The number eleven holds various significances in the Bible, often symbolizing disorder, incompleteness, or transition. It is a number that appears in several contexts, each contributing to its thematic representation in Scripture.

Biblical Appearances:

1. The Eleven Disciples: After the betrayal and subsequent death of Judas Iscariot, the group of Jesus' closest followers was reduced to eleven. This number is significant in the New Testament as it represents the incomplete state of the apostolic circle before the selection of Matthias to restore the number to twelve. In Matthew 28:16 , it is written, "Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated."

2. The Eleven Sons of Jacob: Before the birth of Benjamin, Jacob had eleven sons. These sons would later become the patriarchs of the tribes of Israel, with Benjamin completing the number to twelve. This period of eleven sons represents a time of anticipation and incompleteness in the family lineage of Israel.

3. The Eleven-Day Journey: In Deuteronomy 1:2 , it is noted, "It is an eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea by way of Mount Seir." This reference highlights the journey of the Israelites from Mount Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land, a journey that was meant to be brief but was extended due to disobedience and lack of faith.

Symbolic Interpretations:

· Disorder and Incompleteness: The number eleven often symbolizes a state of disorder or incompleteness. This is evident in the context of the eleven disciples, where the absence of Judas left the group lacking until the appointment of Matthias. The number eleven, being one short of twelve, which often represents divine order and government, underscores a sense of something unfinished or awaiting completion.

· Transition and Anticipation: Eleven can also signify a period of transition or anticipation. The eleven-day journey of the Israelites was a time of preparation and expectation before entering the Promised Land. Similarly, the eleven sons of Jacob awaited the birth of Benjamin to complete the family structure that would become the twelve tribes of Israel.

Theological Reflections:

From a theological perspective, the number eleven serves as a reminder of human imperfection and the need for divine intervention to bring about completeness and order. The transition from eleven to twelve in various biblical narratives underscores God's sovereignty in fulfilling His purposes and promises. The restoration of the twelve apostles after Judas' betrayal illustrates the restoration and redemption that is central to the Christian faith.

In summary, the number eleven in the Bible is rich with meaning, often pointing to themes of incompleteness, disorder, and the anticipation of fulfillment. It serves as a backdrop against which God's plans for restoration and order are vividly displayed.1. (a.) Ten and one added; as, eleven men.

2. (n.) The sum of ten and one; eleven units or objects.

3. (n.) A symbol representing eleven units, as 11 or xi.

4. (n.) The eleven men selected to play on one side in a match, as the representatives of a club or a locality; as, the all-England eleven.

ELEVEN, THE

e-lev'-'-n, (hoi hendeka):

The eleven apostles remaining after the death of Judas. The definite article used serves to designate them as a distinct and definite group whose integrity was not destroyed by the loss of one of the twelve. The college of "the Twelve" had come to be so well recognized that the gospel writers all used on occasions the word with the definite article to represent the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus. This custom still remained and the numeral merely changed, as, "Afterward he was manifested unto the eleven" (Mark 16:14; compare Luke 24:9, 33 Acts 2:14). On the other hand, however, the substantive is also sometimes used, as "The eleven disciples went into Galilee" (Matthew 28:16; compare also Acts 1:26). As an illustration of the fixedness of usage, Paul refers to the eleven as "the twelve" when he recounts the appearances of Jesus after His resurrection: "And that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve" (1 Corinthians 15:5).

Walter G. Clippinger

ELEVEN; STARS

e-lev'-'-n.

See ASTRONOMY.

1733. hendeka -- eleven
... eleven. Part of Speech: Indeclinable Numeral (Adjective) Transliteration: hendeka
Phonetic Spelling: (hen'-dek-ah) Short Definition: eleven Definition: eleven. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1733.htm - 6k6249. ashte -- one
... Definition: eleventh. Word Origin from ashath Definition one NASB Word Usage
eleven* (6), eleventh* (13). eleventh. Apparently masculine ...
/hebrew/6249.htm - 6k

259. echad -- one
... 15), any one (2), any* (1), anyone* (1), apiece (1), certain (11), certain man
(1), each (48), each one (4), each other (1), each* (4), eleven* (9), eleventh ...
/hebrew/259.htm - 7k

6240. asar -- ten
... 16,000* (2), 16,750* (1), 17,200* (1), 18* (2), 18,000* (6), 2,812* (1), 2,818*
(1), 212* (1), 218* (1), eighteen* (8), eighteenth* (11), eleven* (15), eleventh ...
/hebrew/6240.htm - 6k

3967. meah -- hundred
... 1), 760* (2), 775* (1), 8,580* (1), 8,600* (1), 800,000* (1), 822* (1), 832* (1),
845* (1), 928* (1), 945* (1), 956* (1), 973* (2), eleven* (3), hundred (220 ...
/hebrew/3967.htm - 8k

