Number

Like most Oriental nations, it is probable that the Hebrews in their written calculations made use of the letters of the alphabet. That they did so in post-Babylonian times we have conclusive evidence in the Maccabaean coins; and it is highly probable that this was the ease also in earlier times. But though, on the one hand, it is certain that in all existing MSS of the Hebrew text of the Old Testament the numerical expressions are written at length, yet, on the other, the variations in the several versions between themselves and from the Hebrew text, added to the evident inconsistencies in numerical statement between certain passages of that text itself seems to prove that some shorter mode of writing was originally in vogue, liable to be misunderstood, and in fact misunderstood by copyists and translators. These variations appear to have proceeded from the alphabetic method of writing numbers. There can be little doubt, however, that some at least of the numbers mentioned in Scripture are intended to be representative rather than determinative. Certain numbers, as 7,10,40,100, were regarded as giving the idea of completeness. Without entering into St. Augustine’s theory of this usage, we may remark that the notion of representative numbers in certain cases is one extremely common among eastern nations, who have a prejudice against counting their possessions accurately; that it enters largely into many ancient systems of chronology, and that it is found in the philosophical and metaphysical speculations not only of the Pythagorean and other ancient schools of philosophy, both Greek and Roman, but also in those of the later Jewish writers, of the Gnostics, and also of such Christian writers se St. Augustine himself. We proceed to give some instances of numbers used, (a) representatively, and thus probably by design indefinitely, or, (b) definitely, but, as we may say, preferentially, i.e. because some meaning (which we do not in all cases understand) was attached to them.

NUM'BER. The following numbers were understood by the Hebrews to have a symbolical or representative significance: Three was deemed to have a peculiar mystic meaning. It is the number of the Deity (the Trinity), of the thrice repeated "Holy," Isa 6:3; of the threefold priestly blessing. Num 6:23-26; Daniel's three hours of prayer. Dan 6:10, etc. Four symbolizes the world or humanity. There are four winds, Eze 37:9, four beasts, Rev 4:6, and four living creatures with four faces, four wings, and four sides. Eze 1:5-10, etc. Five, the half of ten, as in Ex 22:1; Lev 22:14; Matt 25:2, etc. The Decalogue is divided into two tables, each containing five commandments. Seven, the union of three and four, is the number of the covenants between God and man. It implies perfection. The number occurs very frequently in connection with both holy things and things unholy; for example, the seven priests that carried seven trumpets seven times in front of the ark and around the walls of Jericho, Josh 6:4, the seven days in the week, the seven churches, Rev 1:4, the seven years of plenty in Egypt, Gen 41:26, the seven angels with seven golden vials. Rev 15:1; but also the seven heads and seven crowns of the dragon. Rev 12:3. Ten, the number of fingers (two hands), symbolizes harmony and completeness. It is the number of the fundamental commandments. Twelve, the multiple of three and four, is also a covenant number, like seven. Hence we have the twelve tribes, the twelve stones in the high priest's breastplate, Ex 28:21, twelve apostles, twelve gates in the New Jerusalem, etc. Forty, four multiplied by ten; as the forty days of our Lord's temptation, Matt 4, the forty years in the wilderness, etc. Seventy, seven multiplied by ten; as the seventy elders of Israel, Num 11:16, the seventy disciples of our Lord. Luke 10:1. It is very difficult, if indeed at all possible, to get the exact and definite meaning of these numbers, and we must not carry the search too far. But that they had a special meaning for the Hebrews there can be little doubt. (Compare the extended and ingenious treatment of Lange, Com. on Revelation, pp. 14 sqq.)

NUM'BER. The following numbers were understood by the Hebrews to have a symbolical or representative significance: Three was deemed to have a peculiar mystic meaning. It is the number of the Deity (the Trinity), of the thrice repeated "Holy," Isa 6:3; of the threefold priestly blessing. Num 6:23-26; Daniel's three hours of prayer. Dan 6:10, etc. Four symbolizes the world or humanity. There are four winds, Eze 37:9, four beasts, Rev 4:6, and four living creatures with four faces, four wings, and four sides. Eze 1:5-10, etc. Five, the half of ten, as in Ex 22:1; Lev 22:14; Matt 25:2, etc. The Decalogue is divided into two tables, each containing five commandments. Seven, the union of three and four, is the number of the covenants between God and man. It implies perfection. The number occurs very frequently in connection with both holy things and things unholy; for example, the seven priests that carried seven trumpets seven times in front of the ark and around the walls of Jericho, Josh 6:4, the seven days in the week, the seven churches, Rev 1:4, the seven years of plenty in Egypt, Gen 41:26, the seven angels with seven golden vials. Rev 15:1; but also the seven heads and seven crowns of the dragon. Rev 12:3. Ten, the number of fingers (two hands), symbolizes harmony and completeness. It is the number of the fundamental commandments. Twelve, the multiple of three and four, is also a covenant number, like seven. Hence we have the twelve tribes, the twelve stones in the high priest's breastplate, Ex 28:21, twelve apostles, twelve gates in the New Jerusalem, etc. Forty, four multiplied by ten; as the forty days of our Lord's temptation, Matt 4, the forty years in the wilderness, etc. It is very difficult, if indeed at all possible, to get the exact and definite meaning of these numbers, and we must not carry the search too far. But that they had a special meaning for the Hebrews there can be little doubt. (Compare the extended and ingenious treatment of Lange, Com. on Revelation, pp. 14 sqq.)

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a unit, or an aggregate of units; a numerable aggregate or collection of individuals; an assemblage made up of distinct things expressible by figures.

2. A collection of many individuals; a numerous assemblage; a multitude; many. Ladies are always of great use to the party they espouse, and never fail to win over numbers. Addison.

3. A numeral; a word or character denoting a number; as, to put a number on a door.

4. Numerousness; multitude. Number itself importeth not much in armies where the people are of weak courage. Bacon.

5. The state or quality of being numerable or countable. Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds out of number. 2 Esdras iii. 7.

6. Quantity, regarded as made up of an aggregate of separate things.

7. That which is regulated by count; poetic measure, as divisions of time or number of syllables; hence, poetry, verse; -- chiefly used in the plural. I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came. Pope.

8. The distinction of objects, as one, or more than one (in some languages, as one, or two, or more than two), expressed (usually) by a difference in the form of a word; thus, the singular number and the plural number are the names of the forms of a word indicating the objects denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than one.

9. The measure of the relation between quantities or things of the same kind; that abstract species of quantity which is capable of being expressed by figures; numerical value. Abstract number, Abundant number, Cardinal number, etc. See under Abstract, Abundant, etc. -- In numbers, in numbered parts; as, a book published in numbers.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to enumerate. If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Gen. xiii. 16.

2. To reckon as one of a collection or multitude. He was numbered with the transgressors. Is. liii. 12.

3. To give or apply a number or numbers to; to assign the place of in a series by order of number; to designate the place of by a number or numeral; as, to number the houses in a street, or the apartments in a building.

4. To amount; to equal in number; to contain; to consist of; as, the army numbers fifty thousand. Thy tears can not number the dead. Campbell. Numbering machine, a machine for printing consecutive numbers, as on railway tickets, bank bills, etc.

Synonyms: count; enumerate; calculate; tell.