The Bible uses numbers to convey a deeper meaning than what is perceived on the surface of the text. Here is a brief explanation of some of those numbers.

 1 = God.  In ‘one’ there is both a singularity and a plurality.  In ‘one’ finger there are ‘three’ joints. In ‘one’ team there are ‘many’ players.  In ‘one’ group there are several participants.  God is ‘one’.

 3 = One cycle complete so a new alternative cycle can begin.  This might represent a completion of aprevious way of thinking, existing or perceiving the universe so that a new way will emerge.

 6 = Evil.  Continuous labour without rest.  An unwholesome existence.

 7 = Perfection, a complete cycle of existence.

 10 = A summary of a whole group.  The ‘10’ commandments are a summary of the 613 commandmentsin the Bible.  The ‘10’ lepers in Luke are a summary of all people who are pushed to the fringe or who have a stain upon their being.

 12 = The Whole People of God.  There were 12 Tribes of ancient Israel and 12 Apostles in the New

Covenant.  In the Revelation, the number of people entering into heaven is 144,000. 

12 x 12 = 144 and a thousand represents an un-countable number.

 40 = Until God’s Will is accomplished.  The Hebrews wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. 

Jesus was tempted by the devil for 40 days.  The rain in the Noah story fell for 40 days. Jesus was in the tomb for 40 hours.  These are not literal numbers but symbolic numbers meaning until God’s Will is accomplished. 

 1000 = unfathomable numbers or all.  “The cattle on a thousand hills belong to God” does not literally mean that the cattle on one thousand hills alone belong to God but that all the cattle in the world belong to God.

 Read your Bible again and hear what the authors say in the Scriptures.