505. eleph -- a thousand
... 2), 75,000* (1), 76,500* (1), 8,580* (1), 8,600* (1), 80,000* (3), 800,000* (1),
87,000* (1), clan (1), clans (2), divisions (2), eleven* (3), families (2 ...
/hebrew/505.htm - 8k

Chapter eleven
... Chapter Eleven. Donald Marsh, President of Lincoln College, walked home with Mr.
Maxwell. "I have reached one conclusion, Maxwell," said Marsh, speaking slowly. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter eleven.htm

The Appearance to the Eleven on the Mountain.
... AFTER THE RESURRECTION DAY THE APPEARANCE TO THE ELEVEN ON THE MOUNTAIN.
The eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the appearance to the eleven.htm

Of the Impediment of Affinity (Eleven Articles)
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES). We must consider next the impediment
of affinity. Under this head there are eleven points of inquiry: ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of the impediment of affinity.htm

Book Eleven the Eternal Creator and the Creation in Time. ...
... The Confessions of Saint Augustine BOOK ELEVEN The eternal Creator and the Creation
in time.? The eternal Creator and the Creation in time. ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book eleven the eternal creator.htm

Question one Hundred and Eleven the Divisions of Grace
... Question One Hundred and Eleven THE DIVISIONS OF GRACE. THE DIVISIONS OF
GRACE We must now consider the division of grace, concerning ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/question one hundred and eleven.htm

But the Eleven Disciples Went into Galilee, to the Mountain...
... The Text of the Diatessaron. Section LV. But the eleven disciples went
into Galilee, to the mountain? [1] [3848] But the eleven ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section lv but the eleven.htm

The Indestructibility of the Bible is a Proof that Its Author is ...
... Chapter Eleven The Indestructibility of the Bible Is a Proof that its Author
Is Divine. The survival of the Bible through the ages ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter eleven the indestructibility of.htm

Difficulties and Objections
... CHAPTER ELEVEN DIFFICULTIES AND OBJECTIONS. "Yet ye say, The way of the Lord
is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not My way equal? ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter eleven difficulties and objections.htm

Daniel in Trouble.
... CHAPTER ELEVEN. DANIEL IN TROUBLE. About that time Daniel's mother became insane,
and her friends were all of opinion that she was possessed of an evil spirit. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter eleven daniel in trouble.htm

The Routing of Giant Doubt
... CHAPTER ELEVEN THE ROUTING OF GIANT DOUBT. THE ROUTING OF GIANT DOUBT Doubts!
doubts! doubts! Just a company of them around me all ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter eleven the routing of.htm

Eleven (25 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Ten and one added; as, eleven men. 2. (n.) The sum of ten and one; eleven
units or objects. 3. (n.) A symbol representing eleven units, as 11 or xi. ...
/e/eleven.htm - 16k

Eleventh (19 Occurrences)
... eleventh chapter. 2. (a.) Constituting one of eleven parts into which a
thing is divided; as, the eleventh part of a thing. 3. (a ...
/e/eleventh.htm - 12k

Curtains (34 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:7 "You shall make curtains of goats' hair for a covering over the tabernacle.
You shall make them eleven curtains. ... He made them eleven curtains. ...
/c/curtains.htm - 17k

Twenty-one (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 24:18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hamutal the ...
/t/twenty-one.htm - 8k

Stars (64 Occurrences)
... The eleven stars (Genesis 37:9); the seven (Amos 5:8); wandering (Jude 1:13); seen
in the east at the birth of Christ, probably some luminous meteors ...
/s/stars.htm - 29k

Reigning (57 Occurrences)
... (YLT). 2 Kings 23:36 A son of twenty and five years 'is' Jehoiakim in his reigning,
and eleven years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother 'is ...
/r/reigning.htm - 24k

Curtain (60 Occurrences)
... (1.) Ten curtains, each twenty-eight cubits long and four wide, made of fine linen,
also eleven made of goat's hair ... The eleven curtains had one measure. ...
/c/curtain.htm - 27k

Ministry (44 Occurrences)
... Two things strictly personal and excluding every thought of successors separated
the "Eleven" from all other men: long personal fellowship with Jesus in the ...
/m/ministry.htm - 51k

Jehoi'akim (34 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 23:36 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and
he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Zebudah the ...
/j/jehoi'akim.htm - 16k

Fringes (4 Occurrences)
... Thus in the tsitsith a long cord is wrapped around seven shorter cords first seven
times, then eight, then eleven, and finally thirteen, each series being ...
/f/fringes.htm - 10k

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