Meaning of Numbers: The Number 15
The English word "fifteen" for the number 15 appears 24 times in 24 King James Bible verses. 20 of these occurrences are in the Old Testament while 4 are in the New. The Old Testament writings that use the word "fifteen" the most are the books of Exodus (5 times) followed by Genesis (3). The New Testament book that uses the word the most is Acts (twice).
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, a day of rest for the children of Israel (and for Christians). Day 15 day of the seventh Hebrew month begins the Feast of Tabernacles, also a day of rest.
God, as the sun set to begin Nisan 15, informed in a vision that his descendants would end up as slaves in a foreign country (Egypt). They would, however, eventually be set free (Genesis 15:12 - 16).
Many years later in Egypt, God miraculously delivered Israel's firstborn from the death angel just as Passover began after sunset (Nisan 14). Then, 24 hours later (just as the sun was setting to begin Nisan 15), the children of Israel began to leave Egypt (Exodus 12:40 - 41). This night is referred to as the "night to be much observed" (Exodus 12:40 - 42, Deuteronomy 16:1). God's prophecy of freedom, given to Abraham on Nisan 15, was fulfilled years later on the exact same day.
After dying on the cross, Jesus' body is placed in a Garden Tomb as the sun was setting to begin Nisan 15 in 30 A.D. (Matthew 27:57 - 61, Luke 23:50 - 55, John 19:38 - 42).
Appearances of Number Fifteen
God caused the earth to be flooded in the days of Noah due to humanity's dedication to wickedness and violence. At least three billion people, likely more, died around the world due to the flood. How high did God cause the water to rise? According to Scripture, water was allowed to rise 15 cubits (roughly 21.8 to 25.5 feet or 6.7 to 7.8 meters) above the highest peaks on the earth.
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).
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).
It was year 15 in the reign of Tiberius Caesar's reign that John the Baptist's ministry began (Luke 3:1 - 3).
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).