Meaning of Numbers: The Number 30
The meaning of 30 comes, in part, from it symbolizing dedication to a particular task or calling. Aaronic priests were initially dedicated to serving at thirty years of age (Num. 4:3). God likely choose 30 because it was when a person reached both physical and mental maturity and could therefore handle major responsibilities.
John the Baptist, who was of priestly descent (his mother was a descendant of the daughters of Aaron and his father was a priest), began his ministry at age 30. In the fall of 26 A.D., at the age of thirty, Christ began to publicly preach the gospel (Luke 3:23). His ministry lasted for three and one-half years.
This number can also represent the sacrificial blood of Jesus, as He was betrayed by Judas for thirty silver coins. This act was a fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 11:12). When Judas flung the "blood money" he was paid back into the temple, the priests did not accept it as an offering but rather decided to buy a potter's field with it. Though they were not aware of it, what they did was also fulfilling prophecy (verse 13).
Jesus, in 30 A.D., suffered and shed His precious blood as God's sacrificial Lamb for the world's sins.
Appearances of the Number Thirty
The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in caves on the upper northwest shore of the Dead Sea started in 1947. Among all the scrolls found over the years, 30 copies of the Psalms have been identified.
The patriarchs Salah (grandson of Shem), Peleg (who lived to see the world's continents divide) and Serug (the great-grandfather of Abraham) had their first sons at the age of 30.
The prophet Ezekiel begins his book of the same name in the thirtieth year (which likely referenced his age at the time - Ezekiel 1:1). It is at this time he receives his first recorded vision from God, known as the "wheel in the middle of a wheel" or "wheel within a wheel" vision.
Abraham was promised that if God found at least thirty righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah he would not destroy the cities (Genesis 18:30).
Jair, one of the Judges of Israel delineated in the Bible, had thirty sons. He was wealthy enough not only to provide each of them with their own horse to ride, but also gave each of them a city for 30 total (Judges 10:4). Ibzan, another Judge of Israel, had thirty sons and the same amount of daughters (Judges 12:9).
Samson and the Number 30
Samson decides to get married to a Philistine woman as a way of provoking Israel's most implacable enemy the Philistines (Judges 14:1 - 4). At his wedding celebration he offers a prize of a linen garment and a clothing change to each of the 30 men who are considered friends of the bridegroom if they collectively answer his riddle. If they fail to answer correctly, however, they must give him the same prize he offered.
Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness (Judges 14:14, HBFV).
Samson's guests, unable to respond to his riddle, conspire with his new wife to have her entice him to divulge the answer. She succeeds in discovering the answer and secretly conveys it to the wedding guests.
Samson, upon discovering he had been manipulated, travels to the Philistine city of Ashkelon, kills 30 men, and gives their clothes to those who through trickery answered his riddle (Judges 14:11 - 19).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 30
30 is a product of 2 x 3 x 5, all of which are prime numbers.
In Gematria, 30 is represented by the 12th Hebrew letter called Lamed. In the Greek alphabet it is represented by the letter Lambda.
In the Old Testament, the Biblical chapters of Genesis 38, Exodus 6, Leviticus 6, 18, Numbers 23, Deuteronomy 22, 31, Judges 19, 1Samuel 18, 2Kings 25, 1Chronicles 21, 29, Job 6, 22, 39, Proverbs 20, Isaiah 5, Jeremiah 6, 22, 44 and Daniel 3 contain 30 verses in the King James translation.
In the New Testament, the chapters Matthew 11, 19, Acts 11, 22, Philippians 1 and 2 have 30 verses in the KJV.
2Chronicles 30 records a momentous Passover observed in King Hezekiah's reign by the Kingdom of Judah. The Bible writes about nine additional important Passovers in Exodus 12, Numbers 9, Joshua 5, 2Chronicles 35, Ezra 6, Luke 2, John 2 and 6, and Matthew 26.
Joseph, a type of Jesus, was thirty years old when Egypt's Pharaoh placed him in charge over all that he ruled. King David also, when he began to reign over Israel, was this age (2Samuel 5:4).
Both the death of Aaron and Moses was mourned by the children of Israel for 30 days (Num. 20:29, Deuteronomy 34:8).
In 30 A.D. the New Testament church is born. It started in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Sunday, May 28) when God's spirit initially came upon 120 individuals celebrating the Feast day. Later in the day an additional 3,000 were baptized, received God's Holy Spirit, and became Christians (Acts 2).