All God’s ways are perfect. His works are perfect and His words are perfect.  Can there also be perfection in His use of numbers?  The Jews and Jewish Christians of the Old and New Testament thought so and so did the Fathers of the Catholic Church.  St. Jerome, St. Augustine, and Pope St. Gregory I (the Great) all wrote extensively of God’s design and the significance in His plan of salvation in the use of numbers.

In sacred Scripture numbers usually have more significance than their quantitative indicators.  More often than not even when a number is used to indicate a certain quantity the individual number given may point beyond the numerical value to a symbolic significance.  At other times the number given is not to be taken literally and may represent an approximate value, a symbolic value, or may indicate the use of hyperbole—an exaggeration or amplification to illustrate a teaching point in the Biblical text.  For example:

• The six day period of Creation may not be literal but may represent a symbolic period of time that was perfected on the seventh day when God rested—seven being one of the four “perfect” numbers.
• The number of the 144,000 heavenly souls marked with the “seal of the living God” in Revelation chapter 7.  Bible scholars both ancient and modern have interpreted this number as reflecting the symbolic perfection of redeemed man in terms of the “perfect” number 12 which signifies perfection of government in Scripture multiplied by divine order (Ten signifies divine order in scripture).  144,000 is the square of 12 times the cube of 10.
• In Matthew 18:22 Simon Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive a bother who has sinned against him.  Peter asks “As many as seven times?”  Jesus’ response is “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times,” indicating not a literal 77 times but that Peter’s forgiveness is to be given without limit—an abundance of forgiveness using the “perfect” number 7 which represents both covenant and spiritual perfection.

In addition to the study of the symbolic significance of numbers in Scripture is the study of the numbers formed by the letters of words themselves, which is known by the Greek word gematria. This is the study of the words formed of letters of the alphabet used as number figures.  The Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, and many other ancient peoples used their alphabets for numbers.  The Hebrews used all 22 letters of their alphabet plus 5 finals.  The Greeks used the 24 letter alphabet and 3 additional finals.  The Romans only used 6 letters of their alphabet and their combinations to form numbers: I= 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500.  The number 1,000 was formed by two D’s (combined to form an M like figure).  The Apostle John, writing during the time of the first great Roman persecution of Christians, recorded in the Book of Revelations that the number of the Beast was 666.  Most ancient MSS (hand-written manuscripts) of the book of Revelation record 666 as this significant number while others manuscripts record the number as 616.  Is it a coincidence that all the Roman numeral added together total 666 (excluding the symbol for 1,000 which was not a separate letter/ number but two “D”= 500 place back to back)?  Is it also a coincidence that the gematria for Neron Caesar (an alternate Hebrew spelling of the Emperor’s name in wide use in the 1^st century AD) totals 666 while the Greek spelling of Nero Caesar totals 616?  Six is the number of the beasts and of man (both created on the 6^th day).  It is also the number which is symbolic of man’s nature to rebel against the law of God.

Each number, according to ancient tradition has significance, for example:

• Three is the number of perfect completion for the Jews and for Christians the number three symbolized the perfection of the Godhead = Trinity.
• Eight is the number of salvation.  It is the number of Christ, of the resurrection, and of the Second Coming.  The gematria of the name Jesus in Greek (the language of the Old Testament) is 888:  a trinity of eights, the fullness of salvation!  As a matter of fact, every name identifying the second person of the Trinity is a multiple of 8 in Greek:  Jesus Christ = 1480 (8 x 185); Lord = 800 (8 x 100); Savior = 1,408 (8 sq. x 32); Emmanuel = 25,600 (8 cubed x 50); Messiah = 656 (8x 82);  Son 880 (8 x110).

The study of the significance of the use of numbers in Scripture requires a lifetime of study and reflection, but a brief summary of some of the most significant numbers may be enough to wet one’s appetite for future study.

ONE:  In sacred Scripture “one”, ehad, in Hebrew represents unity and is the quintessential number of monotheism, the worship of one God.

• This concept of one as a unity of one God is expressed in the opening lines of the first profession of faith found in Scripture, the Shema: “Hear O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is One” [Deuteronomy 6:4]. 
• One as a cardinal number symbolizes Unity. The number One is indivisible and not made up of any other number representing the unity of the One true God in which there is no division
• One as an ordinal number denotes primacy, sovereignty, divine completeness or perfection.
• Christians recognized the number “one” in Scripture as symbolic of the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity, God the Father.

TWO:  This number can mean difference, division, or double portion.

• On the second day God created light and darkness. [Genesis 1:3-4]
• The Ten Commandments were inscribed on two tablets of stone. [Exodus 31:18; 32:15; 34:1, 4, 29]
• The children of Israel were forbidden to collect manna on the Sabbath and therefore were permitted to collect a double portion of manna on Friday.[Exodus 16:5]
• On the 6^th day of Creation God created two—male and female—of every species in order that fertility might be a blessing to the earth. [Genesis 1:24-31]
• In the New Testament Christians also saw this number as a symbol of the second person of the Trinity, the Incarnation of God the Son in the perfection of His humanity and divinity.

