Meaning of Numbers: The Number 13
The English word "thirteen" used for the number 13 is recorded 15 times in 15 King James Bible verses. Amazingly, it is written only in the KJV Old Testament, being found the most in Joshua (5 times) followed by the book of Numbers (4) and then 1Chronicles (3).
The number 13 is symbolic of rebellion and lawlessness in the Bible. Nimrod, the mighty hunter who was "before the Lord" (meaning he tried to take the place of God, Genesis 10:9), was generation 13 in Ham's line (Ham was one of Noah's three sons who survived the flood).
13 represents all the governments created by men, and inspired by Satan, in outright rebellion against the Eternal.
Appearances of the Number Thirteen
The longest name of a book, Thessalonians, is 13 characters long.
In Romans 1 the apostle Paul lists 23 characteristics of sinful people who have a debased or reprobate mind. The thirteenth characteristic is that they are haters of God (Romans 1:28 - 32).
Haman the Agagite has a decree signed on Nisan 13 (Nisan is the first month of the Hebrew sacred calendar) that on the Adar 13 (the last month of the sacred year) all Jews in the Persian Empire were to be killed (Esther 3:7 - 9). His plans are thwarted, however, by Queen Esther and Mordecai.
The destruction of Jericho is stamped with the number 13, for the city was marched around for six straight days, and on the seventh day, it was marched seven times, making thirteen total.
King Solomon spent a little more than seven years building Jerusalem's temple, God's house of prayer for the nations (1Kings 6:38). In contrast, He spent thirteen years building a home for himself!
But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house (1Kings 7:1, KJV).
There are at least 13 famines mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 12:10, 26:1, 41:54, Ruth 1:1, 2Samuel 21:1, 1Kings 18:1, 2Kings 4:38, 7:4, 25:3, Nehemiah 5:3, Jeremiah 14:1, Luke 15:14 and Acts 11:28.
In Mark 7 Jesus mentions thirteen things that defile a person. They are adulteries, fornications, evil thoughts, murders, covetousness, thefts, wickedness, licentiousness, guile, blasphemy, foolishness, pride and an evil eye (Mark 7:20 - 23).
The Number of Evil
The English word "Hinnom" occurs in 13 times in 11 King James verses. The valley of Hinnom was the scene of the evil-inspired rites of the pagan god Moloch (or Molech). The practices related to this false deity received some credibility when they were knowingly allowed by King Solomon (1Kings 11:7) in order to please his non-Israelite wives.
And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart (Jeremiah 7:31, KJV).
And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin (Jeremiah 32:35, KJV).
One of the several ways Molech was appeased and worshipped was through the sacrifice of children who, placed on the red-hot arms of the idol, were burned alive. The valley's tie to fire made for an apt backdrop of the ultimate punishment unrepentant and rebellious sinners will receive in the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20, 20:9 - 10, 14 - 15).
The Greek word drakon, Strong's Concordance #G1404, occurs 13 times in 12 Greek New Testament verses. The word is used only in the book of Revelation. It is always translated as the word "dragon," a symbolic reference to God's adversary Satan the devil.
And the great dragon (drakon) was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:9, KJV).
And they worshipped the dragon (drakon) which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? (Revelation 13:4, KJV).
Number 13 and God's Character
Moses had to hew out a second set of tablets for the Ten Commandments after the first was broken due to Israel's sins (Exodus 34:1).
Carrying the new set of tablets, Moses went up Mount Sinai to have God inscribe his laws a second time. The Lord's presence then enveloped him like a cloud and, according to Jewish tradition (the Middot), proclaimed 13 forms of His mercy. These 13 holy attributes, taken from Exodus 34:6 - 7, are the following.
1) Compassion before a human sins.
2) Compassion after a human has sinned.
3) Mighty in compassion to give all creatures according to their need.
4) Offering mercy that humans may not be distressed.
5) Being gracious if humans are already in distress.
6) Slow to anger.
7) Plenteous in mercy.
8) Abundant in truth.
9) Keeping mercy unto thousands.
10) Forgiving iniquity.
11) Forgiving transgression.
12) Forgiving sin.
13) Willingness to pardon.
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 13
There are 147 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 13 times.
The Greek word chrusos, Strong's Concordance #G5557, occurs 13 times in 12 Greek New Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of Matthew (5 times) followed by Revelation (4). The word, in the King James, is always translated as gold.
And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her (the end time Babylon the Great which rules the world); for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
The merchandise of gold (chrusos), and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet . . . (Revelation 18:11 - 12, KJV).
The earliest start, throughout history, of Passover occurring is at sunset on March 13. This early observance of the first of God's annual Holy (Feast) days takes place in the years 1348, 1405, 1481, 1500 and 1576 A.D.
Ishmael, the first physical son of Abraham (through Hagar), was circumcised (which is cutting off the foreskin of a penis) when he was 13 years old (Genesis 17:25) as part of the then new covenant God made with Abraham (Genesis 17:1 - 22). This, however, was just the start.
Abraham also had every male born in his house (at least 318 individuals - Genesis 14:14), as well as all the males he owned, and any other males (whether an adult or child) he was responsible for, circumcised on the same day (Genesis 17:23 - 27)! In addition, even though he was 99 years old, Abraham himself submitted to circumcision.
In the Old Testament, the Biblical chapters of Psalm 79, 85, 96, 108, 140, Song of Solomon 6, 7, Isaiah 6, 27, 46, 55, Jeremiah 43, Daniel 12, Amos 4, Micah 2, 4, Nahum 2 and Zechariah 2 contain 13 verses in the King James translation.
In the New Testament, 1Corinthians 5, 8, 13, 1Thessalonians 3, Hebrews 8, 2John 1 and Revelation 8 all contain 13 verses in the KJV.
The books of 2Corinthians and Hebrews, both written by the Apostle Paul, have 13 chapters.