Lectionary Calendar
Friday, March 29th, 2024
Good Friday
There are 2 days til Easter!
Attention!
Partner with StudyLight.org as God uses us to make a difference for those displaced by Russia's war on Ukraine.
Click to donate today!

Bible Dictionaries
Seven

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Servant of the Lord
Next Entry
Shallum
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

One obvious feature of the Bible is the frequent occurrence of the number ‘seven’. The number seems to have been used to indicate one complete unit – fulness, completion, perfection (e.g. Genesis 2:2).

This unit of seven features prominently in the organization of Israel’s religious and community life. One day in seven was a holy day of rest, and this weekly unit provided the framework for various religious festivals (Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 23:5-6; Leviticus 23:15; Leviticus 23:34; see SABBATH). The details of many of Israel’s rituals were based on a unit of seven (Leviticus 4:6; Leviticus 8:33; Leviticus 13:4; Leviticus 14:7-8; Leviticus 14:51; Leviticus 23:18). Every seventh year was a year of rest for the land and release for debtors (Leviticus 25:1-4; Deuteronomy 15:1-2; see SABBATICAL YEAR). The symbolic ‘seven’ gave to ordinary events a special religious significance (Joshua 6:4).

The expression ‘seven times’ seems to have been used as a figure of speech to indicate fulness or finality (Genesis 4:15; Genesis 4:24, Leviticus 26:18; Leviticus 26:21; 1 Kings 18:43-44; 2 Kings 5:10; Psalms 12:6; Psalms 119:164; Isaiah 30:26; Daniel 3:19; Matthew 18:21-22; cf. Luke 8:2; Luke 11:26; Luke 20:29). A similar symbolic usage of the number ‘seven’ is common in the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:20; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 5:1; Revelation 5:6; Revelation 8:2; Revelation 10:3; Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 15:1).

Bibliography Information
Fleming, Don. Entry for 'Seven'. Bridgeway Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​bbd/​s/seven.html. 2004.
adsFree icon
Ads FreeProfile