THREE:  In sacred Scripture the number 3 represents that which is solid, real, substantial, and something in its completeness.  This number usually indicates something of importance or significance in God’s plan of salvation by identifying an important event in Salvation History.  This number operates as a “sign-post” in Scripture study for the reader to “pay attention” to the significance of the next event.

In the Old Testament:

• It is the first of the 4 perfect numbers which are 3 (divine perfection); 7 (spiritual perfection); 10 (ordinal perfection); and 12 (governmental perfection).        
• The earth was separated from the waters on the 3^rd day [Genesis 1:9-13]
• There were three Patriarchs of the children of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel
• There are three verses in the Priestly Blessing in which the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, God’s holy covenant name, appears 3 times [Numbers 6:24-26].
• Three times the angelic Seraphim cry “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8).
• After the Great Flood mankind descended from the three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. [Genesis 10:1-32]
• Three “men” announced to Abraham that his barren wife would bear a son [Genesis 18:14].
• Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son after a 3-day journey to Mt. Moriah [Genesis 22:1-4].
• Baby Moses was hidden by his mother for 3 months [Exodus 2:1] and the adult Moses requests of Pharaoh that he let Moses take his people on a 3 day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifice to their God [Exodus 3:18].
• There were 3 divisions of the desert Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem: the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies [Exodus 27:9; 26:1-30, 35-37; 31-34; 38:9-20; 21-31; 40:1-33; 1 Kings 6: 1-37].
• God is mentioned three times in the Shema (the first profession of faith in Deuteronomy 6:4) and three times in the blessing in Numbers 23:24.
• There are 3 attributes of God mentioned in Exodus 33:18-19: hen, rachum, and hesed (gracious, compassionate /merciful, and loving kindness).
• Of the 7 Holy Feasts of the Sinai Covenant, 3 are Pilgrim feasts in which every man 13 years or older must present himself before God at the Temple in Jerusalem. This command is repeated three time in scripture.[Exodus 23:14-17; 34:18-23; Deuteronomy 16:16]
• Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of the great fish [Jonah 1:17]; Jonah took a 3 day journey across the city of Nineveh [Jonah 3:3]

In the New Testament:

• Jesus’ ministry lasted 3 years.
• Mary stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months [Luke 1:56]
• Jesus was missing for 3 days when He was 12 years old [Luke 2:46]
• Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the Mt. of Transfiguration [Matthew 17]
• Jesus arose from the dead on the third day.[Genesis 1:9-13]
• Saul was blinded for 3 days [Acts 9:9]
• The theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity [1 Corinthians 13:13]
• The heavenly Jerusalem has 3 gates on each of its four sides [Revelation 21:13]
• Christians saw three as symbolic of the Trinity, the triune nature of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Three is also recognized as the number of the Holy Spirit. 

In Addition:

• 3 divisions of time: past, present, and future    
• 3 persons in grammar
• Thought, word, and deed complete the sum of human capacity.

FOUR:  The number 4 represents God’s creative works, especially works associated with the earth:

• 4 cardinal directions N, S, E, W. with 4 Angels at four corners of the earth holding back the 4 winds of the world [Revelation 7:1]
• The Covenant People of God had 4 divisions of daylight (Dawn - 9AM; 9AM-12 Noon; 12 Noon - 3PM; 3PM - Sunset)
• 4 lunar phases
• 4 seasons
• 4 rivers flowed out of Eden [Genesis 2:10]
• 4 consonants formed God’s covenant name YHWH
• 4 cherubim [Genesis 3:22-24; Ezekiel 1:10]
• In Ezekiel’s vision of the heavenly throne/chariot the cherubim each had 4 faces with four wheels[Ezekiel 1:10-12]
• 4 women gave birth to the fathers of the 12 Tribes of Israel
• The prayer shawl has 4 corners with 4 tassels [Numbers 15:38-39]
• 4 heavenly creatures. [Revelation 4:6-8]
• Israelite camp divided into 4 parts when camping around the tabernacle. [Numbers 2:1-34]
• 4^th book of the Bible is Numbers, in Hebrew B’Midbar = gematria 248 or 4 x 62
• The ancients considered there to be 4 elements, earth, fire, air, & water
• Bible has 4-fold division of mankind: lands, tongues, families & nations. [Revelation 13:7]
• 4 cups of wine are used at the Passover Seder.

FIVE:   This is the number of divine grace.

• Five kinds of animals were sacrificed under the Old Covenant: goats, sheep, cattle, pigeons, & doves [Genesis 15:9; Exodus 29:38; Leviticus 1:1-17; 3:1; 4:3, 14, 23, 28; 5:6-7]
• God changed Abram’s name to Abraham by adding the letter/number 5 to his name [Genesis 17:5].  He changes Sarai’s name by adding the same letter with the value of “grace” to form the name Sarah [Genesis 17:15]. Abraham and Sarah were transformed by grace to become the parents of a family from which the Messiah would be born
• The Tabernacle was measured in multiples of 5 [Exodus 25 - 27]
• 5 books of the Torah (first 5 books of the Old Testament)
• Matthew’s Gospel is composed of 5 “books” composed of 5 narratives and 5 discourses
• Jesus bled from 5 wounds on the altar of the Cross 
• Daniel procalimed the Fifth Kingdom to be an Everlasting Kingdom [Daniel 2:37-44]

SIX:   Both man and the serpent were created on the sixth day, therefore, the number six represents both man and rebellion.

