Meaning of Numbers: The Number 8
The English word "eight" used for the number 8 is recorded 80 times in 80 King James Bible verses. It occurs the most in the book of Nehemiah (14 times) followed by Genesis (10) then both 1 and 2 Chronicles (7 each). While it is found 74 times in the Old Testament it makes only 6 appearances in the New Testament.
The number 8 represents a new beginning, meaning a new order or creation, and man's true "born again" event when he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life.
Eight is also an integral part of Jesus' sacrifice. Like the Passover lamb, Jesus was selected as the Lamb to take away man's sins on Nisan 10 (April 1, 30 A.D. - John 12:28 - 29) and was crucified on Nisan 14. His resurrection occurred three complete days after he was buried, which was at the end of the weekly Sabbath day that fell on Nisan 17. Nisan 17 was day 8, counting inclusively, from the time Christ was selected as man's sacrificial Lamb.
Forty different people wrote the Scriptures. Forty is the product of five (symbolizing grace) times 8 (symbolizing a new beginning). It is therefore only by God's grace and love that man will someday be given a chance for a new beginning, as promised in the Word of God.
After the 7 weeks of the spring harvest, the next day, the 50th day, is Pentecost. This is "day eight" of the seventh week. This combination of 8 and 50 pictures the first resurrection of the dead (1Corinthians 15:20 - 23, Revelation 20:4 - 6).
After the 7 days of the Feast of Tabernacles there is an eighth and final Feast Day called the Last Great Day. This fall period is the most joyous of all of God's annual days to worship him.
Appearances of the Number Eight
God allowed Israel, after they began to indulge in evil and idolatry, to be oppressed by Chushanrishathaim who was the king of Mesopotamia (Judges 3:8). After eight long years the Lord answered the cries of his people by raising up Othniel. He led Israel's defeat Chushanrishathaim's army and served as Judge from 1350 to 1310 B.C.
The New Testament was penned by only 8 men (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Peter, Jude, Paul).
Abdon (in the eastern part of Israel) served as a Judge of Israel for 8 years, from 1064 to 1065 B.C. (Judges 12:13 - 14). He is recorded to have had forty sons and thirty grandsons.
Abraham, the father of the faithful, had 8 sons. They were Ishmael, Isaac, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.
One method of timekeeping used in Israel was called a "watch." Watches were time periods in which guards were placed on duty. Although days were initially divided into 6 equal watch periods (Judges 7:19), by the time of the New Testament days were divided into 8 equal parts (Matthew 14:25, Mark 6:48).
The night watches were sunset to 9 p.m., 9 p.m. to midnight, midnight to 3 a.m. and 3 a.m. to sunrise. The day watches were sunrise to 9 a.m., 9 a.m. to noon, noon to 3 p.m. and finally 3 p.m. to sunset.
Hebrew Months
The Hebrew word abiyb, Strong's Concordance #H24, appears 8 times in 6 Hebrew Old Testament verses. The word, which is used to refer to green ears of corn, is usually translated as Abib. The first month of the sacred year of the Hebrew (Biblical) calendar is called Abib (Nisan) because it is when green corn appears.
And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the Lord, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn (abiyb) dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears (Leviticus 2:14, KJV).
Observe the month of Abib (abiyb), and keep the passover unto the Lord thy God: for in the month of Abib (abiyb) the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night (Deuteronomy 16:1, KJV).
Another Hebrew month, adar (Strong's #H143), is written 8 times in 8 Old Testament verses. Interestingly, all these verses are found in the book of Esther. Adar is the name of the twelfth month of the Hebrew sacred year which always has 29 days.
In the first month, that is, the month Nisan (also called Abib), in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar (Esther 3:7, KJV).
Number 8 and Jesus' Appearances
Jesus, after his resurrection, revealed himself alive 8 times just before his ascension into heaven. His first appearance alive, on April 9 of 30 A.D., was to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9 - 11). He later showed himself to two disciples traveling to Emmaus (Luke 24). Near sunset on the same day he shows himself to ten of his eleven remaining disciples (John 20:19 - 24). Thomas was the only disciple not with the group.
