What Does the Bible Say About Numerology?
The Bible is filled with numbers, some of which carry symbolic meaning. This has led some readers to connect Scripture with numerology — the study of numbers to uncover hidden meanings or predict the future. While the Bible does not directly teach numerology, certain interpretive traditions, particularly in Jewish thought, have used number-based methods to explore the text. Understanding how numbers function in Scripture can help believers avoid speculation while appreciating legitimate biblical symbolism.
Numerology and Jewish Interpretive Tradition
One of the most well-known number-based interpretive methods is gematria, which assigns numerical values to Hebrew letters (e.g., aleph = 1, bet = 2). This practice is mentioned in rabbinic literature as one of the 32 hermeneutical rules used in Jewish interpretation.
For example:
In Genesis 14:14, Abraham is said to have 318 trained men. Some rabbis interpreted this number as referring not to literal soldiers but to his servant Eliezer, whose name in Hebrew numerically equals 318.
Some scholars suggest biblical-era examples of this method, such as Jeremiah 25:26, which may use a coded numerical reference.
While gematria appears in Jewish interpretive history, the Bible itself does not command or explicitly endorse its use.
Numbers in the New Testament and the Book of Revelation
The most famous New Testament example often connected to numerology is Revelation 13:18, which speaks of the mysterious number 666. This number has been interpreted in various ways:
Many scholars believe it may represent Emperor Nero, whose name transliterated into Hebrew equals 666.
Others see it as symbolic of imperfection — falling short of God’s perfect number, seven.
While numbers in Revelation often carry symbolic weight, the Bible uses them to point to spiritual realities rather than to encourage secret code-breaking for predicting the future.
The Bible’s Approach to Numbers and Meaning
The Bible frequently uses numbers symbolically — such as seven for completeness, twelve for God’s people, and forty for times of testing. However, these patterns serve to deepen theological truths, not to create a system for hidden messages.
From a biblical perspective:
Numbers can illustrate God’s purposes — such as the 12 tribes of Israel or the 7 churches in Revelation.
They should not become a focus for speculation — Scripture warns against pursuing “myths and endless genealogies” that distract from the Gospel (1 Timothy 1:4).
Our hope is in Christ, not in decoding numbers — The central message of the Bible is redemption, not numerological prediction.
Numerology, the Gospel, and God’s Kingdom
The bigger vision of the Gospel reminds believers that while the Bible contains symbolic numbers, our salvation and understanding of God’s plan come from His revealed Word in Christ — not hidden codes. The kingdom of God advances through the preaching of the Gospel and the transforming power of the Spirit, not through numerology charts or secret calculations.
Numbers in Scripture can enrich our understanding when interpreted in context, but they must always point us back to the central truth: Jesus Christ is Lord, and His Word is sufficient for life and godliness.
Conclusion: What the Bible Teaches About Numerology
While numerology has a place in Jewish interpretive tradition through practices like gematria, the Bible does not promote it as a method for discovering hidden truths. Numbers in Scripture often have symbolic meaning, but their purpose is to reveal God’s character and redemptive plan — not to fuel speculation. For believers, the focus should remain on the clear teaching of the Bible, which leads us to trust God, follow Christ, and live for His glory.
Bible Verses About Numbers and Symbolism in Scripture
Genesis 7:2, "Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate."
Exodus 20:11, "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
Numbers 14:34, "According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure."
Deuteronomy 32:8, "When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God."
Joshua 6:4, "Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets."
Matthew 18:21–22, "Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"
Matthew 28:16, "Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them."
Revelation 1:20, "As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."
Revelation 5:1, "Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals."
Revelation 13:18, "This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666."