• 666 is the number of the Beast. 
• Man is commanded to labor 6 days [Exodus 31:15]
• The 6^th commandment is the sin of murder [Exodus 20:13]
• The 6^th clause of the prayer of the “Our Father” petitions that we not be led into sin and be delivered from evil. [Matthew 6:13]
• The world turned dark at the 6^th hour Hebrew time (12 noon-1PM) when Christ was on the cross.  In Roman time the 6^th hour is 6-7AM, when Jesus was being tried by the Roman governor Pilate [Gospel of St. John 19:14].
• Jesus suffered on the cross for 6 hours (as he suffered that man might be saved); from 9AM, (see Mark 15:25) the hour of the first daily sacrifice in the Temple to 3PM, (see Mark 15:33-34; Mattew 27:45; Luke 23:44) the hour of the last sacrifice, and gave up His life at the beginning of the 7^th hour (the number of perfection).
• All six of the letters which represent the number system of the Roman Empire added together give the number 666: I = 1; V= 5; X= 10; L= 50; C = 100; D= 500 [there is no letter/number M. 1000 was two Ds back to back which resembled an M]. 

SEVEN:   Spiritual perfection and fullness or completion. It is the number of Covenant and of the Holy Spirit.

• 7 is the second perfect number.
• In Hebrew 7 is shevah (shebah) from the root shava (shaba or sheba), to be full. 
• God rested on the seventh day (Saturday) after creation [Genesis 2:2]
• To swear an oath in Hebrew is “to seven oneself”
• There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (CCC#1831; Isaiah 11:1)
• The sacred Menorah has 7 branches, six on each side of a central shaft, and 7 cup shaped lamps for the olive oil
• There were 7 classes of furniture in the Tabernacle: Bronze Altar, Bronze Laver, Golden Menorah, Golden Table of the Bread of the Presence, Golden Altar of Incense, Ark of the Covenant, and the Seat of Atonement
• The Tabernacle was built in 6 days and dedicated on the 7th [Exodus 40:17]
• It took Solomon 7 years to build the Temple in Jerusalem. [1 Kings 6:37-38]
• There are 7 holy annual feast days in the Sinai Covenant [Leviticus 23:1-44]
• The Feast of Passover is the 1^st month of the liturgical year but the 7^th month of the civil year. [Exodus 12:1-2]
• The Feast of Tabernacles completes the cycle of Holy Days on the 7^th month of the liturgical year.[Leviticus 23:33-43]
• There are multiple sevens in the Book of Revelation including
• seven Spirits of God [ Revelation 4:5]
• seven Seals [ Revelation 5:1]
• seven Angels with Seven Chalices [ Revelation 15:5-7]
• mamals and birds have a gestation of multiples of 7:

  mouse: 21 days (3 x 7)	cat 56 (8 x 7)	Sheep 147 (21 x 7)
  hare & rat, 28 ( 4x7)	dog 63 (9 x 7)	hen 21 (3 x 7)
  humans 280 days ( 40 x 7)	lion 98 (14 x 7)	Duck 42 (6 x 7)

  With insects the ova are hatched in seven half-days (the wasp, bee, etc).  But with other insects it is seven whole days.  The majority of insects require from 14 (2x7) to 42 (6x7) days and the same applies to the larva state.
• Man’s pulse beats on the seven-day principle.  For six days out of seven it beats faster in the morning than in the evening while on the seventh day it beats slower.  The seventh day is the day of rest!
• 7 days in a week
• 7 colors in the spectrum—the seven colored rainbow was the sign of the covenant with Noah
• There are 168 hours in a week = 7 x 24

EIGHT:  sh’moneh in Hebrew, from the root shah’meyn “to make fat” or “to cover with fat” which means to super-abound.  The first of a new series: there are 7 days in a week; the 8^th is the beginning of a new series of days.  It is the number of salvation, resurrection, and new birth/regeneration.

