Dictionary of Bible Themes: 1652 numbers, 3-5

1652 numbers, 3-5

Dictionary of Bible Themes

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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.

Three

The Trinity

Matthew 28:19 See also John 14:26; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2

The triad of faith, hope and love

1 Corinthians 13:13 See also 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Three days

Genesis 30:36 Three days is a common period, often indicating the length of a journey or a period leading to a critical point. See also Genesis 40:12-22; Exodus 3:18; Exodus 10:22; Numbers 10:33; Judges 14:14; 1 Kings 12:5 pp 2 Chronicles 10:5

Jesus Christ was raised after three days

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

Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:39-40 pp Luke 11:29-30; Matthew 16:4

Three brothers

Shem, Ham and Japheth:

Genesis 6:10; Genesis 7:13; Genesis 9:19 1 Samuel 2:21; Samuel 31:6 pp 1 Chronicles 10:6; 2 Samuel 2:18

Groups of three men

Job's friends:

Job 2:11; Job 32:3,5

Jesus Christ's disciples:

Matthew 17:1 pp Mark 9:2 pp Luke 9:28; Matthew 26:37 pp Mark 14:33; Genesis 18:2; Ezekiel 14:14-18; Daniel 3:23-24; Zechariah 11:8; 2 Samuel 23:8-12 the Three in David's army; 2 Samuel 23:13-23 pp 1 Chronicles 11:15-25 the three mighty men among David's chiefs

Three annual festivals

Exodus 23:14,17; Exodus 34:23-24; Deuteronomy 16:16; 1 Kings 9:25; 2 Chronicles 8:13

Three and a half

Daniel 7:25 NIV footnote. See also Daniel 12:7; Revelation 11:2; Revelation 12:6; Revelation 13:5

Four

Four representing the complete created order

Revelation 7:1 This symbol is probably based on the four points of the compass. See also Jeremiah 49:36; Ezekiel 37:9; Daniel 7:2; Matthew 24:31 pp Mark 13:27

Four living creatures

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

Ezekiel 1:5-10; Revelation 4:6-7; Revelation 5:6,8; Revelation 14:3

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:

Daniel 2:39-40; Daniel 7:17

Five

Fives in Jesus Christ's teaching

Matthew 25:2,15-20; Luke 12:6,52; Luke 14:19; Luke 16:28; Luke 19:18-19; John 4:18

Five loaves

1 Samuel 21:3; Matthew 14:17-19 pp Mark 6:38-41 pp Luke 9:13-16 pp John 6:8-13; Matthew 16:9 pp Mark 8:19