The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 33
The meaning of the number 33 is connected to certain promises made by God. The 33rd time Noah's name is used in Scripture is when God makes a special covenant or promise with him. The Eternal promises to not destroy the entire world again with a flood and seals His pledge with the sign of the rainbow (Genesis 9:12 - 16).
The thirty-third time Abraham's name is used in the Bible is when Isaac, the child of promise, is born to him when he is ninety-nine years old (Genesis 21:1 - 2).
Thirty-three also derives some of its meaning from the total number of times 'three' or 'third' is used in the book of Revelation. It can represent, because it is the product of 3 times 11, God's judgment. Thus, Revelation illustrates God's complete, final judgment of the world, which is ultimately accomplished in the final three-and-one-half year (1,260 days) period leading up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Appearances of the number thirty-three
The divine name of God, Elohim (Strong's Concordance #H430), is initially mentioned in the first verse of Genesis 1. Elohim appears 33 times in Genesis' story of creation. Thirty-three is also the numeric equivalent of the word "Amen."
The 33rd time Jacob's name is found in scripture he promised to give a tenth of all he had to God when he had a vision of a ladder reaching to heaven. This is commonly referred to as Jacob's ladder (Genesis 28:10 - 12, 16 - 22).
Number 33 and the greatest king
David became king in 1050 B.C. after the death of Saul. He ruled, however, only the tribe of Judah (from Hebron) for the first seven and one-half years of his monarchy (2Samuel 2:4, 5:1 - 5, 1Chronicles 3:4, 29:27).
The other Israelite tribes, after David ruled for the above period, then decided to make him their king as well. It is after he became the unquestioned monarch over a united Israel that he successfully attacked the Jebusite controlled city of Jerusalem. The city, now known as the "city of David," became his capital during the remaining 33 years of his rule.
Thirty-three is also the number representation of the Star of David (also known as the Shield of David or the Magen of David). This symbol is commonly seen in places such as the flag of modern Israel and in cemeteries to denote a Jewish burial.
The 33rd person in Jesus' lineage from Adam is King David.
More info on Biblical Meaning of 33
Timothy, according to church tradition, was born in 17 A.D. He met Paul, for the first time, during the apostle's second missionary journey in 50. At the age of about 33 Timothy became Paul's friend and traveling companion, and would soon become his closest friend and most trusted fellow-laborer in the gospel.
God's law required a male baby be circumcised on the eighth day (Leviticus 12:1 - 3). A woman who gave birth to a boy was also required, for 33 days afterwards (for a total of forty days), not to touch anything holy or come into the temple, "until the days of her purifying are fulfilled" (verse 4, HBFV). It is interesting to note that a woman giving birth to female babies was unclean for 14 days, and then had another 66 days of purifying for 80 total.
The significance of thirty-three is also seen at Jesus' death at the age of 33. His sacrifice, made in 30 A.D., was the fulfillment of countless prophecies and promises concerning the Savior of man.
A very old Jewish tradition, recounted by the first century A.D. historian Josephus, states that Adam and Eve had 33 sons and 23 daughters!