Numbers, 6–10

The number seven is especially associated with completeness and perfection. The number ten is occasionally used as a symbol of completeness. Other numbers have a variety of associations.

Six

The world was created in six days

Exodus 20:11 See also Genesis 1:1–31; Exodus 31:17

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

Human work is to be limited to six days a week

Exodus 16:26, Exodus 20:9 parallel Deuteronomy 5:13; Exodus 23:12, Exodus 31:15, Exodus 34:21, Exodus 35:2; Leviticus 23:3; Luke 13:14

Other important six-day periods

Deuteronomy 16:8; Joshua 6:3–14; Matthew 17:1 parallel Mark 9:2; John 12:1

Human work restricted to six-year periods

Exodus 21:2, Exodus 23:10; Leviticus 25:3; Deuteronomy 15:12, Deuteronomy 15:18; Jeremiah 34:14

Seven

The seventh day is a day of rest

Genesis 2:2–3 See also Exodus 20:10 parallel Deuteronomy 5:14; Exodus 31:15–17, Exodus 35:2–3; Hebrews 4:4

And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.

The seventh year symbolises rest and freedom

Leviticus 25:4 See also Exodus 23:10–11; Leviticus 25:2–6; Deuteronomy 15:1, Deuteronomy 15:12; Nehemiah 10:31

But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land — a Sabbath to the LORD. You are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard.

Major festivals lasted seven days

Unleavened Bread: Exodus 12:15, Exodus 23:15; Leviticus 23:6; Numbers 28:17; Deuteronomy 16:8; 2 Chronicles 30:21, 2 Chronicles 35:17; Ezekiel 45:21; Leviticus 23:34; Numbers 29:12; Deuteronomy 16:13; Exodus 29:30, Exodus 29:35; Leviticus 8:33

The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, comes seven weeks after the firstfruits of the harvest

Leviticus 23:15–16; Deuteronomy 16:9

Festivals in the seventh month

Leviticus 16:29, Leviticus 23:24, Leviticus 23:39; Numbers 29:7, Numbers 29:12

Important rituals associated with sevens

Leviticus 4:6–17, Leviticus 14:7, Leviticus 14:51, Leviticus 16:14; Numbers 28:11; 1 Chronicles 15:26; Job 42:8

Ritual uncleanness for seven days

Leviticus 12:2, Leviticus 13:4, Leviticus 13:21, Leviticus 13:26, Leviticus 15:24

Seven times indicates a completed action

Leviticus 26:18; Joshua 6:4; 1 Kings 18:43; 2 Kings 5:10; Psalm 119:164

Seven times indicates total intensification

Genesis 4:15; Leviticus 26:21; Psalm 12:6, Psalm 79:12; Isaiah 30:26; Daniel 3:19

The seven spirits of God

Revelation 5:6 See also Zechariah 4:10; Revelation 1:4, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 4:5

Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Seven associated with final judgment

Revelation 21:9 See also Revelation 8:2, Revelation 8:6, Revelation 10:3–4, Revelation 12:3, Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:7, Revelation 17:3

Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

Eight

Eighth day as the day of circumcision

Luke 2:21 See also Genesis 17:12, Genesis 21:4; Leviticus 12:3; Luke 1:59; Acts 7:8; Philippians 3:5

When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.

Eighth day as the end of major festivals

Leviticus 23:36, Leviticus 23:39; Numbers 29:35; 2 Chronicles 7:9; Nehemiah 8:18

Rituals of the eighth day

Leviticus 14:10, Leviticus 14:23, Leviticus 15:14

Nine

Jesus Christ died at the ninth hour

Matthew 27:45–46 parallels Mark 15:33–34, Luke 23:44

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Ten

Ten as a symbol of completeness

See also Ruth 4:2; 2 Chronicles 4:6–8; Daniel 1:12–15, Daniel 7:24; Revelation 2:10, Revelation 12:3

Ten as an approximate number

Genesis 31:7; Ruth 1:4; 1 Samuel 1:8; Job 19:3; Zechariah 8:23

Ten days as an approximate period

Genesis 24:55; 1 Samuel 25:38; Acts 25:6

Ten plagues on Egypt

Exodus 7:20, Exodus 8:6, Exodus 8:16, Exodus 8:24, Exodus 9:6, Exodus 9:10, Exodus 9:22, Exodus 10:12, Exodus 10:21, Exodus 11:5

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 34:28 See also Deuteronomy 4:13, Deuteronomy 10:4

So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant — the Ten Commandments.

Tens in Jesus Christ's parables

Matthew 25:1, Matthew 25:28; Luke 15:8, Luke 19:13, Luke 19:17