Stephen Jones — Numerology
b5 — The Biblical Meaning of Numbers
Hermeneutical Method for Numbers
Jones explains his method in the book’s introduction: “This book is a companion to The Genesis Book of Psalms, because the psalm number helps to convey the meaning of the number itself.”
The Hebrew Letters-as-Numbers System
Jones describes how the Hebrew language combines numbers and meaning: “The Hebrew language uses their letters as numbers, and the letters are also words and concepts that can be used either literally or symbolically.”
The complete correspondence table (Ch. 1):
| Letter | Number | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aleph | 1 | an ox or bull = strength, primacy, leader |
| Beth | 2 | a tent, house = household, family |
| Gimel | 3 | a camel = to be lifted up, pride |
| Daleth | 4 | a door = opening, entry, pathway |
| Hey | 5 | a window = behold, the, to reveal, inspiration, what comes from |
| Vav | 6 | a nail, hook, and = to fasten, join together, secure |
| Zayin | 7 | a weapon = cut, cut off |
| Chet | 8 | fence, enclosure = inner room; heart; private; separate |
| Teth | 9 | snake, serpent = surround |
| Yod | 10 | hand that is closed, deed, work, to make |
| Kaf | 20 | palm, open hand = cover or give, open, allow |
| Lamed | 30 | goad, staff = authority, control |
| Mem | 40 | water, what flows down = immensity, or chaos |
| Noon | 50 | fish darting or swarming = life, activity |
| Samech | 60 | prop, support, twist or turn slowly |
| Ayin | 70 | an eye = to know, see, look, manifest, make visible |
| Pey | 80 | mouth = to speak, a word, open |
| Tsadik | 90 | a fish hook = desire, need, catch, that which has control |
| Koof | 100 | back of the head = behind, last, least, what follows |
| Resh | 200 | head, leader, person, skull |
| Sheen | 300 | teeth = to consume, devour, destroy |
| Tav | 400 | sign, signature, mark, a cross = to seal, to covenant |
The Method of the N-th Name Occurrence
Jones employs a consistent hermeneutical method: the N-th occurrence of a biblical name illustrates the symbolic meaning of number N. He applies this to names such as Noah, Abram/Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel, Joseph, Joshua, David, Jesus, and Paul. Interpretive note: this method presupposes that the Bible is arranged as a constructed numeric system in which the pattern of name frequency is theologically meaningful.
Symbolic Meaning of Numbers 1–10
1 — Unity (Aleph)
“In all languages it is the symbol of unity.” (Jones quoting Bullinger) Jones distinguishes two Hebrew words for “one”: yacheed = absolute unity, an only one (Gen. 22:2); echad = compound unity (Gen. 2:24; Deut. 6:4). The First Commandment (“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me”) expresses the unity of God.
2 — Division, Double Witness (Beth)
“God established the household with Adam and Eve, two people in a marriage. This provided direction, a double witness in the family to know the will of God.” The number two signifies either division or a double witness. Jones names the two covenants, Hagar and Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac, David and Saul as patterns of this number.
3 — Divine Fullness, Perfection (Gimel)
“Because the law establishes truth on the basis of two or three witnesses (Deut. 19:15), the number three may be considered to be a complete witness. Two witnesses are enough to establish truth, but three brings completeness, clarity, and shape to it.” The three primary feasts (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles) perfect the tripartite nature of man: spirit, soul, and body (1Thess. 5:23). Jones notes three titles of the Shepherd: Good Shepherd in death (John 10:14-15), Great Shepherd in resurrection (Heb. 13:20), Chief Shepherd in glory (1Pet. 5:4).
4 — The Earth, Material Creation (Daleth)
“In biblical numerology, four is the number of the earth, or the material creation of God. On the fourth day of creation the material world was finished (Gen. 1:14-19).” The gematria of the Hebrew h’eretz (“the earth”) = 296 = 4 × 74. Four cherubim (Ezek. 1:5); four “beasts” around the throne (Rev. 4:6); four gospels; four colors in the Tabernacle curtains (purple = King, scarlet = Servant, white = Son of Man, blue = Son of God).
