The number three, primarily associated with the doctrine of the Trinity, is also associated with periods of specially significant divine activity (e.g., "on the third day"). Four and five have a variety of associations.

Matthew 28:19

Three

See also

The Trinity

John 14:26; 15:26
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
1 Peter 1:2
1 Corinthians 13:13

See also

The triad of faith, hope and love

1 Thessalonians 1:3
Genesis 30:36

Three days

See also

Genesis 40:12-22

Three days is a common period, often indicating the length of a journey or a period leading to a critical point.

Exodus 3:18; 10:22
Numbers 10:33
Judges 14:14
1 Kings 12:5
Luke 24:46

pp 2Ch 10:5

See also

Jesus Christ was raised after three days

Matthew 16:21
Matthew 17:23

pp Mk 8:31

pp Lk 9:22

Matthew 20:19

pp Mk 9:31

Matthew 27:63-64

pp Mk 10:34

Luke 24:7,21

pp Lk 18:33

Acts 10:40
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Jonah 1:17
Matthew 12:39-40

Comparison between Jonah's three days in the fish and Jesus Christ's three days in the tomb:

Matthew 16:4

pp Lk 11:29-30

Genesis 6:10; 7:13; 9:19

Three brothers

1 Samuel 2:21; 31:6

Shem, Ham and Japheth:

2 Samuel 2:18

pp 1Ch 10:6

Job 2:11; 32:3,5

Groups of three men

Job's friends:

Matthew 17:1

Jesus Christ's disciples:

Matthew 26:37

pp Mk 9:2

pp Lk 9:28

Genesis 18:2
Ezekiel 14:14-18

pp Mk 14:33

Daniel 3:23-24
Zechariah 11:8
2 Samuel 23:8-12
2 Samuel 23:13-23

the Three in David's army

pp 1Ch 11:15-25

Exodus 23:14,17; 34:23-24

the three mighty men among David's chiefs

Deuteronomy 16:16

Three annual festivals

1 Kings 9:25
2 Chronicles 8:13
Daniel 7:25

Three and a half

See also

Daniel 12:7

NIV footnote.

Revelation 11:2; 12:6; 13:5
Revelation 7:1

Four

Four representing the complete created order

See also

Jeremiah 49:36

This symbol is probably based on the four points of the compass.

Ezekiel 37:9
Daniel 7:2
Matthew 24:31

pp Mk 13:27

Ezekiel 1:5-10

Four living creatures

Revelation 4:6-7; 5:6,8; 14:3

The four living creatures in Ezekiel and Revelation represent the whole animate creation glorifying God:

Daniel 2:39-40; 7:17

Four kingdoms

Human history before the coming of God's kingdom is spanned by four great human kingdoms, often understood to refer to the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome:

Matthew 25:2,15-20

Five

Luke 12:6,52; 14:19; 16:28; 19:18-19

Fives in Jesus Christ's teaching

John 4:18
1 Samuel 21:3
Matthew 14:17-19

Five loaves

pp Mk 6:38-41

Matthew 16:9

pp Lk 9:13-16

pp Jn 6:8-13

See also

pp Mk 8:19

1510 Trinity, the
2351 Christ, miracles
2560 Christ, resurrection