• Eigth is the first cubic number (2 x 2 x 2). This is significant because the Holy of Holies in both the Tabenacle and in the Temple were a perfect cube.[1 Kings 6:20]
• 8 is the number of our salvation and the Second Coming.  It is the day Christ arose from the dead [Matthew 28:1-28; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1-10]
• 8 (okto in Greek) days after the resurrection (literal Greek Translation) Jesus appeared to his desciples this time with Thomas. [John 20:26]
• The 8^th day which is Sunday, is the first day of the New Covenant.
• 8 people were saved in the ark including Noah (Genesis 7:13)
• On the 8^th day of an Israelite boy child’s birth he entered the old covenant by circumcision [Genesis 17:10-12; Exodus 22:29-30; Leviticus 12:3]
• God lit the altar of the Tabernacle; this day was commemorated in the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) which was an eight day feast.[Leviticus 23:36-39]
• The feasts Passover (Nisan 14^th) and Unleavened Bread 15^th -21^st ) lasted 8 days and marked the beginning of the Liturgical year [Leviticus 23:5-8while the Feast of Tabernacles lasted 8 days and marked the end of the Liturgical year.
• The priesthood of Aaron and his sons was consecrated on the 8^th day [Leviticus 9:1]
• David, God’s anointed, is the 8^th son of Jesse [1 Samuel 16:10-13]
• There are 8 classes of furniture in the Temple [1 Kings6:15-8:9]
• Solomon finishes building the Temple in the 8^th month of the 7^th year. [1 Kings 6:37-38; 8:1-2] The celebration and dedication lasted eight days [1 Kings 8:66]
• The dimensions of the Temple are based on the number 8 [1 Kings 7:10]
• There are 8 miracles of the prophet Elijah [1 Kings 17 - 2 Kings 13]
• Jesus rose from the dead on the 8^th day of His week of Redemptive Passion (Sunday is both the first day of the week and the day that follows the seventh day the old covenant sabbath; the eighth day) [Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-2; Luke 24:1-3
• There are 8 petitions in the Lord’s Prayer [Matthew 6:9-13]
• There are 8 Beatitudes (or 7 depending on how one counts them) [Matthew 5:1-12]
• the gematria of Jesus in Greek, Iesous, is 888 (I = 10, e= 8, s=200, o=70, u=400, s=200)
All the names for Jesus are multiples of 8
• Scientists have identified 88 constellations
• Scientists now believe there are only 8 planets (Pluto’s erratic orbit suggests it was once a moon of Neptune)
• In the Book of Revelation:
• there are 24 elders around the throne of God (3 x 8) [Revelation 4:4]
• 4 beasts with 6 wings ea. = 24 (3x8) [Revelation 4:6-8]
• 12 thousand from each tribe of Israel 144,000 = (8x15x100) [Revelation 7:4-8]

SEVEN AND EIGHT: together these numbers form a remarkable connection. As we have noted seven, according to its etymology, means that which is spiritually complete, while eight denotes that which is superabundant.  God’s holy covenant name is expressed in Hebrew by the four consonants YHWH which have a value of 10, 5, 6, and 5.  Added together their total is 20 + 6 but multiplied by 3 (the Triune God) their value is 70 (7x10) +8 or spiritual perfection times perfection of order plus superabundant salvation.

Yahweh's covenants are also 7 and 8: 7 in the Old Testament and the 8th in the New Covenant in Christ

1. Covenant with Adam [Genesis 1:28-30; 2:15-17; Hosea 6:7]
2. Noah and the earth [Genesis 6:18; 9:9-17; Sirach 44:17-18]
3. Abraham [Genesis 12:3; 15:1-18; 18:18; 22:18; Sirach 44:19-20]
4. Sinai Covenant [Exodus 19-24; 34:10, 27, 28; Deuteronomy 5:2-3]
5. Aaron & Sons high priestly covenant[Exodus 40:15; Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19; Sirach 45:7; Jeremiah 33:21]
6. Phinehas: perpetual priesthood [Numbers 25:11-15; Sirach 45:24]
7. David & descendant [2 Samuel 7:11; 23:5; Sirach 45:25]
8. Jesus the Priest-King of the New Covenant [Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 7:22-24; 8:6; 9:15-20; 12:24; 13:20]

The classes of furniture in the desert Tabernacle and in the Temple reflected the numbers both 7 and 8.

NINE:   This number is related to the number six, being the sum of its factors (3x3=9, and 3+3=6).  It is significant of the end of man and the sum of all man’s works.  Nine is therefore the number of finality or judgment.

• It was in the ninth year of the prophet Hosea that the king of Assyria destroyed the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and carried the people away into exile [2 Kings 17:6].
• It was in the ninth year of King Zedekiah’s reign that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon conquered the Southern Kingdom of Judah, destroying the city of Jerusalem and the Temple [2 Kings 25:1].
• It was the ninth hour, Jewish time (3PM) when Jesus gave up His life on the cross for the sins of the world [Matthew 27:46].

TEN: Perfection of divine order

• Noah was the 10^th generation from Adam [Genesis 5:1-32]
• Abraham was the 10^th generation from Shem, son of Noah [Genesis 11:10-26] (the ancients counted every series with the first in the series as #1—there was no concept of 0 as a place value)
• 10 Commandments [Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21]
• 10 clauses in the Lord’s Prayer [Matthew 6:9-13]
• 10 plagues on Egypt [Exodus 7:14-12:30]
• 10 virgins in Jesus’ parable [Matthew 25:1-13]
• 10 times John uses the words "I Am” in his Gospel

ELEVEN:  disorder: 10 + 1 or 12 – 1; also disorganization, unfulfillment, imperfection.

• At Kadesh-Barnea the Children of Israel traveled 11 days from Mt. Sinai.  In one more day they could have been in the Holy Land but their faith failed them. [Deuteronomy 1:2]
• The last two Kings of Judah each reigned 11 years before the Babylonian conquest of Judah.
• Jehoiakim [2 Kings 23:36; 24:1; 2 Chronicles 36:5-6 ]
• Zedekiah [2 Chronicles 36:11; Jeremiah 52:1; ]

TWELVE:  Perfection of government.  Twelve is the number of the Church, both the Old Covenant Church of Israel founded by 12 physical fathers (the 12 sons of Israel) and the New Covenant Church founded by 12 spiritual fathers (the 12 Apostles).  This number also has a relationship to rule along with multiples of 12.