5 — Grace, Favor (Hey)
“The number is found 318 times in the Bible. The number 318 is significant, because it is the number of armed servants in Abram’s house who rescued Lot (Gen. 14:14). It is grace that rescues us and sets the captives free.” Five sacrifices in Gen. 15:9 secured the Abrahamic promise; five offerings in Lev. 1-3. God placed the hey in Abram→Abraham, Sarai→Sarah, Joshua→Jehoshua (Num. 13:16) as a sign of grace and the Holy Spirit.
6 — Man, Humanity (Vav)
“Six is the number of man, for man was created on the sixth day (Gen. 1:24-31).” Six days of labor (Ex. 20:8-11); the Hebrew slave served six years (Ex. 21:2); Moses waited six days before ascending the mount (Ex. 24:16-18). Jones connects this to six millennia of human existence before the Second Coming. Israel compassed Jericho for six days (Josh. 6:14-15) → type of 6,000 years of spiritual warfare.
7 — Completion, Spiritual Perfection (Zayin)
“Seven is the biblical number of completion and spiritual perfection.” Rev. 10:7 (seventh angel: mystery of God finished); Rev. 16:17 (“it is done” at the seventh vial). Seven days to consecrate the priests (Lev. 8:31-35); seven days around Jericho (Josh. 6:15).
8 — New Beginning (Chet)
“Eight is the number of new beginning.” Circumcision on the eighth day (Gen. 17:12); Jesus raised from the dead on the eighth day to fulfill the law of the wave-sheaf offering (Lev. 23:10-11); Pentecost: seven weeks + 1 day = fiftieth day = eighth day (Lev. 23:15-17). Jesus prophesied on the eighth day of Tabernacles (John 7:37-39) about the outpouring of the Spirit.
9 — Visitation (Teth)
“The number nine speaks God’s ‘visitation.’ This is a Hebraism that pictures God as an Investigator ‘visiting’ a person, city, or nation to expose the hearts.” Jesus in Luke 19:43-44: “because you did not recognize the time of your visitation” (episcope). Nine fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23); nine gifts of the Spirit (1Cor. 12:8-10); nine Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-11). The numeric value of amen in Hebrew is precisely 99, indicating agreement.
10 — Divine Order, Law (Yod)
“Ten is the number that portrays that time of judgment when men either receive reward or come under divine judgment.” The Ten Commandments; Rev. 20:12-13 (judgment “according to their deeds”). Tenth occurrence of Noah’s name: Gen. 6:13 (“The end of all flesh has come before Me”); tenth of Isaac: Gen. 22:3 (the great sacrifice).
Symbolic Meaning of Numbers 11–20
11 — Imperfection, Disorder (Yod-Aleph)
“The hand (outworking) of one’s strength.” Jacob had only eleven sons remaining at home after Joseph was lost; Israel’s eleventh sin (Num. 14:22, 39-45); the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in the eleventh year of King Zedekiah (Jer. 39:2); Ezek. 26:1; 30:20 (both “in the eleventh year”). After Judas’ death: eleven disciples → “a number of disorder”; Matthias is added (Acts 1:20-26).
12 — Governmental Perfection (Yod-Beth)
“Twelve is the number of governmental perfection and divine authority.” Twelve sons of Jacob; twelve apostles; twelve foundations in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:14); twelve gates, twelve angels, twelve pearls (Rev. 21:12, 21); wall of 144 cubits (= 12 × 12) (Rev. 21:17). Twelve anointed men in the OT (five priests, seven kings); Matt. 4:10 (twelfth mention of Jesus: “You shall worship the Lord your God”).
13 — Rebellion, Depravity (Yod-Gimel)
“The first occurrence of the number 13 in the Bible is found in Gen. 14:4, where it signifies a time of rebellion: ‘Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled.‘” Thirteen tribes of Israel (including Levi and the double-portion of Joseph); Mark 7:21-22 (13 sins that proceed out of the carnal heart); “dragon” appears 13 times in Revelation. Jones cites Bullinger on gematria of Cain’s lineage: total = 2223 = 13 × 171.
