NITMBER (niim'bEr). The following numbers were understood by the Hebrews to have a sym bolical or representative significance: (1) Three was deemed to have a peculiar mys tic meaning. It is the number of the Deity .(the Trinity), of the thrice-repeated "Holy" (Is. vi :3), of the threefold priestly blessing (Num. vi :23 26), Daniel's three hours of prayer (Dan. vi :to), etc.
(2) Four symbolizes the world or humanity. There are four winds (Ezek. xxxvii :9), four beasts (Rev. iv :6), and four living creatures with four faces, four wings, and four sides (Ezek. i :5 to, etc.).
(3) Five, appears in the tables of requirements and punighments, as Exod. xxii :1 ; Lev. v :z6. Also, five empires (Dan. ii). In the New Tes tament, five wise and five foolish virgins, etc.
'(4) Seven, the union of three and four, is the number. of the covenants between God and man. It implies perfection. The number occurs very frequently in connection with both holy things and things unholy. For example, the seven branched candlestick (Exod. xxv:37; Kings vii:t7; Zech. iv:io; comp. ls. xi:2); the sprink ling of the blood seven times (Lev. iv :6; viii :it ; xlv :7 ; xvi :14 ; Num. xix :4 ; 2 Kings v :1o) ; seven lambs (Num. xxviii ; Ezek. xlv :23; 2 Chron. xxix :21) ; comp. the seven sons of Saul who were hanged before the Lord (2 Sam. xxi: 9) ; the seven locks of the Nazarite Samson (Judg. xvi :13, 19) ; the seven priests that carried seven trumpets seven times in front of the ark and around the walls of Jericho (Josh vi :4) ; the seven days in the week, the seven churches (Rev. i :4), the seven years of plenty in Egypt
(Gen. xli :26), the seven angels with seven golden vials (Rev. xv :I) ; but also the seven heads and seven crowns of the dragon (Rev. xii :3).
(5) Ten, the number of fingers (two hands), symbolizes harmony and completeness. It is the number of the fundamental commandments.
(8) Twelve, the multiple of three and four, is also a covenant number, like seven. Hence we have the twelve tribes, the twelve stones in the high-priest's breastplate (Exod. xxviii :21), twelve apostles, twelve gates in the New Jerusalem, etc.
(7) Forty, four multiplied by ten ; as the forty days of our Lord's temptation (Matt. iv), the forty years in the wilderness, etc.
(8) Seventy, seven multiplied by ten ; as the seventy elders of Israel (Num. xi :16), the seventy disciples of our Lord (Luke x:1).
It is very difficult, if indeed at all possible, to get the exact and definite meaning of these num bers, and we must not carry the search too far. But that they had a special meaning for the He brews there can be little doubt (compare the extended and ingenious treatment of Lange, Com. on Revelation, pp. 14, sq.). (Schaff, Bib. Dia.; Hastings' Bib. Diet.).