• 12 signs of the zodiac (these ancient symbols are found in Jewish synagogues of the 1^st century AD)
• The circle of the heavens = 360’ (12 x 30)
• The product of 3 (perfection of divinity) x 4 (the number of the earth)
• 12 tribes of Israel
• 12 prophets of Old Testament
• 12 months of a year
• Jesus is 12 when He questions the scholars in the Temple [Luke 2:41]
• 12 legions of angles [Matthew 26:53]
• 12 Apostles [Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:13]
• 12 foundations of the Heavenly Jerusalem Revelation 7:4; 21:16, 17

THIRTEEN:  An ill omen representing hostility, rebellion, apostasy, defection, corruption.

• 13 is the 6^th prime number. 
• Judas is considered to be the thirteenth; Jesus is #1 plus the 12 holy Apostles; Judas is always named last in the list of Apostles [Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16].
• Ishmael, the illegitimate son of Abraham was 13 years old when he was circumcised. [Genesis 17:23]
• Leaven is a sign for sin.  The gematria for leaven, zumee in Hebrew is 13.
• The Virgin Mary often appears on the 13^th day of the month. This number obviously has no power over her.  Remember it was prophesied that her son would crush the head of the serpent in Genesis 3:15.

FOURTEEN:  7 x 2 = double measure of spiritual perfection. 7 is the number of covenant and divine perfection and 2 is the number of the Incarnation.

• The genealogy of Jesus in St. Matthew's Gospel is divided into three sets of 14 generations [Matthew 1:1-17]
• The gematria of David's name is 14

FIFTEEN:  3 x 5;   5 = grace and 3= divine perfection of the Godhead.  This number symbolizes acts wrought by the energy of divine grace.

• 15 is 7 + 8 = Covenant (7) and Resurrection (8); when Jesus manifest himself as God and defeated death and Satan (Resurrection was on Sunday, the 8^th as well as the 1^st day).
• 15 is a special mark of the energy of divine grace issuing in glory. 
• The 15^th day of the 1^st month = Feast of Unleavened Bread begins at sundown after the Passover sacrifice (Sundown begins the next day for the Hebrews).  It is the day of the Last Supper [Leviticus 23:6].
• The 15^th day of the 7^th month is the final feast of the liturgical year, the Feast of Tabernacles. [Leviticus 23:34]

SEVENTEEN:  Perfection of spiritual order

• The 7^th prime number.
• 17 can mean double spiritual perfection 2 x 7 + 3.
• 17 is also the sum of two perfect numbers 7 + 10 = perfection of spiritual order. For example see Romans 8:35-39 = series of 7 blessings in the form of questions followed by 10 answers.  Also see Hebrews 12:18-24 where Old Covenant and New are contrasted­­­­.  7 statements refer to Old Covenant and 10 to the New.  In both these New Testament passages the New (10) is superior to the Old (7).
• The 17^th of Nisan of Passion Week was the Feast of Firstfruits and Jesus’ Resurrection when He defeated sin and death (which was Sunday the 8^th day)[Leviticus 23:11-14; Matthew 28:1-6]

TWENTY: This number is the double of 10, and may in some cases signify its concentrated meaning.  But its significance seems to be connected with the fact that it is one short of 21.  That is to say, if 21 is the three-fold 7, and signifies divine (3) completion as regards spiritual perfection (7), then twenty, being one short of 21, it would signify expectancy, and there are numerous illustrations in Scripture to support this explanation

• 20 years Jacob waited to get possession of his wives and property [Genesis 21:38-41]
• 20 years Israel waited for a deliverer from Jabin’s oppression [Judges 4:3]
• 20 years Israel waited for deliverance through Samson [Judges 15:20; 16:31]
• 20 years the Ark of the Covenant waited at Kirjath-jearim [1 Samuel 7:2]
• 20 years Solomon was waiting for the completion of the Temple and Palace [1 Kings 6:10; 2 Chronicles 8:1]
• 20 years Jerusalem waited between its subjugation and its destruction [Jeremiah 52:4-13; 2 Chronicles 36:1-10; 52:4]
• 20 years Jeremiah prophesied concerning the destruction of Jerusalem [Jeremiah 52:4-13]

THIRTY:  Being 3 x 10 this number denotes in a higher degree the perfection of divine order, as marking the right moment.

• Jesus was 30 years of age at the commencement of His ministry (Luke 3:23).
• Joseph was thirty when he began to be Vizier of Egypt. [Genesis 41:6
• David was also 30 when he began his reign. [2 Samuel 5:4]
• A priest began his duties at age 30 (he was a “deacon” for 5 years from age 25-30), and he retired by age 50.

FOURTY:  This number is recognized as an important number, both on account of the frequency of its occurrence and with the uniformity of its association both as a time of consecration and as a period of trial.

