In this article, we will continue our study on numbers, and today we will focus on the Biblical meaning of the number 2. We will explore its meaning symbolically, spiritually, and prophetically…

The Bible is a book rich in symbolism and depth, which we can dive into to enrich our understanding of the scriptures and our relationship with God.

Numbers often have significance and deeper meanings in the scriptures. This has led me on a journey to explore the numbers in the Bible. And talk about mind-blowing! Each number has such a unique meaning and it’s so interwoven through scripture. It really shows how amazing and brilliant our God is.

The symbolism for the number 2 in the Bible can be a positive as well as a negative one. This means we need to view the context in which the number 2 is used to find it meaning behind the number.

Let’s walk through the scriptures together as we discover the Biblical significance of the number 2.

2 in the Bible: A Look At The Hebrew

The second letter in the Hebraic alphabet is “Bet” or “Beth,” and it is associated with the number 2. As I mentioned earlier, the meaning and symbolism of the number 2 have both positive and negative connotations.

The negative symbolism of the number 2 in Hebrew can refer to opposition, judging, witness, and conflict.

At the same time, the positive symbolism for 2 are a blessing, abundance, dying to self, and creating or building or a house.

The number 2 is also closely related to the word “shanah” in Hebrew. This word can mean to duplicate, change or repeat, which could relate to a positive or negative situation.

8138. שָׁנָהshanah, shaw-naw´; a primitive root; to fold, i.e. duplicate (literally or figuratively); by implication, to transmute (transitive or intransitive):—do (speak, strike) again, alter, double, (be given to) change, disguise, (be) diverse, pervert, prefer, repeat, return, do the second time.

The number 2 can present two different concepts in the Bible, which can be broadly summed up into unity and division. We will look at the significance of the number 2 from both these perspectives.

The Biblical Meaning Of The Number 2

While the study of numbers in the Bible is interesting and has significance in the message that God intends us to discover from His Word, we should not let the numbers in the Bible govern our lives. If we are not careful, we can think things like angel numbers and numerology are ok. And it’s 100% not ok for Christians to practice.

We are to live our lives led by the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth and we must be grounded in the Word of God.

Nevertheless, delving into the numbers in the scriptures and their meaning can be interesting and enlightening in our quest to know our infinite God more! It also can teach us about the way Biblical symbolism works.

God is a God of order rather than chaos; He works in types, patterns, and shadows. This means there is a message for us in everything he does, so it is no accident that the Hebrew alphabet has a correlating number.

The Unity Of The Number 2 In The Bible

The thread of the number 2 runs all through the scriptures, and when we start to follow it we see that there are lessons to be learned.

One of my favorite journeys in the Bible is to go back to the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, when humans had direct fellowship with God.

Back in Genesis 2:18 we read…

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

This implies that two people are better than one and that two people can join together in unity to become stronger.

In marriage, God shows that two people dying to self, joining together, and honoring the other above themselves produces strength, blessing, and creativity.

The Law was given to Moses on two tablets, and the references to the Law in the Old Testament are referred to as “The two tablets” rather than the “Ten Commandments.”

Jesus also sums up the Law in the new testament with the two great commandments:

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:37-40

The number 2 also refers to the unity of agreement, as Jesus said in Mathew 18:19…

“Again say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”

The Power Of 2 In The Bible

Here are some other key points where we see the power of 2 in action:

• Jesus promises in verse 20 of the same chapter…

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” – Mathew 18:20

• Mark. 6:7-13 – Jesus sent His disciples out two by two
  
• 1 Tim. 5:19 – accusations will only be entertained if there are two or three witnesses.
  
• 1 Cor. 12 – The number two also refers to the unity between Christ and His church, likening the unity to that between a husband and wife.
  
• We can also see the unity of 2 represented in God’s creation, where male and female are required to create offspring; our bodies have two eyes, ears, arms, hands, legs, and feet, all joined into one body.
  
• The Bible is separated by two covenants: The Old and New Testaments

More On The Number 2 In Scripture

We also see before the flood that God instructs Noah to bring unclean animals into the ark in pairs or two of every kind of animal on the earth. These “two of every sort” in Genesis 6:19 will survive the flood and reproduce after the waters subside to re-populate the earth.

And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. – Genesis 6:19

And in Ecclesiastes 4:9 tells us plainly that…

Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.

There were also two good spies, Caleb and Joshua, that went into the Promised Land, two cherubim over the ark of the covenant.

God led the Israelite nation through the desert with two pillars, a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

The Division Of The Number 2 In The Bible

The number two does not always symbolize unity in the Bible; it can also refer to a division or a choice. Here are some interesting ways the number 2 is seen that way:

• In the garden were two central trees, the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge, and Adam and Eve had to choose between the two, representing obedience to God or choosing their own way.

• Another representation of two choices is where Moses summarizes the choice the Israelites had after he gave them the Law.
  
  Deuteronomy 30:19 is full of the symbolism of the number 2. Moses says, ” I call heaven and earth as (2) witnesses,” and the choices “life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.”

• During day two of creation, God separated the waters from below and the waters from above. God also divided the day into light and dark, governed by the two heavenly bodies (stars), the sun, and the moon.

• Jesus also says that a “house divided cannot stand” when he was accused of performing His miracles and casting out demons by Satan’s power rather than God’s power in Matthew 12:22-30.

• The number two is also used to highlight contrasts in the Bible and the consequences of the choices we make. Consider Hagar and Sarah, the one man’s attempt to bring about the promises of God, and the other, the woman of God’s promise.

• Other contrasts are Saul and David and Ishmael and Isaac. God also gives people a new name to show the contrast between man’s nature and God’s nature. Consider Jacob, the deceiver whose name was changed to Israel, which came to mean a people chosen by God.

• In the New Testament, we see a similar duality where Saul persecuted the church and killed Christians, but after his conversion, his name was changed to Paul, and God used him to build His church!

What Does the Number 2 Mean Spiritually?

We explored the number 2 in the Bible and learned some neat things. But now it’s time to round up the number’s spiritual or prophetic significance and meaning.

• Unity
  
• Division
  
• Strength and Support
  
• Choice
  
• Witnesses
  

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As we have discovered, the theme of the number 2 runs all through the Bible, and the significance of the number means we can learn something about God, creation, life, and ourselves if we look at this number in the Bible.

As you delve into God’s word to find out more about Him, we see another implementation of the number 2. God’s word is brought to life in your heart by the Holy Spirit! May you be blessed as you wander through the Word with Him!

More On Numbers In The Bible

We’ve been looking into the significance of the number two in the Bible! But that isn’t all! I have been writing about other numbers too. Check out the articles listed below if you’re curious to discover more about Biblical numerology.