What does number 12 represent in the Bible?

TWELVE. Completeness administratively, that is, in what is set forth or displayed manward. (The first most divisible of the earlier numbers.) There were twelve patriarchs, ancestors of the twelve tribes, who are commemorated in the twelve loaves on the table, the twelve stones in the breastplate and twelve names on the shoulders of the high priest; the twelve stones taken out of Jordan, and the twelve stones placed in the bed of the river; also in the woman with a crown of twelve stars. Rev. 12:1. Through the twelve apostles the Lord fed the hungry multitudes. The twelve apostles will sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes. Matt. 19:28. The new Jerusalem will have twelve foundations for its walls with the names of the twelve apostles; it will have twelve gates, consisting of twelve pearls, with the names of the twelve tribes inscribed, the gates will be attended by twelve angels. Rev. 21:12-21. There are twelve hours in the day, in which the children of light may walk. John 11:9. The flexibility of administrative perfection may be seen in: Six-twos: Two apostles in each of the six companies sent to preach. Two-sixes: Six loaves in each of the two rows of showbread. Three-fours: Four rows of three names each on the breastplate. Four- threes: Three gates on each of the four sides of the new Jerusalem.

One is the number of origin, creation, sufficiency, and so on. It is the fitting number of God and of the Father. Two speaks of help and deliverance from evil. It is the number appropriate to the Son, the Saviour and Deliverer. Three speaks of manifestation and of Him, the Holy Spirit, who is the unfolder of truth. "God is light" (that which manifests), and it is significant that light is composed of a threefold ray. "Three" also suggests resurrection,which is so closely connected with the manifestation of God and His power; also of the sanctuary where His presence is manifested. Four is the earth number — of trial, weakness, and failure. Five is the creation with another coming into it, and suggests in addition to other features, the incarnation of One who embraces in His own blessed person, God and man. It is also the number suggesting responsibility. Six is the number of man's day, the limit of human labor and activity, and therefore of evil so constantly carried on in man's energy. It thus suggests divine restraint and victory over evil. Seven is the rest number. It speaks of completeness, leaving nothing to be added or desired in that sense. It therefore completes the perfect series. Eight, being a fresh beginning, is therefore the number of the new creation. Nine is a multiple of three; it is its square, we may say an intensified three. Ten is a double five, suggesting the two-fold measure of man's responsibility as seen in the two tables of the law, the obedience demanded Godward and manward. Eleven seems to be one short of twelve. Twelve is the great governmental, administrative number — the twelve tribes, twelve apostles, twelve gates, etc. It is the number of Israel's unity as seen in the twelve stones set up in Jordan, and the other twelve brought up and set up in a pillar on its banks the twelve stones in the altar of Elijah; the twelve loaves of showbread, etc.

The number twelve in Scripture is symbolic of administration. Twelve months in the year set forth God’s administration in nature: twelve tribes of Israel, God’s administration in connection with His earthly people; twelve apostles of the Lamb, His administration in connection with His church. In Revelation we have twelve gates, twelve angels, twelve apostles of the Lamb, twelve foundations of the city, its length and breadth and height measuring 12,000 furlongs each way. The size of the city is purely symbolic. Whoever heard of a city the shape of a cube, whose measurement covers 1,728,000 cubic miles. What may be the meaning of this huge measurement, unless it be to express in symbolism how vast is God’s conception of the church, how complete is the triumph of Christ in that out of all the utter breakdown of the professing church in this world, there should spring from His hand a church, likened to a glorious city, in whose light all the nations of the world should walk.

The grace of the Lord is seen in relation to the need of men. This is the basis upon which all that we may learn of His glory rests. The circumstances were Jewish, but the time had come for Him to put the stamp of a heavenly order upon them. He was a rejected Saviour, and about Him gathered His disciples, a remnant of the people, and then the hungry multitude. His heart went out to these for He could not be indifferent to their need. From five loaves and two small fishes He fed them all, and then said "Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost," and there were twelve baskets full gathered up. The number twelve in Scripture often denotes divine administration through human vessels, as the twelve disciples, etc. We may apply this to what was then near at hand. The disciples were being fitted to go forth into the world with a basket each, filled with the good things of God. Their service here of carrying His bounty to the hungry multitude was a fitting introduction to the great work they were called to do after He had gone on high, and the Holy Ghost had come down at Pentecost. We may give the miracle a distant application also and see in it the time of the full blessing of Israel in the day of their deliverance, and that blessing overflowing to the nations.

