The number eighteen appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, often symbolizing bondage or a period of judgment, as well as marking specific ages and durations. Its occurrences provide insight into the historical and spiritual narratives within the Scriptures.

Judges and Bondage

In the Book of Judges, the number eighteen is notably associated with periods of oppression and servitude. For instance, the Israelites were subjected to the Moabites for eighteen years as a consequence of their disobedience to God. Judges 3:14 states, "The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years." This period of subjugation ended when God raised up Ehud as a deliverer for Israel.

Similarly, in Judges 10:8, the Israelites were oppressed by the Philistines and the Ammonites for eighteen years. The verse reads, "They shattered and crushed the Israelites that year, and for eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites." These instances highlight the recurring theme of Israel's cycle of sin, servitude, supplication, and salvation.

Age and Maturity

The age of eighteen is mentioned in the context of maturity and readiness for certain responsibilities. In 2 Kings 24:8, Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, as recorded: "Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem." This age marks a transition into leadership, albeit Jehoiachin's reign was short-lived due to the Babylonian conquest.

Healing and Deliverance

In the New Testament, the number eighteen is associated with healing and deliverance. In Luke 13:11-13, Jesus heals a woman who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. The passage states, "And a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, 'Woman, you are set free from your disability.' Then He laid His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God." This miracle underscores Jesus' authority over spiritual and physical afflictions and His compassion for those in bondage.

Symbolism and Interpretation

The number eighteen, while not as prominently symbolic as other numbers in the Bible, often signifies a period of trial or judgment that precedes deliverance or change. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the hope of redemption through divine intervention. The instances of eighteen years of oppression or affliction highlight the need for repentance and reliance on God's deliverance.

In summary, the number eighteen in the Bible is associated with periods of bondage, the age of maturity, and divine healing. Its occurrences reflect the broader themes of judgment, repentance, and redemption that are central to the biblical narrative.1. (a.) Eight and ten; as, eighteen pounds.

2. (n.) The number greater by a unit than seventeen; eighteen units or objects.

3. (n.) A symbol denoting eighteen units, as 18 or xviii.

1178a. dekaokto -- eighteen
... eighteen. Transliteration: dekaokto Short Definition: eighteen. Word Origin from
deka and okto Definition eighteen NASB Word Usage eighteen (2). 1178, 1178a. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1178a.htm - 5k

1178. dekapente -- eighteen
... eighteen. Part of Speech: Indeclinable Numeral (Adjective) Transliteration: dekapente
Phonetic Spelling: (dek-ap-en'-teh) Short Definition: fifteen Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1178.htm - 5k

4083. pechus -- the forearm, ie a cubit
... 4083 -- "traditionally the distance from the elbow to the end of the fingers, about
eighteen inches or one-half meter -- 'cubit, eighteen inches, half meter ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4083.htm - 6k

1176. deka -- ten
... Word Origin a primary number Definition ten NASB Word Usage eighteen* (1), ten
(24). ten. A primary number; ten -- (eight-)een, ten. (deka) -- 25 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1176.htm - 6k

3638. okto -- eight
... Word Origin a prim. cardinal number Definition eight NASB Word Usage eight (6),
eighteen* (1), thirty-eight* (1). eight. A primary numeral; "eight" -- eight. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3638.htm - 6k

8083. shemoneh -- eight (a cardinal number)
... 1), 628* (1), 648* (1), 68* (1), 8,580* (1), 8,600* (1), 800,000* (1), 822* (1),
832* (1), 845* (1), 928* (1), 98* (2), eight (36), eighteen* (8), eighteenth ...
/hebrew/8083.htm - 6k

6240. asar -- ten
... 1), 15* (1), 15,000* (1), 16,000* (2), 16,750* (1), 17,200* (1), 18* (2), 18,000*
(6), 2,812* (1), 2,818* (1), 212* (1), 218* (1), eighteen* (8), eighteenth ...
/hebrew/6240.htm - 6k