• 40 day epic periods during the great flood. [Genesis 7:4, 12, 17,8:6]
• 40 days Moses was on the Mountain to receive the Law of the Sinai Covenant [Exodus 24:18]
• 40 days the children of Israel were tested while Moses was on the mountain
• 40 days Moses was on the Mountain after the golden calf. [Exodus 34:28]
• 40 days of Jonah in the Assyrian city of Nineveh [Jonah 3:4]
• 40 days Ezekiel lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah’s transgression [Ezekiel 29:11]
• 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness before his trial of temptation by Satan [Matthew 4:2; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2]
• 40 days Jesus taught His disciples after the Resurrection.  On the fortieth day He ascended to the Father. [Acts 1:3]
• 40 years was the age of Isaac when he married Rebekah [Genesis 25:20]
• 40 years from the first Pentecost at Sinai to the taking of the Promised land [Joshua 5:6]
• 40 years from the Resurrection to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70AD
• 40 years of Moses in Egypt (by Jewish Tradition)
• 40 years of Moses in Midian before his return to Egypt
• 40 years Israel ate manna [Exodus 16:35; Deuteronomy 29:5]
• 40 years was Joshua's age when Moses sent him to reconnoiter on Canaan [Joshua 14:7]
• 40 years Eli judged Israel [1 Samuel 4:18]
• 40 years of war between Israel and the Philistines
• 40 years of David as King. [2 Samuel 5:5; 1 Chronicles 29:26-27]
• 40 years of Solomon as King. [2 Chronicles 9:30]

FOURTY-TWO: is a number connected with the Beast in the book of Revelation.  An important part of his career is to last 42 months (Revelation 11:2; 12:5) or 3 ½ years.  Another number associated with the Beast is 1,260, which is 30 x 42. In Scripture the number 42, or the relationship between 42 (months) and 3 ½ (years/ days or days of years), seems to be associated with God’s divine plan especially climaxing in a short but intense period of tribulation/judgment as the numbers are used in Daniel and Revelation (see Daniel 7:25 & 12:7; see Revelation 11:2, 11; 12:14; 13:5).  This number is also associated with the number 1,260: 31/2 years = 42 months = 1,260 days, in Revelation 11:3 & 12:6.  In the Book of Revelation there is a chiastic pattern formed with these numbers: A. 42 months = Revelation 11:2; B. 1260 days = Revelation 11:3; C. 3 ½ days = Revelation 11:9; C. 3 ½ days = Revelation 11:11; B. 1260 days = Revelation 12:6; A. 42 months = Revelation 13:5

FIFTY: is the number of jubilee or deliverance.  It is the issue of 7x7 +1 or 7 squared + 1, and points to deliverance and rest following on as the result of the perfect consummation of time.

• On the 50^th day after leaving Egypt God met Israel at Sinai, = the first Pentecost (this Greek word means “50^th day”). [Exodus 19:1; 14-16]
• 50 is grace = 5 multiplied by perfect order = 10.
• In the 50^th year, known as a Jubilee year, all debts were to be forgiven, all Hebrew slaves were to be freed, and all land returned to the original owner. [Leviticus]
• On the 50^th day after the Resurrection the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in the Upper Room, the second Pentecost. [Acts 1:3; 2:1]

SEVENTY: is another combination of two of the perfect numbers, 7 and 10 and signifies perfect spiritual order carried out with all spiritual power and significance.

• There were 70 nations before the Tower of Babel. [Genesis 10:1-32
• 70 men built up the nation of Israel when Israel first entered Egypt. [Genesis 46:27]
• 70 elders met God on Sinai and ate a sacred meal. [Exodus 24:9-10]
• 70 elders of Israel comprised the Sanhedrin (court of law).
• Jesus chose 70 disciples [Luke 10:1] 

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY: is made up of 3 forties (3x40 = 120).  Applied to time therefore it signifies a divinely appointed period of probation.  Applied to persons it points to a divinely appointed number during a period of waiting.

• 120 priests were present at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. [2 Chronicles 5:12]
• According to the oral law 120 people were required to form a congregation
• 120 disciples were present in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit descended. [Acts 1:15]
• 120 is a factor in the number of those who returned from Babylon, 42,360 (120 x 353). [Ezra 2:8-66]
• 120 is a factor of the number 144,000 who will be sealed from the 12 Tribes of Israel in the book of Revelation (120 x1200 = 144,000). [Revelation 7:4]
• The Great Synagogue was composed of 120 members [Nehemiah 10:1-10]

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE: An abundance of ink has been spilled in an attempt to discern the significance of this number.  It is a number which has taxed the minds of some of the greatest Biblical scholars. All have believed that there must be something deeply significant and mysterious in this number from the solemn way in which it is introduced in John 21:11 “Simon Peter went and drew the net to land full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty three.”  St. Augustine has pointed out the comparison and contrast between the two miraculous catches of fish, one at the beginning and the other at the end of Christ’s ministry (after his Resurrection).  He and other scholars see in this number some connection with the “saved” who are “caught up” in Peter’s net, meaning the Church.  St. Jerome also saw that there was some deeper meaning in the number, and records that there were 153 sorts of fish in the Sea of Galilee which symbolized all kinds of men enclosed in the Gospel net.  Both St. Augustine and Pope St. Gregory the Great noticed that 17 is the sum of the perfect numbers 10 (perfect order) and 7 (spiritual perfection). St. Gregory multiplied 17 by 3 and again by 3 to get 153.  Augustine used addition and took the sum of all the digits up to and including 17 as amounting to exactly 153.  They also noted that the expression “Sons of God” occurs 7 times, and that the gematria of this expression in Hebrew is exactly 153.  In Greek the gematria of “Sons of God” is 3213 or 3 x 7 x 153.  The gematria in Greek for the word fishes is 1224 or 8 x 153.  The gematria for “the net” adds up to 1224 or 8 x 153. 