14 — Deliverance, Release (Yod-Daleth)
“The hand (outworking) of the door. It pictures a release or deliverance from the prison with the opening of the door.” Israel was delivered from Egypt by the Passover lamb killed on the 14th day of the first month; Paul’s ship was delivered on the 14th day of the storm (Acts 27:33-34).
15 — New Direction (Yod-Hey)
“Fifteen is the number of new direction.” Israel left Egypt on the morning of the 15th day of the first month. Jones notes that the Hebrews wrote 15 as teth-hey (instead of yod-hey = YAH) to avoid the sacred name.
16 — Love (Yod-Vav)
“The Hebrew letters yod-vav signify the hand (outworking) of the nail, which joins the hearts of two people as one.” John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world…”); 1Cor. 13:4-8 lists precisely 16 characteristics of love; 16 sockets of silver in the Tabernacle (Ex. 26:25); the word agape used precisely 16 times in the Gospel of John.
17 — Victory (Yod-Zayin)
“The hand (outworking) of spiritual weaponry, which gives us the victory.” The sum of 1 through 17 = 153 (the number of fish in John 21:11); 153 = numeric value of beni h’elohim (“sons of God”). “There is no ultimate victory without love” — pointing to “love never fails” (1Cor. 13:8).
18 — Oppression, Bondage (Yod-Chet)
“The hand (outworking) of a fence (prison), which brings men into bondage or oppression.” Luke 13:16: “this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Gen. 46:8 (18th mention of Israel: beginning of Egyptian bondage).
19 — Faith and Hearing (Yod-Teth)
“The hand (outworking) of the serpent (wisdom).” Jones connects this positively to Christ as the Serpent on the pole in the wilderness (Num. 21:9; John 12:32-33). “The 19th letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the kof, which literally means ‘the back of the head.’ The word picture has to do with hearing God’s voice in ‘the back of your head (mind).‘“
20 — Redemption (Kaph)
“There is some disagreement on the meaning of the number 20. Bullinger quotes Dr. Milo Mahan and appears to agree with him that it is the number of expectancy. Ed Vallowe says it means Redemption.” Jones favors redemption, with a two-sided interpretation: as a time cycle = waiting; as an endpoint = redemption. Jacob waited 20 years; Israel was oppressed for 20 years under Jabin (Judg. 4:3).
Symbolic Meaning of Numbers 21–30
21 — Distress (Kaph-Aleph)
“When twenty-one is used in terms of time (as in a 21-year period) it is the number of trouble or distress (tsarah).” The tabernacle had 21 coverings to cover all of Israel’s sins (Ex. 26:3, 7). Two periods of 21 years for Jacob; Jer. 30:7 (“the time of Jacob’s distress” = tsarah). Gen. 35:1-3 (Jacob prays at Bethel: “who answered me in the day of my distress”).
22 — Sonship, Sons of Light (Kaph-Beth)
“The open palm in the act of giving something to the house or household. It speaks of the Fruitfulness Mandate in Gen. 1:28.” 22 almonds on the candlestick (Ex. 25:31-37) → divine authority as light; Num. 17:8 (Aaron’s rod bearing almonds → divine authority); Num. 3:39: 22,000 Levitical priests; 2Chron. 7:5: 22,000 oxen at temple dedication. Saul is mentioned exactly 22 times in the NT (Acts 26:14 as 22nd mention). Jones: “Twenty-two is the number of Sonship.”
23 — Death and Resurrection Life (Kaph-Gimel)
“The open palm in the act of lifting up — in this case, lifting up from death.” Rom. 1:28-32 lists exactly 23 things “worthy of death”; Gen. 7:23 (23rd mention of Noah: everything blotted out in the flood).
24 — Priesthood (Kaph-Daleth)
“The open palm in the act of opening a door, signifying an open hand showing and offering to us the door of priesthood and access into the Sanctuary of God.” 1Chron. 24:1-18 (David divides the priesthood into 24 courses); Rev. 4:4 (24 elders around the throne); 1Chron. 24:4 (16 from Eleazar’s family = love + 8 from Ithamar’s = new beginnings). John 3:3 is the 24th mention of Jesus’ name in John: “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
25 — Blessing (Kaph-Hey)
“The Hebrew number 25 consists of two Hebrew letters, kaph and hey. Kaph is an open palm, the act of giving or covering. Hey means inspiration, or the breath of God.” Twenty-five = 5², related to five (grace). “Blessing is based upon the idea of grace.”
