Bible Encyclopedia: Four

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

FOUR

for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Genesis 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Ezekiel 37:9 Daniel 7:2; Daniel 8:8; Daniel 11:4 Zechariah 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Matthew 24:31 Mark 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isaiah 11:12 Revelation 7:1; Revelation 20:8, the King James Version "quarters"); "the four corners of the house" (Job 1:19); Jephthah's daughter was bewailed four days a year (Judges 11:40); "four cities" are several times mentioned in Jos in the allotment of inheritances (19:7; 21:18, etc.); Nehemiah's enemies sent to him "four times" (Nehemiah 6:4); "four kinds" (the Revised Version, margin "families" of destroyers were threatened, Jeremiah 15:3); Yahweh's "four sore judgments" (Ezekiel 14:21); "four generations" were seen by Job (Job 42:16).

(2) "Four" is frequent in prophetic visions: Daniel saw "four. beasts" arise, representing four kings (7:3, 17); "four notable horns" (Dan 8:8, 22; compare APC 2Esdras 11:39); "four gates" (APC 2Esdras 3:19; four wings, 12:2 the King James Version); "four horns" were seen by Zechariah, as the powers that had scattered Israel, and "four smiths" (Revised Version) as powers that would cast the four horns down (1:18-21); "four chariots and. horses" represented the "four spirits," the King James Version and the Revised Version, margin (better than "winds"), that went "forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth" (Zech 6:1-5); in the visions of Ezekiel, "four living creatures," each with four faces, four wings, etc., were the bearers of the throne of God (1:5, 23); so, in the visions of John there were "four living creatures" before and around the throne (Revelation 4:6; Revelation 5:6, 8, 14; Revelation 6:1; Revelation 15:7; Revelation 19:4); John saw "four angels" of destruction loosed for their work (Revelation 9:14).

(3) "Four" occurs frequently in the measurements of the sacred buildings, etc.

(a) of the tabernacle (Exodus 25; Exodus 26; Exodus 26 27; 28:17:00; 36, etc.);

(b) of Solomon's temple (1 Kings 7:2 1 Chronicles 9:24);

(c) of Ezekiel's temple (Ezekiel 40:41; Ezekiel 41:5; Ezekiel 42:20; Ezekiel 43:14).

(4) "Four" is used as an alternative with "three" (Proverbs 30:15, 18, 21, 24, 29); we have "three or four" (2 Esdras 16:29, 31); "the third and. the fourth generation" (Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:7 Numbers 14:18 Deuteronomy 5:9).

(5) Ten times four, or forty is also a special and sacred number, e.g. forty years did Israel eat manna (Exodus 16:35); forty years in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33; Numbers 32:13); "the land had rest forty years" (Judges 3:11; Judges 5:31); Israel was delivered unto the hands of the Philistines for forty years (Judges 13:1); Eli judged Israel forty years (1 Samuel 4:18); Moses was forty years old when he visited his brethren (Acts 7:23); the flood continued for "forty days and forty nights" (Genesis 7:4); Moses was in the Mount "forty days and forty nights" (Exodus 24:18; Exodus 34:28 Deuteronomy 9:9); Jesus fasted in the desert forty days and nights (Matthew 4:2); He remained with His disciples forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3).

(6) Fourscore is also frequent (shemonim) (Exodus 7:7 Judges 3:30 Jeremiah 41:5, etc.; ogdoekonta, Luke 2:37; Luke 16:7).

(7) Four hundred represents a large number, e.g. the years of the oppression in Egypt (Genesis 15:13); Esau's company (Genesis 33:1); the men with David (1 Samuel 22:2; 1 Samuel 25:13; 1 Samuel 30:10, 17); the prophets of Baal "four hundred and fifty," of Asherah, "four hundred" (1 Kings 18:19, 22); the prophets of Israel (1 Kings 22:6). Four thousand represents a larger number, e.g. the musicians and porters of Solomon's temple (1 Chronicles 23:5); the stalls for horses in Solomon's stables (2 Chronicles 9:25); the Assassins who made insurrection under an Egyptian (Acts 21:38); Christ fed "four thousand men, besides women and children" (Matthew 15:38). Four hundred thousand represents a very large number, e.g. the congregation of Israel that gathered at Mizpah, "four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword" (Judges 20:2, 17); Abijah's army (2 Chronicles 13:3; Jeroboam's, twice that number).

(8) The fourth part also frequently occurs (Exodus 29:40 Leviticus 23:13 Numbers 23:10 Revelation 6:8, etc.).

W. L. Walker

FOUR HUNDRED

See FOUR.

FOUR THOUSAND

See FOUR.

