Numbers in the Word of God

Lesson #4

In this lesson we will continue with our study of numbers in the word of God. Here we will look at numbers ten, eleven, and twelve. Out of these numbers ten and twelve will be pretty certain in their meaning but we will be making a guess on number eleven.

The Number Ten :

The number ten is connected with Gentiles and Gentile kingdoms. The first occurrence of the number is found in Genesis 5:14. The second occurrence of the number is found in Genesis 16:3. Note that both of these references add up to make 10 (5+1+4=10 ; 1+6+3=10). As we have seen over and over again in this study this is no coincidence this is the hand of God once again giving us proof that he both inspired his work and preserved in the form he wanted it in the King James Bible. Note also that we said that when God finished something he counted by sevens, but Gentiles count by 10’s.

Biblically speaking if you are not a Jew you are a Gentile. A Jew would be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore there were no Jews before Abraham. After the flood Noah and his wife and their three sons and their wives were the only ones on the earth. This is interesting because Noah is the tenth from Adam and technically speaking he would be the father of the Gentiles because it was by his three sons that the whole earth was populated. Now it is also interesting that the Gentile genealogies of these three sons are found in Genesis Chapter 10. Also note that the first Gentile kingdom is found in Genesis 10:10. It was the kingdom of Nimrod called Babel. The last Gentile kingdom that will be in control on this earth before the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ will made up of 10 different nations (Revelations 17).

In John chapter 10 we see Jesus giving the discourse on the good shepherd. In this he says that he has sheep which are not of this fold (verse 16) and these will turn out to be gentiles. In Acts chapter 10 we see the Holy Ghost is given unto the gentiles by simply believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 10:43-44). Also the great chapter that is used to lead many people to the Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Romans is chapter 10. It is not a coincidence that number 10 is used with these things it shows us once again the inspiration and preservation of the word of God in a King James Bible.

The Number Eleven :

When it comes to the number 11 there is not really that much conclusive information. We will make a guess that it is connected in some way with disorder, judgment for the disorder and maybe even confusion. The first occurrence is found in Genesis 32:22.

In Genesis 9:20-25 we see that Canaan is cursed for what his father Ham did unto his father and it is interesting to note that Canaan has eleven descendants. The Lord also sent 10 plagues on Egypt to get Pharaoh to let Israel go and the last thing he done was to destroy the Egyptians in the Red Sea making eleven things in all. Zedekiah was the last king to reign over Judah and he was an evil king and was taken captive into Babylon in the eleventh year of his reign

(2 Chronicles 36:11). When Judas hanged himself it left only 11 disciples which was one short of the number Jesus chose.

It is also interesting to note that the first Gentile kingdom shows up in Genesis 10:10 and was called Babel. Then in Genesis chapter 11 God judged them and confused the languages and separated the nations. Then in Genesis Chapter 12 he calls out Abraham to start his people the Jews.

The Number Twelve :

The number twelve is connected with the Jews. The first occurrence of the number is found in Genesis 5:8. As we just saw above after God scattered the nations in Genesis 11 he called out Abraham to start a new group of people that would be his people and this is recorded for us in Genesis chapter 12.

There were eventually 12 tribes that make up the nation of Israel. When the children of Israel are called out of Egypt they go out in Exodus chapter 12. When they had left Egypt they went to Elim where there were twelve wells of water (Exodus 15:27). There were 12 spies sent into the land of Canaan. Over and over again we see the number 12 dealing with Israel.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the king of the Jews and will one day set up his millennial reign and rule the whole world from the throne of David and their will finally be a perfect government. It is interesting that the first recorded word of the Lord Jesus Christ in the word of God were when he was 12 years old (Luke 2:41-52). He chose 12 disciples.

In Revelation 12 we see a woman with a crown of twelve stars and this woman represents Israel. In Revelation 21 we see that New Jerusalem has 12 gates, 12 angels at the gates, 12 foundations, 12 stones in the 12 foundations. The city is 4 square that measures 12,000 furlongs, the wall is 144 cubits which is 12×12. On the new earth in Revelation 22 we see the tree of life which bears twelve manner of fruit.

Numbers in the Word of God

Lesson #4 : Handout 

1)  What do we know about the number 10 in the word of God? Give references and examples.

2)  What do we know about the number 11 in the word of God? Give references and examples.

3)  What do we know about the number 12 in the word of God? Give references and examples.