26 — Power of Salvation (Kaph-Vav)
“An open hand with a nail. The Power of Salvation is pictured by Jesus’ hands being nailed to the cross.” The numeric value of YHWH = 26 (Y=10; H=5; V=6; H=5); Yeshua = Jesus = Salvation. Gen. 8:11-12 (26th Noah: two doves → the Holy Spirit as power of the Gospel of Salvation).
27 — Ministry of Salvation (Kaph-Zayin)
“The open palm in the ministry of spiritual warfare.” 2Cor. 10:3-4: “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” 27 = 17 (victory) + 10 (law). Numeric value of “the gospel is the power of God” (Rom. 1:16) = 27 × 100; “Jesus is the Son of God” (1John 4:15) = 27 × 111.
28 — Leading of the Spirit (Kaph-Chet)
“The open palm covering the inner chamber of the heart.” Matt. 1:17 (three groups of 14 generations from Abraham to Christ); 28 = 2 × 14 (release). Jones connects this to the three phases of salvation: Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles.
29 — Departure (Kaph-Teth)
“This being the last number of the series of twenties, it depicts a change from the covering of one’s house into something new.” Gen. 8:18-19 (29th Noah: he and his family departing from the ark); Gen. 28:7 (29th Jacob: he had left his parents). “Because the number nine has to do with the judgment of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of fire, it is preparatory to the number 30.”
30 — Dedication for Rulership (Lamed)
“The number thirty in Hebrew was written as the letter lamed, which is literally an ox goad or staff. Thus, it was a symbol of authority, leadership, or rulership.” Num. 4:23 (age for priestly rulership); Joseph at age 30 (Gen. 41:46); David at age 30 (2Sam. 5:4); 30 pieces of silver: price of a slave (Matt. 26:15; Zech. 11:12-13; Ex. 21:32); length of each Tabernacle curtain: 30 cubits (Ex. 36:15).
Symbolic Meaning of Numbers 31–40
31 — Offspring (Lamed-Aleph)
“The number thirty-one in Hebrew is therefore the gematria of El, the Hebrew word for God. El literally means ‘the strong (or primary) authority.‘” Gen. 9:1 (31st Noah: “Be fruitful and multiply”). Matt. 9:4 (31st mention of Jesus in Matthew: “the Son of Man”); Luke 8:28 (31st in Luke: “Jesus, the Son of the Most High God”).
32 — Covenant (Lamed-Beth)
“The Hebrew letters lamed-beth form the word leb, which means ‘heart.‘” Gen. 9:8-9 (32nd Noah: God establishes His covenant with Noah); the word “covenant” = 5 times in Numbers + 27 times in Deuteronomy = 32 total; Heb. 9:12-13 (New Covenant through His own blood); Mark 8:27 (32nd mention of Jesus in Mark: Peter’s confession of faith, after which Jesus explains the New Covenant through His death, v. 31).
33 — A Sign (Lamed-Gimel)
“Thirty-three is the number of a Sign — that is, the confirming evidence establishing a prophetic word.” Gen. 9:17 (33rd Noah: “This [rainbow] is the sign of the covenant”); Gen. 28:20-22 (33rd Jacob: the stone as sign of his vow). Jones challenges Vallowe’s interpretation (“promise”): “His perspective is not broad enough… he misses the point of the verse, which is that the rainbow was the SIGN of this covenant.”
34 — Identification (Lamed-Daleth)
“Thirty-four has to do with the authority to walk through the door or to enter a house. One may lawfully enter after one has identified himself.” Gen. 21:2 (34th Abraham: Isaac born “at the appointed time”); Gen. 9:18 (34th Noah: the names of his sons identified); Luke 8:30 (34th Jesus: “What is your name? And he said, Legion”). Jones: “The entities being identified are not sons, but demons.”
35 — Vindication (Lamed-Hey)
“When there is an unresolved question or dispute among men, a ruling is necessary from a higher authority. And so thirty-five is the number of vindication.” Gen. 21:3 (35th Abraham: birth of Isaac vindicated their faith); Josh. 3:5 (35th Joshua: “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” → vindication of 40-year journey).