Chapter eighteen
... Chapter Eighteen. "What is that to thee? Follow thou me.". When Rollin started
down the street the afternoon that Jasper stood looking ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter eighteen.htm

Question Eighteen the Subject of Hope
... Question Eighteen THE SUBJECT OF HOPE. THE SUBJECT OF HOPE We must now consider
the subject of hope, concerning which there are four ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/question eighteen the subject of.htm

For Eighteen Years, New Sects, Or, Rather, Posthumous Sects...
... XIV. For eighteen years, new sects, or, rather, posthumous sects? For eighteen
years, new sects, or, rather, posthumous sects, have ...
/.../lamartine/atheism among the people/xiv for eighteen years new.htm

Baptism of Daniel.
... CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. BAPTISM OF DANIEL. In the beginning of 1843, the mind
of Daniel was brought under a very powerful and gracious ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter eighteen baptism of daniel.htm

The Eighteen Silent Years.
... THE LIFE IN NAZARETH THE EIGHTEEN SILENT YEARS. And he went down with them,
and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the eighteen silent years.htm

The Death of Saint James.
... CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. THE DEATH OF SAINT JAMES. Saint James, as long as his
arm could wield a lance, continued his heroic combats with ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter eighteen the death of.htm

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
... Chapter 1 Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago. Eighteen and a half centuries
ago, and the land which now lies desolate"its bare, grey ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 1 palestine eighteen centuries.htm

What Old Bill could not Do
... TALK EIGHTEEN. WHAT OLD BILL COULD NOT DO. Old Bill M" was a drunkard.
Everybody knew it. People expected to see him stagger as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk eighteen what old bill.htm

How Our People Served the Moabites Eighteen Years, and were Then ...
... CHAPTER 4. How Our People Served The Moabites Eighteen Years, And Were Then Delivered
From Slavery By One Ehud Who Retained The Dominion Eighty Years. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how our people.htm

The Faith of the Three Hundred and Eighteen Fathers Assembled at ...
... Canon I. The Faith of the Three Hundred and Eighteen Fathers assembled
at Nice in Bithynia shall? The Faith of the Three Hundred ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon i the faith of.htm

Eighteen (22 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Eight and ten; as, eighteen pounds. 2. (n.) The number greater by a unit
than seventeen; eighteen units or objects. ...Eighteen (22 Occurrences). ...
/e/eighteen.htm - 13k

Eighteenth (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Next in order after the seventeenth. 2. (a.)
Consisting of one of eighteen equal parts or divisions of a thing. ...
/e/eighteenth.htm - 10k

18000 (3 Occurrences)
... 18000 (3 Occurrences). 1 Chronicles 12:31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen
thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king. (See NAS). ...
/num/18000.htm - 7k

Circumference (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:15 For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high apiece:
and a line of twelve cubits encircled either of them about. (See NAS RSV). ...
/c/circumference.htm - 7k

Nineteen (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Nine and ten; eighteen and one more; one
less than twenty; as, nineteen months. 2. (n.) The number ...
/n/nineteen.htm - 7k

Thickness (12 Occurrences)
... (DBY). 1 Kings 7:15 For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high
apiece: and a line of twelve cubits encircled either of them about. ...
/t/thickness.htm - 10k

E'domites (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 8:13 David got him a name when he returned from smiting the Syrians
in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men. (See RSV). ...
/e/e'domites.htm - 9k

Fingers (22 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:15 For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high apiece:
and a line of twelve cubits encircled either of them about. (See RSV). ...
/f/fingers.htm - 13k

Encompassed (34 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:15 And he formed the two pillars of brass; the height of one pillar was
eighteen cubits, and a line of twelve cubits encompassed the second pillar. ...
/e/encompassed.htm - 15k

Eglon (13 Occurrences)
... but not as a fortress. He made this city his capital, and kept Israel in
subjection for eighteen years. The people at length "cried ...
/e/eglon.htm - 13k

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