Number 3 represents Trinity and Accomplishment
The number “three” is mentioned numerous times in the throughout the 66 Books of the Bible. It is the number of unity, of accomplishment, and of the universe.
To believing Christians, the history of the world is divided into three periods: the Old Covenant, the New Covenant and that period which will begin with the return of Christ.
Interesting Biblical Groups of Three
Three archangels are mentioned by name in the Bible:
1. Michael (Judges 1:9)
2. Gabriel (Luke 1:19)
3. Raphael
A person is three parts (I Thessalonians 5:23):
1. a body,
2. a soul and
3. a spirit.
The Jews observe three great feast days:
1. Passover
2. Pentecost and
3. the Feast of the Tabernacles.
Significance of Number 3 in Old Testament
o The human race is traced to Noah’s three sons: Shem, Japheth and Ham—according to Genesis 5:32, and all the peoples of the world are traced back to them.
o In Gen. 15:9, the Lord requests “a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat and a three-year-old ram.”
o In Gen. 22:4, Abraham “got sight of the place” to sacrifice Isaac after a three-day journey
o Three men appeared at Abraham’s tent.
o The angels cry “Holy” three times to the triune God (Isaiah 6:3). See also Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7, 8.
o In the third month after departing Egypt, the Israelites arrived at the Sinai desert (Exod. 19:1). God instructed Moses to tell the people to wash their clothes “and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people” (Exod. 19:11).
o In Exod. 23:14, God says: “Three times every year you shall celebrate feasts to me. In Exod. 23:17, God says: “Thrice a year shall all your men appear before the Lord God.”
o Samson lied to Delilah three times before he revealed to her the source of his strength (Judges 16:15)
o Isaiah mentions three times that the wicked will have no peace (Isa. 48:22, 57:21, 59:8).
o God told Joshua three times to be courageous.
o Daniel faithfully prayed to God three times a day.
o Three men appeared at Abraham’s tent.
o Jonah was in the belly of a whale for three days.
Trinity: One God in Three Persons
In the Bible scriptures the number 3 also means the Godhead / Trinity.
The concept of the Trinity is beyond human understanding. The central mystery of the Christian Faith is that in one God there are three Persons: one in nature, co-equal, uncreated and existing with no beginning and no end.
In Matthew 3, John the Baptist begins to preach of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In verse 3 he tells them that his is the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord. In verse 13, “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him” and we find John telling him no, “I have need to be baptized of thee…”. The Godhead is shown here.
1. Jesus is in the water in verse 15 and
2. in verse 16 He comes up out of the water and the Spirit of God descends upon Him like a dove and
3. in verse 17 you find the Father speaking from Heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The Father is speaking from Heaven in verse 17, the holy Spirit of God descending like a dove in verse 16, and in verse 15 the Son of God is in the water.
Thus, the Godhead, three personages; one God.
Three Divine Persons in one God is heavy stuff. Our limited intelligence prohibits an understanding of the Trinity. The best we can come up with are analogies.
One that comes to mind is the three forms of H2O, namely, liquid (water), solid (ice), and gas (steam). The nature, the essence—that which makes a thing what it is—of all three states is two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen even though appearing in the forms of water, ice, and steam.
Jesus and The Symbolic Number 3
The words of Jesus had and still have meaning. When God speaks, it behooves us to listen, repetition notwithstanding.
o It took Mary and Joseph three days to find Jesus in the temple.
o Christ was tempted by the devil three times.
o Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted three years;
o Three apostles—Peter, James and John—accompanied Jesus at the Transfiguration. Elijah and Moses appeared with Christ, making it three.
o Jesus arose from the dead on the third day; not the second or the fourth, but the third.
o Peter denied Jesus three times; not twice, but thrice.
o Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. (John 21:17) Why ask three times? It was not coincidental nor incidental, therefore, we assume he had reason for asking three times.
o When Jesus was crucified, Pilate insisted —much to the chagrin of the Pharisees—that the epithet on the cross , “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” be inscribed in three languages;
1. Latin,
2. Greek
3. Hebrew
Isn’t it interesting that the main languages of that period of history in that particular part of the world were three in number?
Significant New Testament Bible Scriptures with reference to number 3
o After he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul could not see for three days, and he neither ate or drank.
o According to Paul, evangelism requires three steps and quite possibly by three different people. “ I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase”. (1 Corinthians 3:6)
o Paul tells us we have three heavens. 1. The air around the earth. 2. Stars and planets. 3. The abode of God (Psalms 48:1,23). Paul tells us in II Corinthians 12:1,2 that he knew a man who was caught up to the third heaven.
o In preparation to answer Cornelius’s prayer, God spoke to Peter three times admonishing him to “Rise, Peter, Kill and eat”. (Acts 10: 9-16)
o The three theological virtues are faith, hope and charity. (I Corinthians 13:13)
o Paul made three recorded missionary journeys
Other Significant meanings for the number 3
o There are three types of love: agape, philia and eros
o Language is composed of three degrees: positive, comparative and superlative.
o There are three genders: feminine, masculine and neuter.
o Three states exist in equilibrium: liquid, vapor and solid.
o Measurement has three modes: length, width and thickness.
o Time is past, present and future.
o The planet which we know contains life and to which God seems to pay special attention, namely, earth, happens to be in the third orbit from the sun.