The Number Seven in Scripture

The number seven is the most familiar of all Scripture numbers, as it occurs most frequently in the Bible.

Six is the number that is stamped on all things human. Seven is the number of completeness.

In the Hebrew, seven is "shevah." It means "to be full," "to be satisfied," or "to have enough of." Thus the number seven stands for fulness and completeness. It is connected with divine perfection.

In the natural realm we observe the occurrence of seven many times. In the rainbow, seven colors make up the full spectrum. In music there are seven notes to the octave, and there are seven octaves to the key board. The law of the octave is seen in chemistry, as all chemical elements are grouped in related groups of sevens. There is perfection in all of God's handiwork.

Six and Seven in Contrast and Combination

Coming to the Scripture, we notice that six and seven combine in showing what is human and what is spiritual, what is incomplete and what is complete.

The food of Egypt is mentioned in six items. This is the menu: fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic (Num. 11:5). The food of Canaan, the land of promise, is mentioned in seven items. The menu contains wheat, barley, fruit of the vine, figs, pomegranates, olives, and honey (Deut. 8:8).

Israel's lovers are represented as giving her six things — namely, bread, water, wool, flax, oil and drink (Hos. 2:5). But Israel's greatest lover, the Lord Jehovah, speaks of His own precious gifts to her in seven — namely, corn, wine, oil, silver, gold, wool, and flax (Hos. 2:8-9).

There were six days of creation, but the seventh was for rest. This testifies to the fulness and completeness of God's creation.

The armour of the Christian consists of six pieces, but there is a seventh which is indispensable. The pieces mentioned are the girdle of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit. The seventh is prayer, which keeps the armour bright, and enables us to use it effectively (Eph. 6:14-18).

Thus, six and seven are contrasted in the Scriptures in order to show the incompleteness of things human, and the completeness of God's provision.

Seven Underlies All Time

The first natural division of time is marked by seven. God rested the seventh day and hallowed it. When God ordained the ritual for Israel He stamped seven upon it.

The seventh day was an holy day.

The seventh month was hallowed by the feasts.

The seventh year was the sabbatic year.

The forty-ninth year (or 7x7) marked the year of jubilee.

Israel did not observe the sabbatic years for a period of 490 years; so God removed them from the land for a period of seventy years, the equivalent of the number of years that they had failed to let the land rest (7x70 equals 490).

God's dealings with Israel are measured out into four periods of 490 years each. Seventy weeks of years (70x7), or seventy sevens, were determined upon Israel according to Daniel 9:24-27. Sixty-nine of these weeks passed up to the time of the crucifixion, when the "Prince was cut off." The seventieth week is yet ahead. It covers the great tribulation dispensation immediately before the glorious return of Christ to set up His kingdom.

Seven in Genesis

Other than the six creative days, followed by the seventh, on which God rested, marking completion of His work, we discover in this Book some sevens which are of interest.

When God called Abram He made to Him a seven fold covenant (Gen. 12:1-3):

1. "I will make of thee a great nation"

2. "And I will bless thee"

3. "And make thy name great"

4. "And thou shalt be a blessing"

5. "And I will bless him that blesseth thee"

6. "And curse him that curseth thee"

7. "And in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

In Pharaoh's dreams, seven kine and the seven ears of corn (Gen. 41:2-7, 18, 47) stood for seven years of famine followed by seven years of plenty, and these are typical of the seven years of the great tribulation which will be followed by the seventh dispensation, the millennial kingdom.

Seven in Exodus

To Israel in bondage God made a seven fold covenant, and in this covenant we find that the expression of determination, " I will," occurs seven times (Exod. 6:6-8):

1. "I will bring you out of Egypt"

2. "I will rid you of bondage"

3. "I will redeem you"

4. "I will take you to me for a people"

5. "I will be to you a God"

6. "I will bring you into the land"

7. "I will give it to you"

Seven pieces of furniture were used in the worship of the tabernacle. They were: (1) brazen altar, (2) brazen laver, (3) table of shewbread, (4) altar of incense, (5) golden candlestick, (6) ark of the covenant, (7) the mercy seat. The ark was the only piece of furniture within the Holy of holies, but it was a double one, comprising the ark and the mercy seat.

Seven in Leviticus

In the book of Leviticus there are many occurrences of the number seven; the chief of these center about the worship of the tabernacle and the Day of Atonement.

On the Day of Atonement the blood was sprinkled seven times, as follows: (1) on the mercy seat (16: 14); (2) before the mercy seat seven times (16:14); (3) before the veil seven times (4:17); (4) on the horns of the golden altar (Exod. 30:10); (5) on the horns of the brazen altar (16: 18); (6) round about the altar seven times (16:19); (7) the balance was poured out at the foot of the brazen altar (4:18). All this was done on the Day of Atonement to testify to the people the perfection of the divine accomplishment in atonement.

In the cleansing of the leper the blood was sprinkled seven times (14: 7).

The feasts of Jehovah were the national signs and symbols of the fact that the people, dedicated to God as the offerings witnessed, permitted to approach through the mediation of the priestly service, separated in all the details of life, were by God consecrated to Himself.

The foremost place was given to the Sabbath (23:3). It was a perpetually recurring feast, to be observed throughout all the year, on every seventh day.

Following this we have the appointment of the feast of the Passover. This feast merged into that of the Unleavened Bread, during which unleavened bread was eaten for seven days; also for seven days an offering by fire was offered unto the Lord (23:5-8).

After a lapse of seven weeks, during which the harvest was gathered, the feast of the Harvest was observed. The seventh month was the most sacred of all. On the first day occurred the feast of the Trumpets, preparing Israel for the Day of Atonement and the feast of the Tabernacles. The Day of Atonement was on the tenth day of the seventh month (23:27). The feast of the Tabernacles was to last seven days (23:34), and the Israelites were to dwell in booths seven days (23:42).

In the consecration of Aaron and his sons, Moses sprinkled the anointing oil on the brazen altar seven times (8:11). At the consecration, Aaron was to remain in the tabernacle seven days (8:33).

Seven in the Apocalypse

The number seven is noticed in the book of Revelation more than in any other book of the Bible, and this is significant since it is the book of consummation, and all things are brought to completion in this book.

There are seven "blesseds" in the book (1:3; 14:3; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22 7; 22:14).

The word "overcometh" occurs seven times in connection with the messages to the seven churches (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21).

There are two seven fold ascriptions of praise within the book (5: 12; 7:12). Many other sevens significantly occur, as follows:

Seven churches (1:4)

Seven spirits (1:4)

Seven candlesticks (1:12)

Seven stars (1:20)

Seven lamps (4:5)

Seven seals (5:5-6)

Seven horns (5:6)

Seven eyes (5:6)

Seven trumpets (8:6)

Seven thunders (10:3-4)

Seven heads (12:3)

Seven crowns (12:3)

Seven last plagues (15:1)

Seven vials (15:7)

Seven mountains (17:9)

Seven kings (17:10)

The scope of the Revelation reaches unto the consummation of the ages. When the Revelation has come to its fulfilment, time, periods, and ages will have become full, and things eternal will have come into reality. No wonder, then, that we find this book stamped with sevens!