design of God’s Word is through the meaning of Biblical numbers. The connections and patterns of numerals, when we search them out and understand them, reveal the handiwork of God. Although the arrangement of some is obvious, others are not and require in-depth study. The Biblical numbers found do not exist by random chance but by design. Each one has a particular meaning and symbolism attached to it by our Creator.

Those who research the Bible have discovered patterns in the occurrences and frequency of certain Hebrew and Greek words. These offer additional proof that God inspired every word used in the book that boldly proclaims to reveal His will, plan, and purpose for man. God challenges us through Isaiah that HE ALONE is Creator:

"'To whom then will you compare Me, or who is My equal?' says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold, who has created these things, who brings out their host by number." (Isaiah 40:25, The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, Second Edition).

The awesome complexity of the earth itself, as well as the infinite vastness of the universe (which man cannot even begin to comprehend), are silent witnesses of the existence and wisdom of a Master Designer. The creator God operates the universe based on mathematical laws and principles made by him.

Indeed, God has wonderfully revealed Himself through His creation (Romans 1:20). Though the scientific community has discovered several of these immutable laws, men actually know "little to nothing" about God’s limitless universe.
 
Giant spiral galaxy with one trillion stars.
A giant spiral galaxy 170,000 light
years across with one trillion stars.
The Bible exhibits a numerical design the explanation of which can only come by the direct inspiration of God. Dr. Edward F. Vallowe, in his book Biblical Mathematics, writes:

Numbers are the secret code of God's Word. Only to the students of the Word, those to whom God's Spirit has given spiritual insight, will the code be plain. God is 'The Great Geometrician' and does everything after a plan by number, weight, and measure. If God is the Author of the Scriptures and the Creator of the Universe (and He is) then the Words of God and the Works of God should and will harmonize" (page 19).

Imagine what the Bible would be like without the direct inspiration of a single Author:

"[The] various writers of the different books, men who lived in different ages, and most of whom never saw the others, would have crossed up each other had they not all been guided by a master mind, ONE, Who never makes a mistake, and Whose knowledge and wisdom comprehend the events of all time. The precision with which the Bible numbers all fall into their places cannot be accounted for except by the supernatural power and wisdom of a God Who is infinite" (Ibid., page 20).

From creation to about 90 AD, some 40 key Biblical writers were involved in compiling the Scriptures. A single author would have to be an absolute genius to develop the numerical design found in the Bible. However, to have 40 separate authors, writing over a period of nearly 3800 years, consistently following a complex numerical pattern - the odds would be beyond calculation. It would simply be impossible - apart from the direct inspiration of God.

How frequent are Biblical numbers?

It is interesting to note that, on average, ONE in every FIVE scriptural verses contains a number. The meaning of such frequently used numbers found within the Bible reveals the mind of God and the divine design of His revelation to man.

We have shown and established the supernatural design in the use of number, both in the works of God and in the Word of God. We now come to the spiritual significance of the numbers themselves. We propose to take them in order, and to give under each not merely lists of passages or things, but first to define and explain the significance of the number. We will then illustrate its meaning, and show its teaching, as applied to its use. We will also show per numeral the things mentioned, the occurrences of words and things, the words used for a thing, and the numbers formed by the letters of the words themselves (which the ancients called Gematria). This is the use of the letters of the alphabet instead of figures. Not known to the more ancient nations, Arabic numerals are a comparatively modern invention.

The Hebrew Alphabet consists of twenty-two primary letters. It has five others that are variations of existing letters, for twenty-seven letters total.

English
Hebrew
Letter
Value English
Hebrew
Letter
Value English
Hebrew
Letter
Value
        
  
Alephא 1
Yodי 10
Kophק 100
Bethב 2 Kaphכ 20 Reshר 200
Gimelג 3 Lamedל 30 Shinש 300
Dalethד 4Memמ 40Tauת 400
Heה 5 Nunנ 50 Final Kaph*ך 500
Vauו 6 Samechס 60Final Mem* ם 600
Zayinז 7Ayinע 70Final Nun*ן 700
Chethח 8Peפ 80Final Pe*ף 800
Tethט 9Tsaddiצ 90Final Tsaddi*ץ 900
* Hebrew letters which are variations of existing letters. These variations exist when the primary letter in question (Kaph, Mem, Nun, Pe, or Tsaddi) is at the end of a word.
What is the numeric value of Greek letters?

There were twenty-seven (27) letters in the ancient Greek alphabet. Three (3) of the letters with an equivalent value (Digamma, Qoppa, and Sampi - which represents the numbers 6, 90 and 900 respectively) were used only in certain Greek dialects and are now obsolete.

EnglishGreek
Letter
Value
EnglishGreek
Letter
Value
EnglishGreek
Letter
Value
Alpha
Α   α
1 
Iota
Ι   ι
10 
Rho
Ρ   ρ
100
Beta
Β   β
2 
Kappa
Κ   κ
20 
Sigma
Σ   σ
200
Gamma
Γ   γ
3 
Lambda
Λ   λ
30 
Tau
Τ   τ
300
Delta
Δ   δ
4 
Mu
Μ   μ
40 
Upsilon
Υ   υ
400
Epsilon
Ε   ε
5
Nu
Ν   ν
50
Phi
Φ   φ
500
Digamma Ϝ ϝ6 
Xi
Ξ   ξ
60 
Chi
Χ   χ
600
Zeta
Ζ   ζ
7
Omicron
Ο   ο
70
Psi
Ψ   ψ
700
Eta
Η   η
8 
Pi
Π   π
80 
Omega
Ω   ω
800
Theta
Θ   θ
9
Qoppa
Ϙ   ϙ90 SampiϠ   ϡ900

We shall now endeavor to discover the hidden symbolism of numerals found within God's word.

 
 
 
Biblical Meaning of Numbers
1  -  2  -  3  -  4  -  5  -  6  -  7
8  -  9  -  10  -  11  -  12  -  13  -  14
15  -  16  -  17  -  19  -  30  -  40  -  666
 
 
Source Text
Number in Scripture:
Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance
by E. W. Bullinger
(edited by BibleStudy.org)
 
 
   
 
 
 
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