Numbers, fractions

Mainly associated with divisions of the people and of property, and also with sacrificial offerings.

One half

Half the people

Joshua 8:33 See also Deuteronomy 27:12–13; 1 Kings 16:21; Nehemiah 4:16, Nehemiah 12:31–32, Nehemiah 12:38, Nehemiah 13:24

All Israel, foreigners and citizens alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded earlier, to bless the people of Israel.

The half-tribes of Manasseh

Deuteronomy 3:13 See also Numbers 32:33, Numbers 34:13–14; Deuteronomy 29:8; Joshua 13:29–31, Joshua 22:10; 1 Chronicles 5:23

To the half-tribe of Manasseh I gave the rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og. (The entire region of Argob, the whole territory of Bashan, used to be called the land of the Rephaim.)

Halves in offering sacrifices

Genesis 15:10 See also Exodus 24:6, Exodus 30:13; Leviticus 6:20

So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.

Significant examples of halves

2 Samuel 10:4 parallel 1 Chronicles 19:4 David's men and the Ammonites; 1 Kings 3:25 Solomon; 1 Kings 10:7 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:6 the Queen of Sheba; Esther 5:3, Esther 7:2; Mark 6:23; Isaiah 44:16–20 Idolatry

One third

Thirds of a group

2 Samuel 18:2; 2 Kings 11:5–6 parallel 2 Chronicles 23:4–5

Thirds in the processes of judgment

Revelation 9:18 See also Ezekiel 5:2, Ezekiel 5:12; Revelation 8:7–12, Revelation 9:15, Revelation 12:4

A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.

One fifth

A fifth of the harvest

Genesis 41:34, Genesis 47:24, Genesis 47:26

A fifth in cases of restitution

Leviticus 5:14–16 See also Leviticus 6:5, Leviticus 22:14; Numbers 5:7

Then the LORD said to Moses, “If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering. Regarding any holy thing he has harmed, he must make restitution by adding a fifth of its value to it and giving it to the priest, who will make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.

Redeeming what is promised to God

Leviticus 27:13 See also Leviticus 27:15, Leviticus 27:19, Leviticus 27:27, Leviticus 27:31

If, however, the owner decides to redeem the animal, he must add a fifth to its value.

One tenth

Instructions about God's tithe

Leviticus 27:30–32 The term “tithe” is the Old English word for “one tenth”. See also Numbers 18:21, Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 12:6, Deuteronomy 12:11, Deuteronomy 14:22; Nehemiah 10:38; Amos 4:4; Malachi 3:8–10

Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. If a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he must add a fifth to its value. Every tenth animal from the herd or flock that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the LORD.

The royal tithe

1 Samuel 8:15, 1 Samuel 8:17

Examples of the tithe

Abraham: Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:1–10; Genesis 28:22 Jacob; 2 Chronicles 31:5–6, 2 Chronicles 31:12; Nehemiah 10:37; Matthew 23:23 teachers of the law and Pharisees