|
significance |
occurrence |
1 |
Unity; New beginnings |
The unity and primacy, and the oneness of the Godhead (John 1:1) |
3 * |
Divine Perfection |
Samuel is called by the Lord 3 times (1 Sam 3).
The trinity (Mt 28:19).
Satan tempts Jesus 3 times (Luke 4).
The placard on the Cross is written in 3 languages (John 19:20).
Jesus raised 3 people from the dead: Jairus' daughter (Mt 9:18), widow's son (Luke 7:11), and Lazarus (John 11:1). |
7 * |
Spiritual Perfection |
Noah led the clean animals into the ark in sets of 7 pairs for each species (Gen 7:2).
7th day is a day of rest (Gen 2:2, Ex 20:9).
The menorah has 7 candles (Ex 25:31).
Joshua led the Israelites 7 times around Jericho (Joshua 6:4)
Every 7th year is a year of rest for the land (Ex 23:11, Lev 25:4)
Every 7x7th year is a year of jubilee (Lev 25:8)
Forgive your brother not 7, but 70 times** (Mt 18:22)
God has 7 spirits (Rev 3:1). The preceding number, 6, indicates a lack of complete perfection - see 666.
|
10 * |
Numeric Perfection, testimony; Law and responsibility |
10 Commandments (Ex 20)
10 plagues on Egypt (Ex 7-11)
The Passover lamb selected on the 10th day (Ex 12:3)
|
12 * |
Governmental Perfection |
12 tribes of Israel (Num 1).
12 apostles (Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:16, Luke 6:14, Acts 1:13).
Twelve thousand from each of the 12 tribes of Israel (144,000) will receive salvation during the Great Tribulation (Rev 7).
Christ's bride, the church, wears a crown containing 12 stars (Rev 12:1).
Another set of 144,000 will be taken from earth to serve the Lamb of God (Rev 14:1).
New Jerusalem will have 12 gates, one for each of Israel's 12 tribes (Rev 21:12).
The dimensions are all multiples of 12 (Rev 21:16). |
40 |
The duration of a trial of any kind |
The flood caused by rain for 40 days and 40 nights (Gen 7:4)
Moses spent 40 days on Mt Sinai twice (Ex 24:18, 34:28)
Moses, after killing the Egyptian (Ex 2:12), fled to Midian for 40 years in the desert tending flocks (Acts 7:30).
Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness (Num 32:13, Joshua 5:6)
Elijah walks 40 days to Mt Sinai (1 Kings 19)
Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness (Mk 1:12, Luke 4:1)
Jesus was on earth 40 days after his resurrection (Acts 1:3)
|
666 |
|
666 (Rev 13:18) symbolizes the Unholy Trinity (Satan, Antichrist, and the False Prophet). As each of these entities is imperfect, each is represented by the number 6. |
*3, 7, 10, and 12 are considered the perfect numbers of the Bible.