Topical Encyclopedia The concept of "sevens" in the Bible is a significant and recurring theme that symbolizes completeness, perfection, and divine order. The number seven appears frequently throughout the Scriptures, often associated with God's creation, covenant, and divine intervention.Creation and Sabbath Rest The number seven first appears in the creation narrative in Genesis. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, establishing the pattern for the week and the Sabbath. Genesis 2:2-3 states, "By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished." The seventh day, the Sabbath, is a day of rest and worship, reflecting God's completed work and His covenant with humanity. Covenants and Promises The number seven is also significant in the context of covenants and promises. In Genesis 9:12-16, God establishes His covenant with Noah, using the rainbow as a sign. The rainbow, with its seven colors, symbolizes God's promise never to flood the earth again. Similarly, in Genesis 21:28-30, Abraham sets apart seven ewe lambs as a witness to his covenant with Abimelech, emphasizing the solemnity and completeness of the agreement. Feasts and Festivals The Israelites' religious calendar is marked by several feasts and festivals that incorporate the number seven. The Feast of Unleavened Bread lasts seven days (Exodus 12:15), and the Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated for seven days (Leviticus 23:34). The Day of Atonement occurs in the seventh month (Leviticus 16:29), and the Year of Jubilee is celebrated after seven cycles of seven years (Leviticus 25:8-10). These observances underscore the importance of seven in Israel's worship and communal life. Prophetic Significance In prophetic literature, the number seven often signifies completeness and divine judgment. The Book of Revelation is replete with sevens, including the seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls of wrath. Revelation 1:4 mentions, "John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne." These sevens highlight the fullness of God's plan and the ultimate fulfillment of His purposes. Moral and Ethical Teachings The number seven also appears in moral and ethical teachings. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things that are detestable to the Lord, emphasizing the completeness of God's moral standards. In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus teaches about forgiveness, instructing Peter to forgive "not seven times, but seventy-seven times," illustrating the boundless nature of forgiveness. Conclusion The pervasive presence of the number seven throughout the Bible underscores its symbolic importance in conveying themes of completeness, divine order, and spiritual significance. Whether in creation, covenant, worship, prophecy, or moral instruction, sevens serve as a reminder of God's perfect and sovereign plan for His creation. Strong's Hebrew 7651. sheba -- seven... 1), 730* (1), 736* (2), 743* (2), 745* (1), 760* (2), 77* (1), 775* (1), 87,000* (1), forty-seven* (1), seven (270), seven times (6), sevens (2), seventeen* (6 ... /hebrew/7651.htm - 7k Library Sevens. "Gentle Jesu, Meek and Mild. " "Gentle Jesu, Meek and Mild. " Antichrist in Daniel A Collection of Gospel Hymns in Ojibway and English Gnostic Exposition of the Decalogue. Positive Features of John's Gospel. Waiving Allusion to the Paraclete, Tertullian Comes to the ... A Fit and Auspicious Day was Sought Out for the Accomplishment of ... Description of the Gnostic Furnished by an Exposition of 1 Cor. vi ... Elucidations. Thesaurus Sevens (5 Occurrences)...Sevens (5 Occurrences). ... Genesis 7:3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. ... /s/sevens.htm - 8k Seventeen (12 Occurrences) Fowls (61 Occurrences) Seven-headed (1 Occurrence) Fowl (73 Occurrences) Beasts (241 Occurrences) Air (74 Occurrences) Beast (243 Occurrences) Deluge (17 Occurrences) Noah (55 Occurrences) Resources What are the seventy sevens in Daniel 9:24-27? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the seventy weeks of Daniel? | GotQuestions.org What is the Tribulation? How do we know the Tribulation will last seven years? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Sevens (5 Occurrences)Genesis 7:2 Genesis 7:3 Daniel 9:24 Daniel 9:25 Daniel 9:26 Subtopics Related Terms Nergalsharezer (2 Occurrences) Nergal-sharezer (2 Occurrences) Three-and-twentieth (1 Occurrence) Strengtheneth (28 Occurrences) |