Greek

5071. tetrakosioi -- four hundred
... four hundred. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tetrakosioi Phonetic Spelling:
(tet-rak-os'-ee-oy,) Short Definition: four hundred Definition: four ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5071.htm - 7k

5064. tessares -- four
... tessares. 5065 . four. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tessares Phonetic
Spelling: (tes'-sar-es) Short Definition: four Definition: four. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5064.htm - 6k

5070. tetrakischilioi -- four thousand
... four thousand. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tetrakischilioi Phonetic
Spelling: (tet-rak-is-khil'-ee-oy) Short Definition: four thousand Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5070.htm - 7k

5072. tetramenos -- of four months
... of four months. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tetramenos Phonetic Spelling:
(tet-ram'-ay-non) Short Definition: of four months Definition: of four ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5072.htm - 6k

5069. tetradion -- a group of four, a quaternion (a guard of four ...
... a group of four, a quaternion (a guard of four soldiers). Part of Speech: Noun,
Neuter Transliteration: tetradion Phonetic Spelling: (tet-rad'-ee-on) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5069.htm - 6k

5074. tetrapous -- four-footed
... four-footed. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tetrapous Phonetic Spelling:
(tet-rap'-ooce) Short Definition: four-footed Definition: four-footed. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5074.htm - 6k

5068b. tetragonos -- four-cornered, ie square
... 5068a, 5068b. tetragonos. 5069 . four-cornered, ie square. Transliteration:
tetragonos Short Definition: square. Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5068b.htm - 5k

5073. tetraplous -- fourfold
... fourfold. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tetraplous Phonetic Spelling:
(tet-rap-lo'-os) Short Definition: four-fold Definition: four-fold, four ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5073.htm - 6k

5066. tetartaios -- of forty years
... of forty years. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tetartaios Phonetic Spelling:
(tet-ar-tah'-yos) Short Definition: four days since Definition: of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5066.htm - 5k

3574. nuchthemeron -- lasting a night and a day
... and a day. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: nuchthemeron Phonetic Spelling:
(nookh-thay'-mer-on) Short Definition: twenty-four hours Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3574.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

702. arba -- four
... 701, 702. arba. 703 . four. Transliteration: arba Phonetic Spelling:
(ar-bah') Short Definition: four. Word Origin of uncertain ...
/hebrew/702.htm - 6k

703. arba -- four
... 702, 703. arba. 704 . four. Transliteration: arba Phonetic Spelling: (ar-bah')
Short Definition: four. Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding ...
/hebrew/703.htm - 6k

5988. Ammiel -- "my kinsman is God," four Israelites
... 5987, 5988. Ammiel. 5989 . "my kinsman is God," four Israelites. Transliteration:
Ammiel Phonetic Spelling: (am-mee-ale') Short Definition: Ammiel. ...
/hebrew/5988.htm - 6k

6222. Asayah -- four Israelites
... Asayah. 6223 . four Israelites. Transliteration: Asayah Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-saw-yaw') Short Definition: Asaiah. Word Origin from asah Definition four Isr. ...
/hebrew/6222.htm - 6k

5658. Abdon -- four Israelites, also a Levitical city
... 5657, 5658. Abdon. 5659 . four Israelites, also a Levitical city. Transliteration:
Abdon Phonetic Spelling: (ab-dohn') Short Definition: Abdon. ...
/hebrew/5658.htm - 6k

7153. Qiryath Arba -- "city of the four," an older name of Hebron
... "city of the four," an older ... Word Origin from qiryah and arba Definition "city of
the four," an older name of Hebron (2275a) NASB Word Usage Kiriath-arba (9). ...
/hebrew/7153.htm - 6k

8113. Shimri -- four Israelites
... Shimri. 8114 . four Israelites. Transliteration: Shimri Phonetic Spelling:
(shim-ree') Short Definition: Shimri. Word Origin from shamar Definition four Isr. ...
/hebrew/8113.htm - 6k

6846. Tsephanyah -- "Yah has treasured," four Israelites
... "Yah has treasured," four Israelites. Transliteration: Tsephanyah or Tsephanyahu
Phonetic Spelling: (tsef-an-yaw') Short Definition: Zephaniah. ...
/hebrew/6846.htm - 6k

2354. Chur -- four Israelites, also a Midianite
... 2353, 2354. Chur. 2355 . four Israelites, also a Midianite. Transliteration:
Chur Phonetic Spelling: (khoor) Short Definition: Hur. ...
/hebrew/2354.htm - 6k

8092. Shima -- four Israelites
... Shima. 8093 . four Israelites. Transliteration: Shima Phonetic Spelling:
(shim-aw') Short Definition: Shimea. Word Origin from shama Definition four Isr. ...
/hebrew/8092.htm - 6k

