SEVEN (AS. scofon, Goth., OHG. sibun, Ger. sieben, seven; connected with Lat. scptem, Gk. irrci,hcpta, Orr. sccht, ()Church Slay. scrim/. Lith. srptini, Skt. saptan, seven). A mystieal and symbolical number in the Bible, as well as among the principal nations of antiquity (the Persians, Indians, Egyptians. Greeks, Romans, etc.). The reason for the preference of this number for sacred use has been found in its consisting of three—the number of the sides of a triangle— and four—the sides of a square, these being the simplest rectilineal figures—or in other equally vague circumstances. In numerical symbolism, also, three stands for the spiritual (e.g. the Trinity) and four for the material (four ele ments). and the combination represents the medi al or supernatural sphere. The original reason, however, seems to be astronomical, or rather astrological, viz. the observation of the seven planets and the phases of the moon—changing every seventh day. (See \VEEN.) As instances of the use of this number in the Old Testament we find the creation completed in seven days, wherefore the seventh day was kept sacred; every seventh year was sabbatical, and the seven times seventh ''ear ushered in the jobel-year. The three regalini, or pilgrim festivals (passah, festival of weeks, and tabernacles), lasted seven days; and between the first and second of these feasts were counted seven weeks. The first day of the seventh month was a 'holy convocation.' The Levitical purifications lasted seven days, and the same space of time was allotted to the celebration of weddings aml the mournings for the dead. In Proverbs ix. 1 Wisdom builds her
house with seven pillars. In the New Testament we have the churches, candlesticks, stars, trum pets, spirits, all to the number of seven; and the seven horns, and seven eyes of the Lamb. The same number appears again either divided into half years, Rev. xiii. 5, xi. 3. xii. 6, etc.). or multiplied by 10-70 Israelites go to Egypt, the exile lasts 70 years, there are 70 elders, and at a later period there are supposed to be 70 languages and 70 nations upon earth. To go hack to the earlier documents, we find in a similar way the dove sent out the second time seven days after her first mission. Pharaoh's dream shows him twice seven line and twice seven ears of corn. Among the Greeks the seven was sacred to Apollo and to Dionysus. who, according to Orphic legends, was torn into seven pieces; and it was particularly sacred in Eidava, where the number was found to pervade, as it were, almost every sacred. private, or domestic relation. The Pythagoreans made much of this number, giving it the name of Athene, Hermes, II epha.,:tus, Her eules, the virgin unbegotten and nnbegetting (i.e. not to be obtained by multiplication), Dionysus, Rex, etc. The 'seven sacraments,' the "seven free arts,' the 'seven wise men,' and many more instances, prove the importance attached to this number in the eyes not only of ancient, but even of our own times. A learned article, based on Hammer-Pmrgstall, Uebcr the Zahl Sieben, is con tained in the Essays of James Hadley (1873).