Eight days after his first appearance to most of his disciples (counting this appearance as day one) Jesus appears again. This time, on Sunday April 16, all eleven of his disciples are present.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. (John 20:26, KJV).
Christ's fifth appearance took place when he was seen by 500 believers (1Corinthians 15:4 - 7). Jesus then met his disciples in Galilee, a meeting he had arranged before his death (Matthew 28:16 - 17).
Jesus' seventh appearance was on the Sea of Galilee where Peter miraculously caught 153 fishes (John 21:1 - 24). He revealed himself alive an eighth time to his half-brother James (1Corinthians 15:5 - 7).
The Tetragrammaton and Eight
The Tetragrammaton (Greek for "four letters") refers to the four consonants (YHWH or YHVH in English) used to represent God's name in the Old Testament's original manuscripts.
The Tetragrammaton (Strong's Concordance #H3068) appears in the prophetic book of Daniel 8 times in 7 verses. Interestingly, it is recorded only in the book's ninth chapter where it is translated as "Lord" in the King James. Its first and last appearances are the following.
In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:2, KJV).
And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God (Daniel 9:20, KJV).
Circumcision of Flesh and Heart
Males, according to the Old Testament, were to be circumcised on the 8th day. This command, which was first given to the patriarch Abraham, was also fulfilled when Jesus was born.
And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed (Genesis 17:12, KJV).
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb (Luke 2:21, KJV).
The number 8 symbolizes circumcision of the heart through Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:28 - 29, Colossians 2:11 - 13). Those in Christ are becoming a new creation, with godly character being created by the power of God's Spirit (2Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10).
The Beautiful Attitudes
Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount, his introduction to the New Covenant, with the beatitudes. The beatitudes are a list of 8 behaviors or attitudes that, if manifested in this life, will receive a reward or blessing from God in the resurrection.
1) The poor in spirit (contrite before God) will inherit the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5:3, Luke 6:20).
2) Those who mourn (hate to see sin and its consequences) will be comforted (Matthew 5:4, Luke 6:21)
3) Those who are meek (humble) shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
4) Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled (Matthew 5:6, Luke 6:21).
5) Those who are merciful shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7).
6) Those who are pure in heart (who have a clean conscience) will see God (Matthew 5:8).
7) Those who are peacemakers shall be considered the children of God (Matthew 5:9).
8) Those who are persecuted and reproached for believing in God and Jesus shall inherit, for all eternity, the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:10 - 12, Luke 6:22 - 23).
The Prophetic Eighth Foundation
The eighth wall foundation stone to be used by God to build the New Jerusalem will be beryl.
The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. (Revelation 21:19 - 20, NASB).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 8
King Solomon began the work of building Jerusalem's magnificent temple in the fourth year of his reign. He finished it in his eleventh year in the eighth month of Bul.
In the fourth year, in the month Zif, the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished according to all its parts, and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it. (1Kings 6:37 - 38, KJV).
King David is born to a man named Jesse in the Judean city of Bethlehem. He is his eighth and youngest son (1Samuel 17:12 - 13, 1Chronicles 2:13 - 15) and the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:17 - 22). David would go on to serve as Israel's greatest king from 1010 to 970 B.C.
God saved eight people on the ark to have a new beginning for mankind after the flood. Since the symbolism of the number four in the Bible is derived from God's creation of everything, 8 (4 + 4) pictures the new creation after the flood.
And Noah went in, and his sons (three of them), and his wife, and his sons' wives (three of them) with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. (Genesis 7:7, KJV, see also 1Peter 3:20).
The Festival of Lights, also known as Hanukkah, is celebrated for 8 days. It commemorates the Maccabean rededication of Jerusalem's temple in 164 B.C. after it was defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes. Scripture mentions Jesus celebrating Hanukkah in Jerusalem less than four months before his crucifixion (John 10:22 - 39).
It was on Thursday Nisan 8 on the Hebrew calendar (March 30) that Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem just days before his crucifixion.
The English word "blessed" is found 8 times in the King James version of Proverbs.
The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot (Proverbs 10:7, KJV).
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him (Proverbs 20:7, KJV).