Twelve was God's chosen number for Israel, under this number they were ever before Him, as manifested in the twelve stones on the breastplate and the twelve names on the two onyx stones in the shoulder pieces of the high priest, and in the twelve loaves on the table of showbread. All these continued the same after the division of the ten tribes, and notwithstanding the separation. Though the ten tribes were dispersed, and as men think 'lost,' Paul spoke of the twelve tribes constantly serving God in his day; and James addressed the twelve tribes in his epistle. In the New Jerusalem the names of the twelve tribes will be written on the twelve gates. Acts 26:7; James 1:1; Rev. 21:12. They remain ever twelve in God's sight, as the church is ever one before Him.

The disciples had the privilege of taking the loaves and fishes from the hand of the Lord Jesus to dispense them to the crowd, a function that has Its counterpart today in believers dispensing to others the spiritual food that they themselves receive from the Lord. When all five thousand, plus women and children, had eaten their fill, the remainder was greater than the original amount. For the abundant grace of God in the present day will issue in a full supply (twelve baskets) remaining for the blessing of the twelve tribes of Israel after the church is raptured to heaven.

When all were filled, there was to be no waste of what remained (v. 12) What we may not appropriate of Christ, God does appreciate. But also, is there not a hint here of blessing still reserved for all twelve tribes of Israel in a future day? The twelve baskets remaining may well speak of this.

On the first occasion the disciples took the initiative, and proposed the dismissal of the crowds to buy themselves food in the villages. Their faith was weak indeed. How sad to overlook His presence who was pledged to satisfy Zion's poor with bread! Even His call that they should give them to eat failed to awaken any sense of His fulness. So He took the provision they despised, and abundantly blessed it to the five thousand, and more; yet there remained over of the broken pieces twelve baskets full. Now this answers to the twelve apostles, being the number of full administration by or in man. But it was only a sign in His rejected testimony to Israel; and sending His disciples to go before Him to the other side, on dismissal of the crowds, He went up into the mountain apart to pray, the figure of His priestly place on high. After this comes the wondrous scene of Peter leaving the ship to join Jesus on the water, which is peculiar to Matthew, as alone expressive of the divine design by that Gospel, and having nothing like it on the second occasion.

118 He sends His disciples to cross the sea alone, dismisses the people and goes up into a mountain apart to pray; a living picture, in a few strokes, of all that has happened. The Jewish people is sent away, Christ is on high and His own on the sea. However, as we have seen all through in this Gospel, the Jews or the disciples as a remnant are in the foreground. I have no doubt but that even the number of the baskets of fragments, however slight the indication may be, has reference to the full blessing of the latter days in the reign. It is the number sacred to that, twelve tribes, twelve apostles, twelve thrones for them judging the twelve tribes, twelve stars on the woman. It is the idea of the perfection of the government of God in man. This is why it is also found in the heavenly Jerusalem. But let us pass on to the more formal facts of this history.

89 Verses 11,12. The disciples ask Him to send the multitude away. Let them go and get lodging. No, says the Lord, "give ye them to eat." He does not now say He would feed them, but He is committing to others the same power as He had Himself, and He would exercise their faith in what He could do by them. This applies to the church now. Faith uses the power that is in the Head. "Give ye them to eat." What He expected was for faith to exercise His divine power, that which they saw in Him. We should be so reckoning on the power in the Head. The Lord was trying their faith in Him, "Give ye them to eat." But no; they had no faith; they began to reckon on their resources - "We have no more but five loaves and two fishes." So it is with us. No faith! Memory is not faith. "He smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? "He gave us water, but can He give us food? We know He has done that one thing, but can He do this other thing today? We want to count on the energy of the Lord's love, and expect Him to be interested for us. When He said, "Give ye them to eat," they should have expected He would give them the power. Jehovah was amongst them, exercising His own power; but we see in their answer the horrid principle of unbelief. Unbelief shuts out God, and limits itself to what it sees - "except we go and buy meat," etc. "He made them all sit down by fifties in a company. And they did eat and were filled." It was said in Psalm 132, "I will satisfy her poor with bread," and here He was doing it. This was said of their King, and He had chosen Zion; He had desired it for His habitation. He was here giving a sign that He was the One to accomplish this blessing, for He was feeding their poor with bread. He was not only sending out the power through His disciples, but Himself among them; not only as a man, a messenger, but as it is said in Hebrews, "the word began to be spoken by the Lord." He was the Apostle. There were others sent afterwards, but He Himself was there first as their Apostle. It is a solemn thing to think that the Lord has really visited this world! He has come and presented Himself first to His people Israel, but they would not have Him. It shews us what the world is we are in. God is now dealing with it in grace, though His Son has been rejected. "Twelve baskets of fragments." Just observe, in passing, that the number twelve is significant of power exercised in the way of government - twelve apostles, twelve gates to the city in Revelation.