What is the Biblical Meaning of the Number 4?

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An extensive look at 4 and its implications in the Bible
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Numbers in the Bible tend to hold a lot of significance, and we see this with the number 4. While the number 4 is often associated with completion and God’s creation, it also appears prominently in instructions and visions handed down directly from God. We’re diving deep into the spiritual meaning of the number 4 in the Bible.

What is the significance of the number 4 in the Bible?

In the Bible, the number 4 is usually associated with God’s creation. God finished creating the heavens, earth, sun, and moon on the 4th day. The number 4 is present in much of the physical world, like the 4 cardinal points, 4 lunar phrases, and 4 parts of the day. It also represents completion and order.

Section 1 of 9:

What does 4 symbolize in the Bible?

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  1. The number 4 occurs frequently through the Bible, and it’s considered an important symbol in Biblical numerology. God created the physical earth on the 4th day, and much of creation revolves around the number 4. There are also 4 consonants in God’s Holy Name YWHW, 4 gospels that provide a complete view of Jesus’ ministry, and 4 mothers of the 12 tribes of Israel.
    • The number 4 also frequently appears in Godly visions and the instructions God gave in constructing His tabernacles and temples.
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Section 2 of 9:

Creation & the Number 4 in the Bible

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  1. According to Genesis, on the 4th day God created the heaven, earth, sun and moon. He also divided the sky from the sea and caused plants to grow.
    • Because the material world was created on the fourth day, it’s often associated with the number 4.
    • Although Eve is an important part of the Creation story, she’s only mentioned 4 times.
  2. God designated the 4 seasons when He created the world, dividing the year into 4 roughly equal parts. And 4 appears in a number of other natural divisions, including:
    • 4 parts of the day: Morning, mid-day, evening, and night
    • 4 cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West
    • 4 lunar phases: New moon, waxing, full moon, and waning
    • 4 rivers in Eden: According to Genesis 2:10–14, the great river in Eden divided itself into 4 major rivers: Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates
    • 4 divisions of mankind: lands, tongues, nations, and kin (families)
  3. God designated the sons of Jacob as the fathers of Israel—they were to be a nation of God’s chosen people. Jacob had 12 sons from 4 women (his two wives and two of their servants, a common practice at the time). The mothers of the 12 tribes of Israel are: [1]
    • Leah: Jacob’s first wife and mother to Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
    • Rachel: Jacob’s beloved second wife and mother to Joseph and Benjamin.
    • Bilhah: Rachel’s handmaiden and mother to Dan and Naphtali.
    • Zilpah: Leah’s handmaiden and mother to Gad and Asher.
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Section 3 of 9:

The Number 4 & Biblical Completion

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  1. In Exodus, God revealed to Moses that His name is YHWH. This 4-consonant name is known as the Tetragrammaton, which is Greek for “four letters.”
    • In Exodus 3:14, God says, “I AM WHO I AM,” symbolizing that He is a complete and perfect being, which is represented in His name.
  2. A series of passages starting in Proverbs 30:15 uses a literary technique that starts by describing a group of three things, but actually names four. This symbolizes that the fourth item completes the metaphor, creating a whole picture. A few of these verses include:
    • Proverbs 30:15–16: “There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’: the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’”
    • Proverbs 30:18–19: “There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on the rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.”
    • Proverbs 30:29–31: “There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing; a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt.”
  3. The 4 gospels give us a complete view of Jesus’ life. Each has its own perspective, emphasizing a different aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry: [2]
    • Matthew’s gospel is intended to show Hebrews that Jesus was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament.
    • Mark’s gospel is for non-Hebrews and shows that Jesus’ message and sacrifice was meant for all people.
    • Luke’s gospel is meant as a historical record and to show the humanity of Jesus.
    • John’s gospel intended to show that Jesus was both God and man.
  4. Many scholars believe that Jesus waited 4 full days to resurrect Lazarus so people would know that Lazarus was really and truly dead. This miracle showcased Jesus’ complete victory over death. [3]
    • This is supported by the fact that Jesus waited 2 days after learning that Lazarus was sick before he left to Bethany, where Lazarus lived.
    • There was a Jewish tradition around the time of Jesus that a person’s soul didn’t leave their body until the fourth day after they died, which may also have influenced Jesus’ decision to wait the extra two days. [4]
  5. The Sabbath day is meant to be a day of rest. It symbolizes the completion of a week’s work and honors the day of rest that God observed after creating the world.
    • In this way, the 4th commandment represents both creation and completion.
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Section 4 of 9:

