The number thirty-eight appears in the Bible in contexts that often carry significant theological and historical implications. It is a number that, while not as frequently mentioned as others, holds particular importance in the narrative of the Israelites and in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Context

1. Wilderness Wanderings: The number thirty-eight is notably mentioned in the context of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 2:14 , Moses recounts, "Now the time it took for us to come from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed over the Brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them." This period of thirty-eight years represents a time of judgment and purification for the Israelites, as the generation that had disobeyed God at Kadesh-barnea was not permitted to enter the Promised Land. The number signifies a prolonged period of waiting and serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God's commands.

New Testament Context

2. Healing at the Pool of Bethesda: In the New Testament, the number thirty-eight is mentioned in the Gospel of John. John 5:5 states, "One man there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years." This account describes Jesus' miraculous healing of a man who had been suffering for thirty-eight years, lying by the Pool of Bethesda. The number here underscores the long duration of the man's affliction, highlighting the depth of his suffering and the magnitude of Jesus' compassion and power. The healing serves as a testament to Jesus' authority over physical ailments and His role as the bringer of spiritual and physical restoration.

Symbolic Interpretations

In biblical numerology, numbers often carry symbolic meanings. The number thirty-eight, while not as commonly analyzed as numbers like seven or forty, can be seen as representing a period of trial and waiting, followed by divine intervention and fulfillment. In the Old Testament, it marks the end of a generation's wandering and the beginning of a new chapter for the Israelites. In the New Testament, it signifies the end of prolonged suffering and the beginning of new life through Christ's healing.

Theological Reflections

The occurrences of the number thirty-eight in Scripture invite reflection on themes of patience, endurance, and the hope of divine deliverance. For the Israelites, the thirty-eight years in the wilderness were a time of learning to trust in God's provision and timing. For the man at Bethesda, thirty-eight years of infirmity culminated in a transformative encounter with Jesus. These narratives encourage believers to remain steadfast in faith, trusting that God's purposes will be fulfilled in His perfect timing.

In summary, the number thirty-eight, though not frequently mentioned, plays a significant role in illustrating God's dealings with His people, both in judgment and in grace. It serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience, the reality of human suffering, and the hope of redemption through Christ.3638. okto -- eight
... Word Origin a prim. cardinal number Definition eight NASB Word Usage eight (6),
eighteen* (1), thirty-eight* (1). eight. A primary numeral; "eight" -- eight. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3638.htm - 6k

5144b. triakonta -- thirty
... Word Origin cardinal number from treis and a modification of deka Definition thirty
NASB Word Usage thirty (9), thirty-eight* (1). 5144a, 5144b. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5144b.htm - 5k

8083. shemoneh -- eight (a cardinal number)
... 832* (1), 845* (1), 928* (1), 98* (2), eight (36), eighteen* (8), eighteenth* (11),
eighth (3), forty-eight* (2), ninety-eight* (1), thirty-eight* (1), thirty ...
/hebrew/8083.htm - 6k

7970. sheloshim -- thirty
... 1), 38,000* (1), 43,730* (1), 435* (2), 530* (1), 601,730* (1), 7,337* (2), 730*
(1), 736* (2), 832* (1), thirtieth (1), thirty (88), thirty-eight* (1), thirty ...
/hebrew/7970.htm - 6k

Use what You Have
... TALK THIRTY-EIGHT. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. Few people really are and do their best.
Nature has blessed a few with great talents and abilities. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk thirty-eight use what you.htm

What Happened to the Hebrews During Thirty-Eight Years in the ...
... BOOK IV. Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Eight Years. ... CHAPTER 4. What Happened
To The Hebrews During Thirty-Eight Years In The Wilderness. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 what happened to.htm

Canons of the Church of Alexandria.
... Those are the canons of the Church, ordinances which Hippolytus wrote, by whom the
Church speaketh; and the number of them is thirty-eight canons. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/canons of the church of.htm

Numbers.
... There was fighting ahead and all who could fight must muster in. The History
Covered is a period of a little more than thirty-eight years. ...
/.../gerberding/the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iv numbers.htm

John Chapter iv. 18-Jan
... Remember what I laid down: I want to explain the number thirty-eight of the years
of that impotent man, why that number thirty-eight is one of weakness rather ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xvii john chapter iv.htm

John Chapter v. 20-23
... It was when that man who was thirty-eight years in infirmity was healed, and Jesus
commanded him, now made whole, to take up his bed and to go to his house. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxi john chapter v.htm

Introduction
... We shall probably be right if we identify his thirty-eight years, sojourn in the
forest with the "God-seeing" stage of Ruysbroeck's mystical life. ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/introduction.htm

The Census of Israel
... Thirty-eight years had passed away since the first numbering at Sinai, and the people
had come to the borders of the Promised Land; for they were in the plains ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the census of israel.htm

Heart Talks
... DO YOU NEED PATIENCE? TALK THIRTY-SEVEN. STUMBLING-STONES, OR STEPPING-STONES? TALK
THIRTY-EIGHT. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. TALK THIRTY-NINE. WHERE THE JOY IS. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/

American Board of Foreign Missions.
... To these we must add seven native preachers, and one hundred and thirty-eight native
helpers, which made the whole number five hundred and twenty-six, thirty ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/american board of foreign missions.htm

Thirty-eight (4 Occurrences)
Thirty-eight. Thirty, Thirty-eight. Thirty-eighth . Multi-Version
Concordance Thirty-eight (4 Occurrences). John 5:5 ...
/t/thirty-eight.htm - 7k

Kadesh (30 Occurrences)
... (see HORMAH; KORAH.) Because of their unbelief, they were condemned by God
to wander for thirty-eight years in the wilderness. They ...
/k/kadesh.htm - 21k

Eight (81 Occurrences)
... WEY). John 5:5 A certain man was there, who had been sick for thirty-eight
years. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). John ...
/e/eight.htm - 31k

Thirty (189 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV NIV). John 5:5 A certain man was there, who had been sick for
thirty-eight years. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/t/thirty.htm - 39k

Zered (3 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 2:14 The days in which we came from Kadesh Barnea, until we were come
over the brook Zered, were thirty-eight years; until all the generation of ...
/z/zered.htm - 8k

Ka'desh-bar'nea (9 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 2:14 The days in which we came from Kadesh Barnea, until we were come
over the brook Zered, were thirty-eight years; until all the generation of ...
/k/ka'desh-bar'nea.htm - 9k

Numbers (136 Occurrences)
... from the second month of the second year after the Exodus to the beginning of the
eleventh month of the fortieth year, in all about thirty-eight years and ten ...
/n/numbers.htm - 71k

Wanderings (7 Occurrences)
... THE THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS 1. The History 2. The Camps Visited V. THE FINAL JOURNEY
1. The Route 2. The Five Stations to the Border of Moab 3. From Iyim to Arnon 4 ...
/w/wanderings.htm - 40k

Invalid (3 Occurrences)
... to her full height. (WEY). John 5:5 And there was one man there who had
been an invalid for thirty-eight years. (WEY NIV). John 5:7 ...
/i/invalid.htm - 7k

Thirty-eighth (2 Occurrences)
Thirty-eighth. Thirty-eight, Thirty-eighth. Thirty-fifth . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (WEB BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV). Thirty-eight, Thirty-eighth. Thirty-fifth ...
/t/thirty-eighth.htm - 7k

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