Numbers
In dreams and visions
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There are often many different possible meanings for each number.
Below is a table of just some of the Biblical references to some of these numbers. They may help to give a better understanding of how each is used in context within the Biblical narrative. However, numbers in dreams are not limited to these interpretations, eg. finding a £2 coin could literally mean finding a £2 coin, or receiving double favour. It depends on the context of the dream.
Biblical examples include Joseph’s interpretations of dreams: 3 baskets and 3 branches (in this dream you get a sense of time speeded up, ie. soon, as the buds quickly flower and then become grapes) mean 3 days; 7 cows and 7 ears mean 7 years. See Genesis 40:12, Genesis 40:18 and Genesis 41:26.
Number 2 – God often repeats Himself in quick succession so this is why 2 can mean established, ie. God will do it! He has made a decision and it will happen. A good example is the dream He gave to Pharaoh of the thin cows eating up the fat cows and the thin ears of grain eating up the fat ears. They mean the same thing. Joseph says the years of plenty and famine have been established by God, ie. it will happen. See Genesis 41:25-32.
Peter had a personal symbology with the Lord and the number 3. After Peter denied Jesus 3 times, Jesus asked him 3 times “do you love me?” and 3 times he saw a sheet lowered from heaven with all kinds of ceremonially unclean animals, creatures and birds in it. See Matthew 26:34, Acts 11:10-11.
| Number | Possible meaning and Biblical References |
| 1 | God (Deut 4:5-6, Deut 6:4-5, Mal 2:10); Unity or oneness (Eph 4:3-6, Eze 37:22); Beginning, start or new (Gen 1:1); First as in step or order (Gen 1:5); First in rank (leader) or importance (Matt 22:37-38, Matt 6:33); First as in best (Deut 18:4); First love (Rev 2:4); Unique |
| 2 | Unity, synergy, support (Ecc 4:9-12, Mark 6:7, Matt 18:20); Judge between (Luke 12:14, Exo 2:13-14, 1 Kings 3:23-28); Covenant (Gen 21:27, Gen 17:2, 1 Sam 23:18); Agreement (Amos 3:3, Matt 18:19-20); Witness (Matt 18:16, Rev 11:3-4, John 8:17-18, Gen 18:20-22); Union (Mark 10:8, Matthew 19:5-6); Double (Matt 5:41, Exo 16:22, James 1:8, Ps 12:2, Isa 61:7, Exo 22:4, Exo 22:7); Determined, will happen (Gen 41:32); Contrast (Mark 15:27, Luke 7:41, Matt 24:40-41, Luke 18:10, Gen 25:23, 2 Sam 12:1); Sum total (Matt 22:40, Mark 12:42, Luke 9:30); Atonement (Lev 5:7 Lev 14:49, Lev 16:7-8); Division (Eze 37:22, Gen 32:7, Gen 33:1); Separation (Exo 26:31) |
| 3 | Time (Matt 12:40, John 2:19, Acts 9:9, Gen 40:10-12, Gen 40:18 and Gen 41:26, Eze 4:5); Witness or testimony (1 John 5:7-8, 1 Tim 5:19, Deut 19:15); Agreement (Matt 18:19-20); Waiting (Josh 3:1-3, 2 Sam 13:38, 2 Chron 10:5, Ezra 8:32, Josh 9:16, 1 Sam 20:19); Searching (2 Kings 2:17, Luke 2:44-46, Josh 2:22); Chances (Num 22:28); Strength (Eccl 4:12); Trinity (Gen 1:26, Gen 11:7, Matt 28:19, Mark 12:36) |
| 4 | Worldwide or (winds of) judgement (Rev 7:1, Jer 49:36, Dan 7:2, Isa 11:12, Jer 15:3, Eze 14:21, Eze 7:2, Zech 2:6, Matt 24:31, Dan 11:4); Corners (Deut 22:12, Acts 10:11, Eze 46:22, Ex 27:2, Ex 38:5); Breath of life (Eze 37:9); Restitution (2 Sam 12:6, Luke 19:8); Fully avenged or fully guilty (Num 14:18, Amos 2:4, Gen 15:16) |