AN EXAMPLE OF THE USE OF NUMBERS IN ST. MATTHEW’S GOSPEL

As a Levitical priest, the Apostle Matthew was intimately aware of the symbolic link between letters and numbers.  He manipulated the genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth to reflect the significance of the Hebrew gematria of King David’s name which was the number 14 [D = 4, V= 6, D= 4; Hebrew was written only in consonants] and the significance of number symbolism in his division of the 42 generations from Abraham to David to Jesus the Messiah.  Matthew’s manipulation of the genealogy is reflected in the fact that he dropped the names of the 3 Judahite kings in Jesus’ line: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah [see 2 Chronicles 36:1-13], doubled the use of the name of both King David in verse 6 and King Jechoniah in verses 11 and 12 in the beginning of his 2 and 3 sets, and added the name of Tamar’s other son Zerah (not in the line of descent) to make his list reflect the symbolism he desired in the total number of names/ males, and to produce 3 sets of 14 generations for a total of 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus of Nazareth.

1. The Hebrew gematria for Abraham’s name is 808
2. The Hebrew gematria for David’s name is 14 (double spiritual perfection)
3. The Greek gematria for Jesus’ name (language of New Testament) is 888 (8= salvation)
4. Abraham’s name is mentioned 7 times the Gospel of Matthew (spiritual perfection) and 3 times in Matthew’s chapter 1 toledoth.  3 is fullness and completion and in NT trinity.
5. David’s name is mentioned 5 times in Matthew’s toledoth.  5 is the number of grace.

Matthew’s manipulation of the list of Jesus’ ancestral line

Matthew manipulates the names of Abraham’s descendants into 3 sets of 14 individual male descendants or as he tells us in Matthew 1:17 “The sum of generations is therefore: fourteen from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Babylonian deportation; and fourteen from the Babylonian deportation to Christ.”  He manipulates the list to get 3 sets of 14 generations each to create 42 names of the list of the descendants of Abraham to bring attention to the link between the names and the covenant promise to Abraham and David by Yahweh. David’s name is # 14 in the list and the gematria of his name is the number 14.  The number 42 also has significance.  42 divided by 12, the number of Israel, yields 3 ½.  This is a prophetic number in both Daniel chapter 12 and in Revelation.  See Daniel 12:1-13 (focus on verse 7 which adds up to 3 ½ ).  3 ½ is half of 7.  It is an imperfect number. Note: both St. Jerome and Pope St Gregory the Great wrote extensively about and gematria its significance in Scripture.  Sir Isaac Newton wrote more about gematria and numbers in Scripture than he did about the theory of gravity. 

List of generations in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter One’s "genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth":

Set #1

There are 14 generations
         There are 27 total male names (repeats and counting Zerah’s name)
         There are   3 names of gentile women
Total names:    30 names (note: it was necessary to add Zerah’s name to make 30 names)

Set #2

            There are 14 generations (no repeats)
            There are 29 names of males total if you include Uriah
            There is      1 female mentioned but not counted because unnamed (the wife of Uriah- 4th gentile woman.  4 is the number of the earth)

Set #3 (after the deportation to Babylon; notice no restoration is mentioned)

Matthew manipulates the list by counting Jechoniah twice in order to get 14 generations in the final set. Jesus’ name is the 14^th generation but if you count all the names without repeats Mary’s name is the 14^th name with Jesus name coming after 6 sets of 7 as the 7^th 7.   There are 27 names total in this set.

The total of all the names given in each set is 86.  8 is the number of salvation, 80 the number of salvation times divine order (10), and 6 is the number of man.  Matthew’s message is that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David and the King of Kings who has come to bring salvation to Israel and to mankind.

AN EXAMPLE OF THE SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE OF NUMBERS IN ST. MARK’S GOSPEL

In St. Mark’s Gospel Jesus is the authoritative Son of God and God’s triumphant envoy come to suffer and die in order to claim victory over sin and death.  Mark continually focuses on the immediacy of the proclamation of Jesus’ message of salvation and his accounts of Jesus’ teachings are often presented in a central theme sandwiched between two related or concurrent events.  An example of Mark’s skillful telling of the events of Jesus’ teaching coupled with word repetition and the symbolism of numbers is found in the account of the healing of Jarius’ daughter and the woman with an issue of blood in Mark 5:21-43.  The account begins with the petition of Jarius, the president of the local synagogue.  Jarius’ 12 year old daughter [Mark 5:42] is at the point of death and he pleads with Jesus to come to his house to heal his daughter [Mark 5:23; 35] before it is too late.  As Jarius leads the way, Jesus follows with a large crowd pressing upon Him.  Suddenly Jesus feels a surge of His healing power pass from Him.  He stops, turns to the crowd and demands Who has touched my clothes?  A woman in the crowd has suffered from an issue of blood which has rendered her ritually unclean for 12 years.  She confesses that she has touched Jesus’ garment—probably touching one of the tassels of his prayer shawl, one of the tzitziyoth of His talit [Numbers 15:37-39]—believing if only she could touch Him she would be healed.  Jesus replies to the woman: My daughter, ….your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free of your complaint [Mark 5:34].

