Bible Numerics: The true and the false - August 31, 2018

Hope you all enjoyed looking over the reference page, for the Thoughts for the Week page, where I listed the first 10 Hebrew letters along with their numeric values and meanings. I will post the meanings of all 22 letters/numbers from the Hebrew on this blog soon. But before I do, let me give you some of my background and how I came to understand the proper use of numeric meanings for numbers used in the bible.

I was Born Again saved 1980 summer. All throughout my Christian journey, the subject of number meanings came up. Like many, I grew to understand that certain numbers had tried and true meanings which simply added depth of meaning for bible text that in no way detracted from the context at all. 

Here is example: John 5:1-45 tells of Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well. In these verses, the meanings of proper names add to the story along with a short lesson on how numeric meanings add depth to the bible when it mentions specific numbers:

John 4:1-6, “Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees (Pious Ones) had heard that Jesus (Yahweh Saves) was making and baptizing more disciples than John, 2 [although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were], 3 He left Judea (Land of Praise) and went away again into Galilee (Land of turning, revolution). 4 And He had to pass through Samaria (Watch Mountain). 5 So He came to a city of Samaria (Watch Mountain), called Sychar (Drunken, falsehoods, town of drunks), near the parcel of ground that Jacob (Heal grabber/supplanter) gave to his son Joseph (Increaser); 6 and Jacob's well was there. So, Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.”  NASB (with Meanings of key words added by me)

Six is the number used to denote man. The Hebrew letter represents a peg or tent stake, thus, the idea is to attach one’s self too, to tie yourself with. Thus, the numeric meaning contains the idea of what we attach ourselves too: sin, world, the devil, or God.

Jesus was at the well, knowing whom would be there.  It was the sixth hour – Jesus knew the time had come to see to whom and what folks attach themselves too. God see’s the heart.

Soon a woman appeared in the middle of day to draw water, which indicates she was an outcast, because outcasts only came at that time to draw water as that was custom of that day. Who will she attach herself too – the world, herself, others, the devil, or God?

In John 4:16-43 we see the use of numbers when Jesus asked her a question about her husband. She answered truthfully. The woman had 5 husbands and was shacking up with another which was the 6^th.  The numbers in these verses add insights into the text and serve as a guide how to correctly derive the meaning by the context of the passages they are found.

Five’s root meaning is: Behold – judgment of Grace/favor/purpose or judgment, sentence, justice is coming. In context she had five husbands. This shows that she sought grace, favor, purpose in one failed relationship after another to escape by avoiding seeing her real state of affair and truest need. 

Notice how he number meaning for ‘6’ adds depth to the story. The sixth man in her life was not her husband – so the town had judged her and detached her so much so that she had to go get water at a time of day when other women were not around due to how religious laws treated those “shacking up” and thus made her an outcast.

The number 6 is revealed by her ‘sixth’ man. This reveals that she was attaching herself to any strong guy to find her own ideas of grace/purpose in life and escape inner shame. Sound familiar to anyone reading? 

Next, in verses 19-29, she changes the subject to religious practices and the history of the temple that her people made a copy of, so they could worship nearest home. From adding 5+6 together we get 11. Elevens basic root meaning is darkness, sin. 

The woman must have been devout enough to be religious affiliated, as are many trapped in the same sort of lifestyle. She knew about the Messiah who will tell all things about God, who is the only one who can dispense grace/forgiveness from human darkness (11), judge the world, and render to each their deeds as per Ezekiel 18:30 and Job 34:11. 

Maybe she sensing judgment and thus thought to change the subject to religion reasoning, if she was going down – then what of Sychar’s sins? Let’s see…

The number 5 is important to consider as it adds depth to the story matching the number meaning, “Behold, judgment of Grace or sentencing due to what people attaches themselves too the most.” The Lord does test what is in one’s heart, Jeremiah 17:10.

Noticed she mentions ‘God’ for a reason and the temple. Jesus answers and reveals that he is the Messiah sent to reveal all things one does (see verse 29). This ‘revealing all things done’ indicates a “Behold Judgment.”  1 Co 4:5 and Job 34:11.

The woman was spared judgment, and shown grace, as she was truthful before Jesus. In Verse 29 it mentions this, but readers often miss this point. The people in the area had same scriptures including all the prophetic words about the Messiah indicating - Would he come with a sword or grace?  The people there were looking for him. 

The woman went into the town, told the towns people, and the whole town came to Jesus – she found grace but what would they find, well, they found the true Messiah who came as savior of the world (see Verse 42) before the sword of judgment sealed forever the dark condition of the heart.

Verse 40 mentions Jesus stayed two days with the folks there. Why two days and not four or five? The meaning of the number two gives us a clue.

The root meaning of the number two is division/test to see who resides in a household and who will not. That is why. The towns people came to Jesus and choosing his household as they learned for themselves that Jesus is the true trustworthy owner of the household of God. He gave mercy when none was deserved due to the darkness of residing in a false temple made and upkept with human hands. How about you? 

Lastly, please notice in Verse 44 and 48. Here Jesus reveals two kinds of people. Those who enter God’s house by believing the His word alone as opposed to those who refuse to enter in unless they see signs/wonders first. The Sarmatians believed his word alone and entered in his household by letting him reside with them. Then there are those who will not, unless they see some sign/wonder. See the difference?

This begs the question: who has the greater faith that secures one to remain in the household of God – those that hear his word and enter in or those who will not unless the see some sign – hoopla spectacle? Which are you?

See how applying the numeric meanings correctly adds further insights into the text of bible according to context and theme they are found in? That is how it works.

Blessings to you all from

Bryan W Melvin

Author: A Land Unknown: Hell’s Dominion