Library

The Four-Fold Gospel
The Four-Fold Gospel. <. The Four-Fold Gospel JW McGarvey. Table of
Contents. Title Page. Introduction. Preserving the Text. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/

On Christian Doctrine In Four Books.
On Christian Doctrine In Four Books. . On Christian Doctrine In
Four Books. St. Augustine. Translated by Rev. Professor ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /

On Christian Doctrine, in Four Books
On Christian Doctrine, in Four Books. <. On Christian Doctrine, in
Four Books Saint Augustine. Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/

Why Four Gospels?
Why Four Gospels? . Why Four Gospels? Arthur W. Pink. Table of Contents. Title
Page. Foreword. Introduction. The Gospel of Matthew. The Gospel of Mark. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/why four gospels/

Chapter twenty-four
... Chapter Twenty-four. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. ...
With them were four or five newspaper correspondents and several neighbors. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-four.htm

Carried by Four
... Carried by Four. ... This man must needs be borne of four, so the evangelist, Mark, tells
us; there must be a bearer at each corner of the couch whereon he lay. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/carried by four.htm

Chapter four
... Chapter Four. During the week he was in receipt of numerous letters commenting
on the absence from the News of the account of the prize fight. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter four.htm

Four Shaping Centuries
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS FOUR SHAPING CENTURIES. 'Now these are the names of the
children of Israel, which came into Egypt: every man and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/four shaping centuries.htm

Of Right (Four Articles)
... OF RIGHT (FOUR ARTICLES). ... Four points will have to be considered about justice:
(1) Right; (2) Justice itself; (3) Injustice; (4) Judgment. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of right four articles .htm

Of Concupiscence (Four Articles)
... OF CONCUPISCENCE (FOUR ARTICLES). We have now to consider concupiscence: under
which head there are four points of inquiry: (1) Whether ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of concupiscence four articles .htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) One more than three; twice two.

2. (n.) The sum of four units; four units or objects.

3. (n.) A symbol representing four units, as 4 or iv.

4. (n.) Four things of the same kind, esp. four horses; as, a chariot and four.

Thesaurus

Four (3139 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The sum of four units; four units or objects. 3. (n.) A symbol representing
four units, as 4 or iv. 4. (n.) Four things of the same kind, esp. ...
/f/four.htm - 15k

Twenty-four (26 Occurrences)
Twenty-four. Twenty-five, Twenty-four. Twenty-fourth . Multi-Version
Concordance Twenty-four (26 Occurrences). Revelation ...
/t/twenty-four.htm - 14k

Fifty-four (7 Occurrences)
Fifty-four. Fifty-five, Fifty-four. Fifty-nine . Multi-Version
Concordance Fifty-four (7 Occurrences). Numbers 1:29 ...
/f/fifty-four.htm - 8k

Four-footed (7 Occurrences)
Four-footed. Fourfooted, Four-footed. Fours . Multi-Version Concordance
Four-footed (7 Occurrences). Acts 10:12 in which ...
/f/four-footed.htm - 8k

Forty-four (5 Occurrences)
Forty-four. Forty-five, Forty-four. Forty-nine . Multi-Version
Concordance Forty-four (5 Occurrences). Revelation 7:4 ...
/f/forty-four.htm - 8k

Seventy-four (4 Occurrences)
Seventy-four. Seventy-five, Seventy-four. Seventy-seven . Noah Webster's
Dictionary (n.) A naval vessel carrying seventy-four guns. ...
/s/seventy-four.htm - 7k

Sixty-four (3 Occurrences)
Sixty-four. Sixty-fold, Sixty-four. Sixty-nine . Multi-Version
Concordance Sixty-four (3 Occurrences). Numbers 1:27 ...
/s/sixty-four.htm - 7k

Four-and-twentieth (1 Occurrence)
Four-and-twentieth. Four, Four-and-twentieth. Four-drachma . Multi-Version
Concordance Four-and-twentieth (1 Occurrence). Daniel ...
/f/four-and-twentieth.htm - 6k

Four-fold (2 Occurrences)
Four-fold. Fourfold, Four-fold. Fourfooted . Multi-Version Concordance
Four-fold (2 Occurrences). Luke 19:8 And Zaccheus ...
/f/four-fold.htm - 7k

Four-fifths (1 Occurrence)
Four-fifths. Four-drachma, Four-fifths. Fourfold . Multi-Version
Concordance Four-fifths (1 Occurrence). Genesis 47:24 ...
/f/four-fifths.htm - 6k

Bible Concordance

Four (3139 Occurrences)

Four is used 3139 times in 12 translations.

You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search.

Subtopics

Four

Four Hundred

Four Thousand

Related Terms

Twenty-four (26 Occurrences)

Fifty-four (7 Occurrences)

Four-footed (7 Occurrences)