What is God's number in the Bible?

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.

Three is the number of Persons in the Godhead, — of the divine fullness, therefore, — and until we reach this, God is not fully manifested. It is evidently the number of actualization, realization, manifestation. It is the number of the Spirit, who realizes in the creature the counsels of God.

THREE. Divine fulness or completeness, and hence perfection in testimony. God — Father, Son, and Spirit. This fulness was pleased to dwell in the Son of His love. Col. 1:19. Three times the voice came from heaven respecting the Lord Jesus. Matt. 3:17; Matt. 17:5; John 12:28. The Lord Jesus is Prophet, Priest, and King; Son of God, Son of Man, and Son of David. Three bear witness, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, "and these three agree in one." 1 John 5:7-8. The scriptures, comprising the law, the prophets, and the psalms, bore witness to Christ. Luke 24:44. Faith, hope, and love are elements of christian life here. A three-fold cord is not easily broken (Ecc. 4:12), corresponding to perfection in testimony: three also describes perfected experience. Luke 13:32; Gen. 22:4; Acts 9:9.

1884 172 The flood descended for forty days, which number indicates the period of probation: the nation of Israel was tested forty days, during the giving of the law, and forty years altogether in the wilderness: the Lord was tempted forty days: Canaan was spied forty days: Jonah's warning call to Nineveh forty days. It is composed thus — five is the human number (five fingers, toes, senses, etc.): therefore the number representing human responsibility must be twice five: thus there are two tables of law, and ten commandments: one set of duties to God and another to man. Well, let these ten responsibilities be universally tested (that is, multiply by 4), and the result is forty. But then divine forbearance sometimes prolongs the period of probation in which case it is again multiplied by three, the divine number, bringing us to 120: this is therefore the period through which the long-suffering of God waited during the preaching of Noah. Observe that this testing of things, while it destroys all else, bares up the ark (Gen. 7:18) on its face. Judgment vindicates and exalts Christ and all who are connected with Him.

It is therefore most suggestive that the four narratives of the perfect, unfailing Life should not yield to such a cleavage; but its divisions, if such they may be called, are 3 + 1, rather than 2 x 2. Here indeed we have two numbers, each with special significance: the "three" suggesting a trinity of divine fulness, and the "one" emphasizing the divine all-sufficiency and unity; the combined thought presented in both giving us in the incarnation of the Son of God the fullest presentation we could have.

Add to this one last thing, which still the number covers, that God is One: there is no other; — none to dispute His absolute sway. Here again the old Hebrew creed is that of Nature.

In the first three numbers, thus, we have God in His fullness - Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. God must, if our thoughts are right, take precedence in them of all else, and the display of Himself is what is accomplished and designed in all that follows.

Take the question of numbers and their significance in Scripture. One means unity, three full testimony, five the number of a man, seven perfection, eight resurrection, twelve administration, etc., etc.

Someone may exclaim, There is no end to your imagination if you can see symbolical signification in numbers. But the astronomer, the geologist, the zoologist, the botanist, the naturalist will tell you that certain numbers dominate created things. The planets are governed by laws that are clearly marked by numbers. So with the other departments of knowledge.

Seven is the number denoting Divine perfection. Six is the number denoting the height of human attainment, which must ever come short of perfection.

The seventh day marked the completion and perfection of God's creatorial work. "The seven Spirits which are before His throne" (Rev. 1:4) denote the perfection of the activities of God, the Holy Spirit. Seven was the number of the branches of the Golden Candlestick. Seven was the number of the items that went to furnish the Tabernacle: The Ark The Mercy Seat The Shewbread Table The Golden Candlestick The Brazen Altar The Brazen Laver The Golden Altar of Incense

Six is the highest number below seven, and seven in the symbolism of Scripture stands for spiritual perfection, for complete fullness, which can only be true of what is Divine, or the product of the working of divine power or grace. So we get in Revelation 4:5, “Out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.” It is not that there are seven Spirits of God, there is but One, but seven sets forth the fullness and perfection of His operations.