In this article, we will go deeper into numbers in the Bible and look at the Biblical meaning of the number 7. So, grab your Bible, and let’s dig in...
I have been creating a series on different numbers in the Bible and this time it’s all about the number 7. This number is used hundreds of times in the Bible. There are several different Biblical meanings of this number, but from its prevalent use in the Scriptures, it is clear that this is an important number and carries significant symbolism and meaning Biblically.
We see that 7 is used many times in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, and most uses infer similar meanings and carry similar symbolism. It’s actually pretty neat when you start to study it.
It is important to remember that every number used in the Bible is there for a reason, and numbers hold great significance in the Scriptures, but they are also simply there as part of the language and are not always as symbolic as they are in certain places in the Bible. I talk more about this in my article, Insight into the Biblical Meaning of Numbers.
With that in mind, let’s explore the meaning of the number 7 in the Bible.
What Is The Biblical Meaning Of The Number 7
The number 7 has several meanings in the Bible, as it is used in multiple places in the Scriptures, but the three main meanings of this number in a Biblical context are completion or fullness and rest.
These spiritual meanings came from the use of the number in the creation story when God made the heavens and the earth. On the 7th day, God finished all his work, showing that the creation He designed was now complete, and He then rested from His work (Genesis 1).
In the original written language of Genesis, the word for “seven” and the word for “complete” use the same consonants, which in Hebrew means they are spelled the same way.
This shows the intention of using the number 7 as a symbol of completeness, fullness, or perfection. I
The symbolism and spiritual meaning of rest in the number 7 is further established when the Lord instructs the Israelites to rest on the 7th day of the week, calling this day the Sabbath and creating it for the sake of remembering the Lord, fasting, resting from work, being with family, and connecting with God (Exodus 20).
But God took it even further and even had the land rest every 7 years. This is called a Shemitah year.
“The Shemitah is an ancient Biblical mandate given by God to the people of Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai. It is a God-ordained year of rest for the land that is to be observed every seven years. During this Sabbath rest for the land, it is not to be sown, cultivated or harvested.” (source)
These two meanings are the most significant Biblical meanings of the number 7 and are continued throughout the Bible.
Why Is The Number 7 So Important In The Bible?
The number 7 is considered an important number in the Bible and in Israelite or Jewish culture. This number is used in several places in the Bible, not only in the direct form of 7, but also in multiple of 7, and constructs around the number 7.
This makes 7 one of the most important numbers in the Bible. It’s usually called God’s number.
For example, the number 7 is important in the Bible as there are 7 annual feast days that the Lord sets for the Israelites (Leviticus, Revelation). There is the year of Jubilee set by the Lord happens every 49 years, which is 7×7 (Leviticus 25).
And Jesus speaks of seven churches in Revelation, the Israelites were held in captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 25), and symbols such as 7 trumpets, 7 bowls, and 7 seals are found in Revelation.
There is the continued use of the number 7 in various forms throughout the Bible. You go looking for them. You will find that there are more than 700 direct uses or references of the number 7 in the Scriptures and more than 800 instances of the number 7 in the Bible if you count the indirect uses. That’s a whole lot of 7’s!
The importance of the number 7 in the Bible is highlighted by all of these uses and demonstrates that this number holds much more significance than it may appear on the surface. There are few numbers used as many times as 7 in the Bible, and it is a reoccurring number throughout the Scriptures.
Where Is The Number 7 Found In The Bible?
The number 7 is among the most prominent number in the Bible. Almost no numbers are used as frequently, but where is this number used in the Scriptures?
As I mentioned earlier, 7 is used widely throughout the Bible, from Genesis to the Book of Revelation. It is. A number can be found in multiple different Scriptures in the law, history, prophecy and used in multiple contexts.
However, 7 is used most frequently in the Old Testament and in Revelation. The symbolism of numbers is used much less frequently in the New Testament but is used often in the Old Testament with prophetic connotations.
The very first use of the number 7 occurs in Genesis 2:2…
And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
The number is then prevalent in several other books of the Old Testament, especially Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, 1 Chronicles, and Nehemiah. The last mention of the number 7 occurs in Revelation 21:20.
The first mention of this number in the Bible is in relation to the completion and perfection of God’s work during the creation story, and the last mention is in relation to the completion of the New Jerusalem, signifying the end of days and the completion of God’s work on the earth.
This brings such a beautiful picture of completion to the uses of the number 7 in the Bible, and further shows its use as the number that represents completion, fullness, and perfection. It really blows my mind how God can use something like numbers to convey such beauty, and meaning.
Is The Number 7 Always Significant In The Bible?
The number 7 carries significantly more weight than many other numbers used in the Scriptures, but is this number always significant? Is every mention of the number 7 in the Bible something to take special notice of?
The reality is that the number 7 is not always a significant symbol in every instance of its use. The same goes for the other numbers in the Bible. This is still just a number and is often in the Bible just to be a number.
I think this is why some Christians can get pulled in angel numbers. We see a sequence of numbers and automatically think something is trying to communicate with us. Not thinking that the probability of seeing sequenced numbers in our digital age is quite common.
Now, back to the number 7. There are clear prophetic meanings behind the number in several instances, and there are many uses of the number 7 that call back to instruction made by the Lord, but many instances in the Bible use the number 7 as a number only, without any deeper meaning.
Just be careful about applying meaning to every use of numbers in the Bible, as there are instances to look further into, and there are instances to simply read as they are written. It’s when we see patterns that we can see if something like a number is symbolic.
As we end this Bible study on the number 7. It is good to remember that this number is prevalent in the Bible and often carries special significance. This number is considered to be a holy number in Jewish culture, and many call it the number of God, which makes it quite amazing and wonderful!
In the Bible, the number seven represents fullness, completion, and perfection. Every significant instance of the number 7 in the Bible carries this significance.
More On Numbers In The Bible
Are you curious to learn the deeper meaning behind the numbers in the Bible? Have a desire to explore them and grow your understanding of their significance? If so, then I have a treat for you! I’ve been hard at work crafting an entire series on this topic.
Take a look at the articles below and get ready to start delving into some magnificent Bible symbolism!
Numbers in the Bible Series
Melissa is a passionate minister, speaker and an ongoing learner of the Bible. She has been involved in church and vocational ministry for over 18 years. And is the founder of Think About Such Things. She has the heart to equip the saints by helping them get into the Word of God and fall more in love with Jesus. She also enjoys family, cooking, and reading.
She has spoken in churches in California, Oregon, Texas, and Mexico and has been featured in Guidepost Magazine and All Recipes Magazine. Read More…