The number 10,000 appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, often symbolizing a large, complete, or innumerable quantity. It is used both literally and figuratively to convey vastness or abundance.

Old Testament References:

1. Military and Warfare:
· In the context of military strength and battles, the number 10,000 is frequently used to describe large armies or groups of warriors. For example, in Judges 1:4, the tribe of Judah went up against the Canaanites and Perizzites and defeated 10,000 men at Bezek. Similarly, in Judges 3:29, the Israelites struck down about 10,000 Moabites, described as "all vigorous and strong; not a man escaped."

2. Hyperbolic Expression:
· The number is also used hyperbolically to express an overwhelming or uncountable amount. In Deuteronomy 32:30, the power of God is illustrated by the rhetorical question, "How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?"

3. Poetic and Symbolic Usage:
· In poetic literature, such as the Psalms, 10,000 is used to express the vastness of God's blessings or the multitude of His mercies. Psalm 3:6 states, "I will not fear the tens of thousands set against me on every side," indicating trust in divine protection despite overwhelming odds.

4. Offerings and Sacrifices:
· The number is also associated with offerings and sacrifices. In Micah 6:7, the prophet questions, "Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?" This rhetorical question emphasizes the futility of external offerings without true repentance and justice.

New Testament References:

1. Parables and Teachings of Jesus:
· In the New Testament, Jesus uses the number 10,000 in His teachings to illustrate points about discipleship and forgiveness. In Luke 14:31, He speaks of a king considering whether he can oppose another king with 10,000 men, highlighting the importance of counting the cost of discipleship. In Matthew 18:24, Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant who owed his master 10,000 talents, a debt so large it underscores the boundless nature of divine forgiveness.

2. Symbolic and Apocalyptic Imagery:
· The number also appears in apocalyptic literature. In Revelation 5:11, John describes a vision of angels around the throne, numbering "myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands," which can be understood as an innumerable host, emphasizing the grandeur and majesty of the heavenly scene.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, large numbers like 10,000 were often used to signify completeness or an uncountable multitude. The use of such numbers in biblical texts reflects this cultural understanding, where the emphasis is on the concept of vastness rather than a precise count. The number 10,000, therefore, serves as a literary device to convey the magnitude of God's power, the extent of His blessings, or the severity of a situation.10000 (8 Occurrences)

Matthew 18:24
When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
(See RSV)

1 Chronicles 29:7
and they gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and of iron a hundred thousand talents.
(See NAS)

2 Chronicles 30:24
For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the assembly for offerings one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 45:3
Of this measure you shall measure a length of twenty-five thousand, and a breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary, which is most holy.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 45:5
Twenty-five thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth, shall be to the Levites, the ministers of the house, for a possession to themselves, for twenty chambers.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 48:9
The offering that you shall offer to Yahweh shall be twenty-five thousand reeds in length, and ten thousand in breadth.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 48:10
For these, even for the priests, shall be the holy offering: toward the north twenty-five thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south twenty-five thousand in length: and the sanctuary of Yahweh shall be in its midst.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 48:18
The remainder in the length, answerable to the holy offering, shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward; and it shall be answerable to the holy offering; and its increase shall be for food to those who labor in the city.
(See RSV)

10000 (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance 10000 (8 Occurrences). Matthew 18:24 When he had begun
to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ...
/num/10000.htm - 8k

Ehud (12 Occurrences)
... Ehud, by a stratagem, put Eglon to death with a two-edged dagger a cubit long, and
routed the Moabites at the fords of the Jordan, putting 10,000 of them to ...
/e/ehud.htm - 11k

Deborah (10 Occurrences)
... She summoned Barak from Kadesh to take the command of 10,000 men of Zebulun and
Naphtali, and lead them to Mount Tabor on the plain of Esdraelon at its north ...
/d/deborah.htm - 14k

12000 (7 Occurrences)

/num/12000.htm - 8k

Benhadad (24 Occurrences)
... who records that in the 11th year of his reign he defeated a combination of 12 kings
of the Hittites with Benhadad at their head, and slew 10,000 men. Of this. ...
/b/benhadad.htm - 28k

Arabah (32 Occurrences)
... the Lebanon Mountains, 40 to 50 miles north of Beirut, where according to my own
observations one descended from the summit of the mountains (10,000 feet high ...
/a/arabah.htm - 33k

Number (2370 Occurrences)
... some possible echoes. The highest number in the Bible described by a single
word is 10,000 (ribbo or ribbo', murias). The Egyptians ...
/n/number.htm - 40k

8600 (1 Occurrence)

/num/8600.htm - 6k

Zidon (25 Occurrences)
... This city is now a town of 10,000 inhabitants, with remains of walls built in the
twelfth century AD In 1855, the sarcophagus of Eshmanezer was discovered. ...
/z/zidon.htm - 17k

Talent (16 Occurrences)
... to USD1,916. For gold it was equal to 10,000 gold shekels. 3. (vt)
Inclination; will; disposition; desire. 4. (vt) Intellectual ...
/t/talent.htm - 14k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus