12 (Twelve)
Symbolic treatment of this number in the corpus
Bullinger · Jones · Noordzij
The number twelve stands in the corpus for governmental perfection: the number of divine administration, institutional order, and authoritative completion. Bullinger regards it as the fourth and final of the four perfect numbers. Jones connects it through the Hebrew letters Yod-Beth (hand of the house) to divine authority and apostolic government. Noordzij draws on it indirectly in his treatment of the one hundred and forty-four thousand as the eschatological overcomers.
Biblical References
| Reference | Context |
|---|---|
| Gen. 49:28 | The twelve tribes of Israel; Jacob blesses his sons |
| Matt. 10:1-2 | Twelve apostles called and sent out |
| Rev. 21:12 | Twelve gates and twelve angels of the New Jerusalem |
| Rev. 21:14 | Twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles |
| Rev. 21:17 | Wall of one hundred and forty-four cubits: twelve times twelve |
| Lev. 24:5 | Twelve loaves of bread set out in the sanctuary |
Symbolism in the Corpus
E.W. Bullinger
Bullinger describes twelve as “the number of divine government and institutional order,” the fourth perfect number. As evidence he cites the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve apostles, the twelve signs of the zodiac, the twelve months of the year, and three hundred and sixty degrees of a complete circle (twelve times thirty). The apostles are grouped into four clusters of three. Jesus was twelve years old at his first recorded words in the temple. 1
Stephen E. Jones
Jones describes twelve as the number of “governmental perfection and divine authority,” derived from the Hebrew letters Yod-Beth. He writes: “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 one hundred forty-four cubits (= twelve × twelve) (Rev. 21:17).” Jones counts twelve anointed individuals in the Old Testament: five priests and seven kings. The twelfth mention of Jesus’ name in the Gospel of Matthew falls at the command “You shall worship the Lord your God” — the core of his governmental calling. 2
Cees Noordzij
Noordzij draws on twelve indirectly in his interpretation of the one hundred and forty-four thousand (Rev. 7:4 and 14:1). He writes of “the chosen sons of God” who will “deliver the whole creation from the bondage of corruption.” The number one hundred and forty-four thousand rests on the governmental foundation of twelve: twelve times twelve times a thousand as the expression of complete victory in the eschatological fulfillment. 3