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.

Two oftens represents “Opposites or Choices”. In regards to the spiritual significance of numbers in the bible, One excludes all difference, and denotes that which is sovereign. But Two affirms that there is a difference—there is another choice; while One affirms that there is not another!

Let’s take a look at some examples of the Bible Meaning of the Number 2.

Two Means “Truth of God’s Word”

• the law and prophets (John 1:45),
• two or three witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1),
• a sword with two edges (Hebrews 4:12). See Mark 6:7 and Revelation 11:3.

It is also used 21 times in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

Two Means “Covenant”

Two also has significant meaning in Bible scripture as a symbol for a “legal agreement or covenant”. For example;

1. Two sides of the covenant ( Blessings for Obedience, Curses for Disobedience) – Deuteronomy 28
2. In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established – Matthew 18:16
3. Firstborn receives a double inheritance – Deuteronomy 21:17
4. 10 Commandments on Two tablets of stone – Exodus 34:1,4
5. Two covenants – Galatians 4:24
6. No man can serve two masters – Matthew 6:24
7. Marriage Covenant is when Two become One – Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:7; Ephesians 5:31
8. God will be in midst of two or three gathered in his name – Matthew 18:20
9. Wicked will receive double punishment – Revelation 18:6

Two Means “Opposites or Choices”

In regards to the spiritual significance of numbers in the bible, One excludes all difference, and denotes that which is sovereign. But Two affirms that there is a difference—there is another choice; while One affirms that there is not another!

This difference may be for good or for evil. A thing may differ from evil, and be good; or it may differ from good, and be evil. Hence, the number Two takes a two-fold prespective, according to the context.

In the New Testament, wherever there are two Epistles, the second has some special reference to the enemy.

• In 2 Corinthians there is a marked emphasis on the power of the enemy, and the working of Satan (2:11, 11:14, 12:7)
• In 2 Thessalonians we have a special account of the working of Satan in the revelation of “the man of sin” and “the lawless one.”
• In 2 Timothy we see the church in its ruin, as in the first epistle we see it in its rule
• In 2 Peter we have the coming apostacy foretold and described.
• In 2 John we have the “antichrist” mentioned by this name, and are forbidden to receive into our house any who come with his doctrine.

It is impossible even to name the great number of things which are introduced to us in pairs, so that the second may teach us concerning the other by way of contrast or difference.

1. The two foundations of Matthew 7:24-27: the one which “fell not, for it was founded upon a rock”; the other which “fell, and great was the fall of it.”
2. the two commandments (Matt 22:40);
3. the two masters (Matt 6:24);
4. the two debtors (Luke 7:41);
5. the two covenants (Gal 4:24);
6. the two men (Luke 18:10);
7. the two sons (Matt 21:28, and Luke 15:11, and Gal 4:22)

Old testament examples include;

1. The two goats (Lev 16:7);
2. the two birds (Lev 14:4-7);
3. the two opinions (1 Kings 18:21)

As you can see, the number “2” has several difference meanings and is a significant symbolic number in the Bible.

Numbers have meaning in Bible scripture. With God nothing is of chance, it is always on purpose. Sometimes we understand the purpose and sometimes we don’t. Of course, any serious Bible Student knows that there is a Book of the Bible called “Numbers”, but we have so much more to learn and understand.

The number “1” represents absolute singleness and unity.

It is a very significant number in the bible and is referenced in several places:

• Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. – Genesis 2:24
• One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.– Numbers 15:16
• I (Christ) and my Father are one. – John 10:30
• That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: - John Chapter 17:21-22
• There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:28
• Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: - Deuteronomy 6:4
• One Lord, one faith, one baptism, - Ephesians 4:5
• Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. – Matthew 19: 6
• For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, - Hebrews 2:11

As you can see, the number “1” is a well understood symbolic number in the Bible.

Once more, Jesus said, “The very hairs of your head are numbered” (Matthew 10:30). So obviously, the Meaning of Numbers in Bible Scripture should be carefully considered.

Like most Oriental nations, it is probable that the Hebrews in their written calculations made use of the letters of the alphabet. That they did so in post-Babylonian times we have conclusive evidence in the Maccabeean coins; and it is highly probable that this was the case also in earlier times. On the one hand, it is certain that in all existing archives of the Hebrew text of the Old Testament the numerical expressions are written at length, yet, on the other, the variations in the several versions between themselves and from the Hebrew text when added to the evident inconsistencies in numerical statement between certain passages of that text itself seems to prove that some shorter mode of writing was originally in place, liable to be misunderstood, and in fact misunderstood by copyists and translators.

These variations appear to have proceeded from the alphabetic method of writing numbers. There can be little doubt, however, that at least some of the numbers mentioned in Scripture are intended to be symbolic rather than determinative. For example, certain numbers, as 7, 10, 40, 100, were regarded as giving the idea of completeness.

At least 13 significant numbers in the Bible stand out in this regard: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 40, 49, 50, and 70. Some have also given special symbolism for the number 666 because of Revelation 13:18. This infamous number is associated with the evil one in a great persecution at the end of time.

One prominent Catholic theologian, St. Augustine, showed more than just a curiosity about biblical numbers. Without entering into St. Augustine’s theory of this usage, we might mention that the notion of representative numbers in certain cases is one extremely common among eastern nations, who have a prejudice against counting their possessions accurately; that it enters largely into many ancient systems of chronology, and that it is found in the philosophical and metaphysical speculations not only of the Pythagorean and other ancient schools of philosophy, both Greek and Roman, but also in those of the later Jewish writers, of the Gnostics, and also of such Christian writers such as St. Augustine himself

The purpose of this website is to give some generally accepted meanings of numbers in the Bible along with pertinent examples, but not be a exhaustative commentary on this important subject. We will leave that enormous task to others.