The Number 4 in Prophetic Visions

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  1. In Daniel chapter 7, Daniel sees a vision of 4 winds stirring up the sea, then 4 great beasts come out of the water. Each king represents a great kingdom of the time. [5]
    • The first beast is like a lion with the wings of an eagle and represents Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
    • The second beast is like a bear and represents the Medo-Persian Empire.
    • The third beast is like a leopard with four heads and four wings and represents Greece.
    • The fourth beast has bronze claws, iron teeth, and ten horns. It represents the Roman Empire.
  2. In Zechariah 1:18, the prophet says that he saw 4 horns, and the angel in his vision told him that these were the horns that had scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. He then saw 4 craftsmen coming to conquer the horns.
    • Much like the beasts in Daniel, these horns are interpreted to be Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome—empires that threatened Israel. [6]
  3. In the prophet Ezekiel’s first vision, described in Ezekiel chapter 1, he sees 4 living creatures carrying a throne (or chariot). Each creature had 4 faces, 4 wings and 4 sets of hands. God is sitting on the throne, where He delivers a message to Ezekiel. [7]
    • The creatures’ 4 faces are each a different animal: man, lion, ox, and eagle.
    • Isaiah and John both saw similar creatures in their visions. Isaiah chapter 6 describes seraphim with 6 wings. Revelation chapter 4 also describes the throne of God as being surrounded by 4 living creatures with 6 wings. [8]
  4. In Revelation chapter 6, John describes 4 riders on 4 horses, each of which unleashes havoc on earth. These 4 horsemen of the apocalypse represent the beginning of a difficult time on earth before the return of Jesus.
    • The first rider, who rides a white horse, may represent the Antichrist that conquers anyone who stands against him.
    • The second rider, who has a red horse, may represent widespread war.
    • The third rider, who rides a black horse, brings famine and inflation.
    • The fourth rider, on a pale or green horse, unleashes disease.
  5. New Jerusalem is described in several places throughout the New Testament, including Revelations chapter 21, where it appeared in a vision to John. He described it as a city that will come down from heaven at the end of the world, and it’s 1,400 mi (2,300 km) high, wide, and long—perfectly square on every side. [9]
  6. When leaders of Israel came to Ezekiel, God was not happy with the idolatry in their hearts. Ezekiel prophesied to these leaders that God was preparing a judgment against the city of Jerusalem that would consist of 4 parts: “sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence.” (Ezekiel 14:21–23)
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Section 5 of 9:

The Number 4 in Sacred Measurements

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  1. In Exodus chapter 26, God gave Moses specific instructions on how to build His tabernacle. As part of the tabernacle, Moses was to have craftsmen create curtains with 4 colors—white (linen), blue, purple, and scarlet. [10]
    • Additionally, there was to be a special curtain decorated with cherubim, hung on 4 acacia pillars with silver bases. This curtain was intended to separate the Holy Place form the Most Holy Place, which held the ark of the covenant.
  2. After the Tabernacle was completed, God designated it as the center of the Israelite camp. He gave specific instructions for how the tribes were to camp around the Tabernacle: a small group was placed in the center of the camp, followed by:
    • The tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali to the north
    • The tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon to the east
    • The tribes of Gad, Simeon, and Reuben to the south
    • The tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin to the west
  3. These tables were specifically intended for sacrificing offerings to God—there were 4 on one side of the temple and 4 on the other. There were also 4 tables that were intended for burnt offerings. [11]
    • The altar in the temple was 4 cubits high, the altar heart was another 4 cubits high, and there were 4 horns coming out of the hearth. [12]
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Section 6 of 9:

Multiples of 4

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  1. It’s meant to indicate a long period, often one of hardship. It usually refers to days or years: [13]
    • During the Great Flood in Genesis chapters 6–9, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights.
    • In Exodus chapter 34, Moses spent 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai when he received the 10 Commandments.
    • The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, taking place across Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Joshua.
    • Matthew chapter 4 and Luke chapter 4 describe Jesus being tempted in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights.
    • According to Acts 1:3, Jesus walked with his followers for 40 days after his resurrection and before his ascension
  2. In many cases, it’s probably meant to be metaphorical. It’s used to refer to large groups of people or a long length of time: [14]
    • In Genesis chapter 15, God tells Abraham his descendants will face 400 years of affliction.
    • David gathers a group of 400 supporters in 1 Samuel chapter 25.
    • Esau brings 400 men to kill Jacob in Genesis chapter 25.
    • Large armies are sometimes described as having 400,000 members, like in Judges 19.
  3. Some people believe in angel numbers , or signs that your guardian angels are watching you. The number 444 is commonly cited as an angel number, although it’s not directly mentioned in the Bible.
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Section 7 of 9:

What is the meaning of 4 in Hebrew?

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  1. It has the same sound as the letter “d” and represents the number 4. It means “needy,” which can be interpreted as spiritual humility. It also means “door,” which could represent man’s transition to a relationship with God. [15]
Section 8 of 9:

What is numerology in the Bible?

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  1. This is known as gematria and was a common literary technique of the time. This is mentioned outright in Revelation 13:18: “Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.” Here, we see that the number of man is 6. [16] Other symbolic numbers in the Bible include:
    • 3 : Completion, harmony, and the Holy Trinity
    • 5 : God’s grace and mercy
    • 7 : Perfection or totality
    • 9 : Judgment, fruitfulness
    • 10 : Divine completion and responsibility
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Section 9 of 9:

Final Thoughts

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  1. In the Bible, 4 symbolizes creation, judgement, and messages from God. God finished creating the world on the 4th day, and in His 4th Commandment, He commands us to take a day of rest each week to honor that creation. It’s also a symbol of completion, like the choice to include 4 gospels to tell Jesus’ story. And the number 4 appears frequently in heavenly visions or instructions from God to His followers.

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.gotquestions.org/Jacobs-children.html
      2. ↑ https://www.gotquestions.org/four-Gospels.html
      3. ↑ https://www.revealedtruth.com/bible-study/why-did-jesus-wait/
      4. ↑ https://www.bethanybiblechurch.com/2018/06/john-11-four-days-in-the-grave/
      5. ↑ https://www.gotquestions.org/Daniel-four-beasts.html
      6. ↑ https://versebyverseministry.org/bible-answers/what-are-the-horns-in-zechariah-1
      7. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezekiel%201&version=NIV
      8. ↑ https://whitethroneministries.org/resources/lessons/who-are-the-4-living-creatures-before-the-throne-of-god
      9. ↑ https://www.gotquestions.org/new-jerusalem.html
      1. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2026&version=NIV
      2. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezekiel%2040&version=NIV
      3. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2043&version=NIV
      4. ↑ https://www.gotquestions.org/40-days-Bible.html
      5. ↑ https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/400.html
      6. ↑ https://hebrewtoday.com/alphabet/the-letter-dalet-%D7%93/
      7. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2013%3A17-18&version=NIV

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