| 5 | Redemption (Num 3:47-48, Num 18:16); Favour (Gen 43:34, Gen 45:22) |
| 6 | Period of work (Lev 25:3, Ex 20:9, Ex 23:10, Ex 16:26, Gen 31:41, Ex 21:2, Ex 31:15-17) |
| 7 | Period of time (Deut 16:9, Gen 41:26, Lev 25:8, Dan 4:16); Sabbath rest (Heb 4:4, Ex 20:8-10); Release, pardon (Deut 15:1-2, Luke 17:4); Completion (Gen 7:4-10); Covenant, oath, agreement (Gen 21:30-31); Period of dedication, consecration, ordination, atonement (2 Chron 7:9, Lev 8:33-34, Ex 29:35, Lev 8:11 Eze 43:25-26); Purification (Ps 12:6, 2 Kings 5:10); Total, absolute (Rev 5:6, Rev 16:1); Perseverance (Prov 24:16, 1 Kings 18:43); Wisdom (Prov 9:1, Prov 26:16); Repayment from stealing (Prov 6:30-31) |
| 8 | Set apart as belonging to God (Gen 17:12, Acts 7:8); Ready, prepared to start (Eze 43:26-27) |
| 9 | Harvest, Fruit or gifts of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23, 1 Cor 12:7-10) |
| 10 | Commandments, law (Deut 4:13); Tithe, trust (Mal 3:10, Lev 27:30); Repeatedly (Neh 4:12) |
| 12 | Leadership, government, apostle (Rev 21:14, Ex 28:21, Ezra 8:24, Matt 19:28, 1 Kings 4:7, Gen 17:20) |
| 14 | Significant time period (Matt 1:17); Double (Gen 31:41, 1 Kings 8:65); Passover, salvation, deliverance (Lev 23:5, 2 Chr 35:1) |
| 20 | Ready to work, life change, grown up, accountable (1 Chron 23:27-28, Gen 31:38, Ex 30:13-14, Num 1:2-3, 2 Chron 8:1, Num 14:29, Num 32:11, Ezra 3:8); Time period of waiting (1 Sam 7:2); Price of a slave (Gen 37:28); Weighed and found wanting (Eze 4:10) |
| 25 | Ready to serve in ministry (Num 8:24) |
| 30 | Period of time (Deut 34:8, Est 4:11, Dan 6:7); Full complement (Jer 38:10, 1 Chron 12:18); Minimum yield multiplier (Matt 13:8); Betrayal price (Ex 21:32, Zech 11:12-13, Matt 26:15, Matt 27:9-10); Begin ministry (Luke 3:23, Gen 41:46, Num 4:47) |
| 40 | Period of time (Gen 7:12, Deut 9:11, 1 Kings 11:42, Acts 13:18); Period of punishment or peace (Gen 7:4, Eze 4:6, Eze 29:11-13, Judges 3:11, Judges 5:31, Judges 8:28, Deut 25:3, Num 14:34, Judges 13:1); Fasting or nourishment (Ex 34:28, Deut 9:9, Matt 4:2, 1 Kings 19:8); Breakthrough intercession (Deut 10:10, Jonah 3:4); Resurrection to Ascension (Acts 1:3); Leader’s full reign (Acts 13:21, 2 Sam 5:4, 1 Kings 11:42, 2 Chron 24:1, 1 Sam 4:18); Period of testing or preparation (Deut 8:2, 1 Sam 17:16, Acts 7:30, Acts 7:36, Mark 1:13) |
| 50 | Retirement from tabernacle physical work (Num 4:3, Num 8:24-26); Contingent of men (Gen 18:24, 2 Kings 1:10-14, 2 Kings 2:7, 2 Kings 2:17, 1 Sam 8:12, 1 Kings 1:5, Mark 6:40); Jubilee, freedom, debts cancelled (Lev 25:10); Pentecost (Lev 23:16) |
| 60 | Older people (Lev 27:7, 1 Tim 5:9) |
| 70 | Length of life (Is 23:15, Ps 90:10); Period or number of punishment (2 Chron 36:21, 1 Sam 6:19) |
| 80 | Length of life (Ps 90:10, 2 Sam 19:35) |
| 100 | Full complement (Matt 18:12, Judges 7:19); Multiplier (2 Sam 24:3, Matt 13:23, Lev 26:8) |
| 120 | Length of life (Gen 6:3, Deut 34:7) |
| 153 | Kingdom multiplication (John 21:11) |
| 400 | Period before significant change (Gen 15:13-14) |
| 1000 | Period of time (2 Peter 3:8, Ps 84:10); Large number (Job 9:3, Josh 23:10, Job 33:23) |