In the context of the Bible, "sums" often refers to the act of counting, calculating, or totaling numbers, particularly in relation to genealogies, censuses, and offerings. The concept of sums is integral to understanding various aspects of biblical history, law, and worship.

Genealogies and Censuses

The Bible contains numerous genealogies and censuses, where sums play a crucial role in recording the lineage and numbers of the people of Israel. In the Book of Numbers, God commands Moses to take a census of the entire Israelite community. Numbers 1:2-3 states, "Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army."

The purpose of these censuses was not only to organize the people for military and administrative purposes but also to demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Abraham regarding the multiplication of his descendants (Genesis 15:5).

Offerings and Tithes

Sums are also significant in the context of offerings and tithes. The Israelites were instructed to give a tenth of their produce and livestock as a tithe to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30 states, "Thus any tithe of the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD." The act of calculating these tithes required careful summation to ensure that the correct portion was dedicated to God.

In the New Testament, Jesus observes the practice of giving in the temple. In Mark 12:41-44 , He highlights the offering of a poor widow who gave two small coins, noting that her sum, though small, was greater in value than the larger sums given by the wealthy because she gave out of her poverty.

Symbolic and Prophetic Numbers

Sums also appear in symbolic and prophetic contexts. Numbers often carry significant meaning, such as the number seven, which represents completeness or perfection, and the number forty, which is associated with periods of testing or judgment. In Revelation, numbers are used symbolically to convey deeper spiritual truths. For example, Revelation 13:18 states, "Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666."

Moral and Ethical Implications

The use of sums in the Bible also carries moral and ethical implications. Accurate accounting and honesty in financial dealings are emphasized throughout Scripture. Proverbs 11:1 declares, "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight." This underscores the importance of integrity in all forms of calculation and measurement.

In summary, the concept of sums in the Bible encompasses a wide range of applications, from practical record-keeping to symbolic representation, each serving to reveal aspects of God's character, His covenant with His people, and His expectations for righteous living.4183. polus -- much, many
... 33), greater (4), greater numbers (1), greatly (5), hard (2), harshly (1), heartily
(1), high price (1), large (30), large numbers (1), large sums (1), larger ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4183.htm - 9k

The Writer Sums up the Argument He had Commenced...
... Book III. Chapter V. The writer sums up the argument he had commenced? The
writer sums up the argument he had commenced, and confirms ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter v the writer sums.htm

Petra
... Wonderful sums are being worked just now concerning the progress of
Christianity in India. ... There are sums less frequently stated. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xii petra.htm

On the Collections, V.
... And no one shall be disappointed in the produce of that harvesting, because it is
the heart's intentions rather than the sums expended that will be reckoned up ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon x on the collections.htm

Future Plymouth
... of all kinds, pastors' salaries, music, etc., are met from current income from pew
rents, leaving the church free to put additional sums into permanent form. ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/future plymouth.htm

The Surprise of the Righteous
... I started charitable institutions, I spoke at missionary meetings, I put my name
down for large sums in every subscription list, I built churches and chapels ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxxvii the surprise of.htm

Christ's Summary of his Work
... In it He sums up both the purpose of His life and the petitions of His prayer, and
presents the perfect fulfilment of the former as the ground on which He asks ...
/.../christs summary of his work.htm

The Fourfold Treasure
... Then Paul goes on to write of our spiritual wealth, which he sums up under four
heads: wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; but which indeed ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the fourfold treasure.htm

To J. Tarn, Esq.
... of the three other Gospels, having been forwarded to London, I snatch a moment from
my occupation to give an account of my late outgoings, the sums drawn for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/borrow/letters of george borrow/to j tarn esq 2.htm

To J. Tarn, Esq. , Under-Treasurer of the British and Foreign ...
... time of embarcation. I believe, previous to my departure, that I accounted
to you for the sums advanced for passports. I have had ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to j tarn esq under-treasurer.htm

All Things have Been Created for the Service of Man the Deceits ...
... Fittingly, therefore, shall his name possess the number six hundred and sixty-six,
since he sums up in his own person all the commixture of wickedness which ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxix all things have been.htm

Sums (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sums (1 Occurrence). Mark 12:41 Having taken a
seat opposite the Treasury, He observed how the people were ...
/s/sums.htm - 6k

Balance (12 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) An equality between the sums total of the two sides of an account; as, to
bring one's accounts to a balance; -- also, the excess on either side; as ...
/b/balance.htm - 18k

Amount (66 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) To rise or reach by an accumulation of particular sums or quantities;
to come (to) in the aggregate or whole; -- with to or unto. ...
/a/amount.htm - 27k

Sun (1708 Occurrences)

/s/sun.htm - 14k

Underneath (19 Occurrences)
... In these words Moses sums up the history of Israel and gives expression to
his final thought about life and time and all things visible. ...
/u/underneath.htm - 12k

Observed (84 Occurrences)
... 41 Having taken a seat opposite the Treasury, He observed how the people were dropping
money into the Treasury, and that many of the wealthy threw in large sums...
/o/observed.htm - 30k

Onias
... the better of Onias and thirsting for revenge, Simon went to Apollonius, governor
of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, and informed him of the "untold sums of money ...
/o/onias.htm - 10k

Threw (133 Occurrences)
... 41 Having taken a seat opposite the Treasury, He observed how the people were dropping
money into the Treasury, and that many of the wealthy threw in large sums...
/t/threw.htm - 34k

Total (16 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The whole; the whole sum or amount; as, these sums added make the grand
total of five millions. Multi-Version Concordance Total (16 Occurrences). ...
/t/total.htm - 11k

Dropping (33 Occurrences)
... 41 Having taken a seat opposite the Treasury, He observed how the people were dropping
money into the Treasury, and that many of the wealthy threw in large sums...
/d/dropping.htm - 17k

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