While Jesus was speaking to the woman some people from Jarius’ house arrive with the distressing news that the child has died, but Jesus urges Jarius to have faith.  Arriving at Jarius’ home Jesus only allows 3 Apostles to accompany Him: Peter, James and John Zebedee.  Addressing the weeping relatives Jesus insists that the child is not dead but only asleep.  When the assembled relatives ridicule Jesus He turns them out of the house, only permitting the 2 parents and His 3 Apostles—5 people, to remain with Him.  Together with the child and Jesus there are 7 in the room when Jesus commands the child to “get up!”  Mark records The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was 12 years old.

Do not miss the other significant repetitions.  In addition to the number “12”, and the word “daughter” applied to both the child and the woman; the words “may be saved [cured]” are applied to the daughter in 5:24 and in are spoken by the woman in 5:28; and the word “faith” is spoken by Jesus to the woman in 5:34 and to Jarius in 5:36.

The central theme which unites both these stories is healing, purification, restoration, and new life—not just of these two daughters of Israel but of the healing and restoration Jesus is bringing to all of Old Covenant Israel.  12 is the number of perfection in government and, therefore, the number which signifies the Church.  Just as Jesus raised the child of Jarius to new life, so will He raise up the faithful remnant of Old Covenant Israel to become the faithful New Covenant people of God.  The selection of the 3 Apostles is a sign that what is about to happen is of theological significance; the 5 people invited by Jesus to come into the room when the child is healed signifies the gift of God’s grace applied through the faith of the believers, and the 7 gathered together, including Jesus and the child, signifies the healing and regenerative power of God the Holy Spirit—7 is the number of spiritual perfection.  In St. Mark’s Gospel the healing and restoration of these two daughters of Israel signified the healing and restoration of the faithful covenant people of God who embraced Jesus as the promised Messiah.  It is through this faithful remnant that Jesus will establish the New Covenant and the Universal Church through will the whole world “may be saved”.

GEMATRIA FOR THE NUMBER 666 IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

“There is need for shrewdness here: anyone clever may interpret the number of the beast: it is the number of a human being, the number is 666.”
Revelation 13:18
[Some ancient manuscripts record the number 616 instead of 666]

TABLE 1

Examples of Gematria for Neron Caesar and Nero Caesar in Hebrew and Jesus in Greek[Hebrew letters are read from right to left]

The total of the Roman numbers is 666 [the “M” for 1,000 is two “Ds” back to back; there are only 6 Roman numerals].  666 is the number of the Beast.  Caesar was Rome and Rome was Caesar and Caesar claimed to be a god.  The word for “god” in Greek is theos. Caesar god is Caesar (or in Greek, kaisar) theos.  The gematria is:

• 666 is a trinity of 6s; never to be a 7
• 6 is the number of man, especially as man in rebellion against God:
  • Goliath was 6 cubits and a span (1 Samuel 17:4)
  • King Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue of himself to be worshipped.  It was 60 cubits high and 6 cubits across (Daniel 3:1)

The number 7, however, represents perfection, fullness and completion—especially perfection through the work of the Holy Spirit.  In Revelation 19:16 there are 2 titles for Christ which St. John reveals to us form one “name.”  Is he telling us to add the words together to determine the gematria of the titles?  The gematria of “King of kings, Lord of lords” in Aramaic (leaving out the “and”) equals 777—a  trinity of perfection in contrast to the Beast’s number 666 which will never achieve perfection.

The significance of numbers in Holy Scripture is far greater than just the numerical value of each individual number.  Deciphering and discerning that significance only adds to the mystery and wonder of the study of Sacred Scripture.  But Sacred Scripture, the written word, cannot be separated from the Living Word, Jesus Christ.  In the study of the words of God, written down for us in human terms that we can understand, we cannot begin to understand the spiritual meaning of the one without a living union with the other, our savior Jesus the Christ.  And it is through the great and true teacher God the Holy Spirit, who was sent to us by God the Son, that the truth and wonder of God’s works will be revealed to us.

“Great are the works of Yahweh, to be treasured for all their delights.”
Psalms 111:2

Michal Hunt 1998/ revised 2007

Recommended Reading:

1. The Handbook of Biblical Chronology, Jack Finegan; Hendrickson Publishers
2. Numbers in Scripture: Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance, E.W. Bullinger; Kregel Publications.
3. The Stromata, Clement of Alexandria; Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume 2; Hendrickson Publishers.

Michal E. Hunt, copyright 1998
Revised June 2000
Revised May 2003
Revised July 2003
Revised May 2007

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