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Biblical numerology [https://en.wikipedia.] refers to the interpretation, by some biblical scholars, of numerical values used in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament that they believe relate to symbolism, which imply quality or attributes, of the value rather than to an actual quantity. While studied by theologians, not all agree with this interpretation. Others, preferring a more fundamental approach, believe that the numbers represent the literal quantities. This article explains the interpretation of those who believe that numbers sometimes represent attributes and not the number itself. According to the theory, these numbers were purposely inserted by their authors to emphasize a particular message. Numerical symbology is most abundantly found in Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation, but is not confined to those books.
While many ancient languages, religions, and philosophies contained numeric interpretation of events, words, and names, this article is concerned with those uniquely affecting Judeo-Christian beliefs. Although Greek culture was well-known to scholars in the 1st centuries BC and AD in the Middle East, Greek ideas about numerology do not seem to have permeated Jewish and Christian beliefs.
Numerical meaning.
1/3: In the Book of Revelation the fraction one-third is used sixteen times in reference to a divine curse or punishment: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up; and the third part of the sea became blood; and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
3: The implication of three is “perfection” or “holiness”: Three major feasts appear in Jewish Tradition; Prayer was urged three times daily; Three-year-old animals were prized for special sacrifices; There are three major celebration in the Easter Triduum… According to many denominations: the Trinity.
4: Four signifies a sense of totality or “the world,” preeminently in the Book of Revelation. It derives its meaning from there being four cardinal directions, as also attested in Mesopotamian literature: Four corners of the earth; Construction of the altar: four corners, four pillars, etc.; many of these altar construction guidelines are still used today.
6: Both Hebrew and Christian sources believe six indicates “imperfection,” “man,” or “evil.” For Christianity, this occurs preeminently in the Book of Revelation. Some Christians believe that 666 is the Number of the Beast. The significance of three 6s shows eternal imperfection of Lucifer. However, a secular source, Britannica, reports that it means “perfection” in religion.
7: In both Jewish and Christian traditions, seven signifies “totality of perfection,” “completeness”: There are seven sacraments in Western Catholicism, Eastern Catholicism, the Anglo-Catholic rites, and much of Orthodoxy; There are seven days in a week; In the Book of Revelation, there are multiple examples, including seven churches, seven bowls, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven thunders and seven spirits.
8: Eight means a “new life” or “resurrection”: Eight people on Noah’s Ark; Circumcision on eighth day.
1,000 signifies “immensity” or “fullness of quantity”, preeminently in the Book of Revelation.
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*Numerology and the Church Fathers [https://en.wikipedia.] In the early years of Christianity, the Church Fathers commented extensively on numerology. The Fathers repeatedly condemned the magical use of numbers which had descended from Babylonian sources to the Pythagoreans and Gnostics of their times. They denounced any system of philosophy which rested upon an exclusively numerical basis. Even so, they almost unanimously regarded the numbers of Holy Writ as full of mystical meaning, and they considered the interpretations of these mystical meanings as an important branch of exegesis [is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, particularly of religious text].
Influence of Biblical texts. “Learn, therefore,” says the writer, “that Abraham who first appointed circumcision, looked forward in spirit unto Jesus Jesus when he circumcised, having received the ordinances of three letters. For the Scripture saith, And Abraham circumcised of his household eighteen males and three hundred.’ What then was the knowledge given unto him? Understand ye that He saith the eighteen’ first, and then after an interval three hundred.’ In the [number] eighteen [the Greek IOTA] stands for 10, [the Greek ETA] for eight. Here thou hast Jesus ([in Greek] IESOUS). And because the cross in the [Greek TAU] was to have grace, he saith also three hundred.’ So he revealeth Jesus in two letters and in the remaining one the cross”. Here the numerical value of the Greek letters iota and eta, the first letters of the Holy Name, is 10 and 8, for 18, while Tau, which stands for the form of the cross, represents 300.
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*Significance of numbers in Judaism [https://en.wikipedia.] Numbers play an important role in Judaic ritual practices and are believed to be a means for understanding the divine… This marriage between the symbolic and the physical found it pinnacle in the creation of the Tabernacle [the portable earthly meeting place of God with the children of Israel]. The Hebrew word for symbol is ot, which, in early Judaism, denoted not only a sign, but also a visible religious token of the relation between God and man. It is largely held by Jewish leadership that the numerical dimensions of the temple are a “microcosm of creation… that God used to create the the Olamot-Universes." -Four Worlds, sometimes counted with a prior stage to make Five Worlds, are the comprehensive categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah in the descending chain of Existence.
The source is the Talmud itself, explained as follows: As a mystical concept, the number 36 is even more intriguing. It is said that at all times there are 36 special people in the world, and that were it not for them, all of them, if even one of them was missing, the world would come to an end. The two Hebrew letters for 36 are the lamed, which is 30 and the vav, which is 6… In our folk tales, they emerge from their self-imposed concealment and, by the mystic powers which they possess, they succeed in averting the threatened disasters of a people persecuted by the enemies that surround them. They return to their anonymity as soon as their task is accomplished, ‘concealing’ themselves once again in a Jewish community wherein they are relatively unknown… their identity must not be disclosed. The lamed-vavniks do not themselves know that they are one of the 36. In fact, tradition has it that should a person claim to be one of the 36, that is proof positive that they are certainly not one. Since the 36 are each exemplars of anavah, (“humility”), having such a virtue would preclude against one’s self-proclamation of being among the special righteous. The 36 are simply to humble to believe that they are one of the 36. (Jody Gray) similarities to Jesus: in a Jewish community wherein they are relatively unknown; (virtue of) humility...
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*613 Commandments [https://en.wikipedia.] ...Though the number 613 is mentioned in the Talmud, its real significance increased in later medieval rabbinic literature… Three types of negative commandments fall under the self-sacrificial principle “One should let oneself be killed rather than violate it”. These are murder, idolatry, and forbidden sexual relations. *Leviticus 18, deals with a number of sexual activities considered unclean or abominable. Although the chapter is principally concerned with incest, it also contains laws related to bestiality and “lying with a man as a with a woman.” This single reference in verse 22 has, in recent years, made the interpretation of this verse a focus on debate among Christians and Jews regarding homosexual activity.
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*-examples of Hagiography and Biblical numerology aka Numerical symbology.
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Charlemagne died Jan. 28, the seventh day from the time that he took to his bed… in the seventy-second year of his age and the forty-seventh of his reign.
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