36 — Adversary, Enemy (Lamed-Vav)
“If we add all the numbers from one to thirty-six, they come to a total of 666.” Jones connects this to God’s adversaries. Isa. 45:6 (God creates evil as well as good); Col. 1:16-20; 1Cor. 15:27-28 (reconciliation of all things as ultimate goal). Gen. 9:20 (36th Noah: son Ham becomes an enemy under a curse); Gen. 21:4 (36th Abraham: circumcision = cutting away “the flesh, our great enemy,” Gal. 5:17).
37 — Inheritance (Lamed-Zayin)
“Thirty-seven is the number of inheritance, which is established by God ‘cutting a covenant’ with us.” The name Caleb appears exactly 37 times in the Bible; Caleb inherits Hebron (Josh. 14:5-14: “Thus the sons of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded Moses, and they divided the land”). Gen. 15:10, 18 (covenant made by cutting the animals); Gen. 15:1 (37th Abram: “your reward shall be very great”).
38 — Work, Labor (Lamed-Chet)
“Thirty-eight is the number of work, or labor. It includes the idea of one’s calling, or life’s work and purpose.” Deut. 2:14 (38 years in the wilderness before Israel entered its calling); John 5:5 (man at the pool of Bethesda sick for 38 years).
39 — Infirmity (Lamed-Teth)
“Thirty-nine is the number of infirmity. When Adam and Eve sinned […] they inadvertently gave up their God-given authority to the serpent, who subjected them to disease, infirmity, and ultimately to death itself.” 2Chron. 16:12 (“in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet”); Gen. 15:3 (39th Abram: “I have no seed”); Matt. 9:27 (39th Jesus: healing of two blind men); Mark 9:27; Luke 8:41.
40 — Trial, Probation (Mem)
“Forty is the product of eight and five. Eight is the number of New Beginnings, while five is grace. Thus, forty can be seen as entering grace after a period of trial.” Eight forty-day periods in the Bible (Bullinger): Moses on the mount (Ex. 24:18); Moses after the Golden Calf (Deut. 9:18, 25); the spies (Num. 13:26; 14:34); Elijah at Horeb (1Kgs. 19:8); Nineveh’s probation (Jon. 3:4); Ezekiel on his right side (Ezek. 4:5); Jesus’ temptation (Matt. 4:2); forty days after Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 1:3). “The total of these eight forty-day periods is 320 days. Since 32 is the number of Covenant, we see a special connection with the idea of covenant.” Jones adds a prophetic-historical application: “40 Jubilees of the Church’s wilderness time (33–1993 A.D.).”
Numbers and Salvation History
Numbers and the Three Feasts
Jones connects the three primary feasts to the symbolic number sequence and the tripartite nature of man: “There are three primary feast days in Israel: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. It takes all three feasts to perfect a man with the fullness of the Spirit. Each feast is an aspect of salvation for man’s three-fold nature: spirit, soul, and body (1Thess. 5:23).” Jones works this out further in number symbolism: 3 (perfection), 8 (new beginning in resurrection), 50 (Pentecost = 7 weeks + 1), and the Feast of Tabernacles as the eighth day.
Numbers and Prophecy
Jones employs a specific prophetic-historical application of the 40-year symbolism: “Perhaps He will return some time after forty Jubilees of the Church’s wilderness time. If so, we are in that season now, for 1993 was the 40th Jubilee of the Church’s wilderness time.” Interpretive note: Jones applies the prophetic meaning of number 40 to church history, taking 33 A.D. as the starting point.
Gematria and Salvation-Historical Patterns
Jones uses gematria calculations: the gematria of “Lord Jesus Christ” = 3168 (800 + 888 + 1480); gematria of the names of Judah’s kings = 4400 = 8 × 550; gematria of the names of Israel’s kings = 3900 = 13 × 300 (rebellion). “While Judah’s kings (David’s lineage) were anything but perfect, they did provide the genealogy to Jesus Christ, while the kings of Israel were in open revolt against the house of David in Jerusalem.”