Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  1000 God  »  1600 Scripture as the word of God  »  1650 numbers, significance of  »  1656 numbers, combinations

Numbers may be combined for making a comparison. When they are combined in such a pattern as “two or three” the emphasis usually falls on the second figure.

Two and three

Two or three witnesses

Deuteronomy 19:15 See also Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28

Two or three as a small approximate number

Matthew 18:20 See also 2 Kings 9:32; Isaiah 17:6; Hosea 6:2; 1 Corinthians 14:27,29

Two and three in a climactic pattern

Ecclesiastes 4:12 See also Proverbs 30:15

Three and four

Three or four as a small approximate number

Jeremiah 36:23

Three and four in a climactic pattern

Proverbs 30:18-19 See also Proverbs 30:15-16,21-23,29-31; Amos 1:3,6,9,11,13; Amos 2:1,4,6

Other examples of the climactic pattern

Job 5:19; Proverbs 6:16-19; Genesis 4:24; Ecclesiastes 11:2; Micah 5:5

Comparative use of multiples of ten

Amos 5:3 See also Leviticus 26:8; Deuteronomy 33:17; Judges 20:10; Micah 6:7; Luke 16:7

Numerical contrast between Saul and David

1 Samuel 18:7-8 See also 1 Samuel 21:11; Samuel 29:5

See also

1025  God, anger of
5359  justice