What Should We Know about the Number 12 in the Bible?
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Have you wondered if numbers repeated in the Bible, like the number 12, have special meaning? God is a god of details. Nothing was written by chance nor recorded simply to reach a word count. If a biblical author penned a number in his writing, he had reason to do so. This is particularly true if the number repeats many times across multiple books of the Bible. This makes Bible study a treasure hunt. We don’t want to miss anything God has for us, including the meaning of the number 12.
Does the Number 12 Have Power By Itself?
Please keep in mind that we are looking for the symbolism of the number, not a mystical meaning.
Vivian Bricker warns that nowhere in Scripture do we find numbers have innate supernatural power. These are not angel numbers or lucky numbers. They simply point to the power and wisdom of God.
That being said, let’s find where the number 12 plays an important role.
Where Do We See 12 in the Bible?
The number 12 is found 187 times in the Bible. Though its usage alone would seem significant, the places we find it in the Old Testament and the New Testament assert its importance and hint at its meaning. Here are twelve instances when the number 12 is used in Scripture.
- Jacob had 12 sons. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin. These 12 sons became the 12 tribes of Israel.
- Moses sent out 12 spies in Numbers 13.
- Elijah built an altar of 12 stones when he called fire down from heaven in 1 Kings 18.
- 12 minor prophets are in the Bible: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
- God specified that 12 unleavened bread cakes be placed weekly in the temple. The priests were commanded to change the bread every Sabbath day (Leviticus 24).
- 24 priestly divisions are specified in Chronicles 24.
- Jesus’s first words are recorded at age 12 when Mary and Joseph found Him in His “Father’s house.”
- Jesus had 12 disciples. Matthias replaced Judas in Acts 1, perhaps demonstrating the importance of 12.
- When Jesus fed the five thousand, 12 baskets were filled with leftovers.
- When Peter cut off the soldier’s ear defending Jesus, Jesus rebuked him, saying He had the power to call down 12 legions of angels (Matthew 26:53).
- The New Jerusalem has 12 gates and 12 foundations (Revelation 21:12-14).
- The tree of life will bear 12 fruit crops 12 times a year (Revelation 22).
The 12 examples above should give us pause concerning the number 12. From the number of the tribes of Israel to the number of talmidim Jesus called to be His inner circle, the number of spies Moses sent into the Promised Land to the number of stones Elijah used to make the altar to prove the power of Yahweh, we see significance to the number 12.
What Does 12 Mean in the Bible?
As noted earlier, the authors of the books of the Bible sometimes highlight numbers to make a deeper symbolic point. As Wellspring Israel and other sources have noted, the number 12 in Hebrew signifies perfect government—God’s government, divine order. Perhaps this is why we see:
- God chose 12 tribes of Israel
- He ordained 24 (12 x 2) priestly divisions.
- The 12 gates and foundations of the New Jerusalem point to His reign.
- The 12 disciples chosen by Christ reveal the rule and authority of Jesus.
Jesus’s response when Peter cut off the soldier’s ear defending his Rabbi underlines his divinity. The Savior told Peter, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” God is in control, and the number 12 testifies to His authority and reign.
Another meaning of 12 you may find when researching this important number is completeness. Other numbers in the Bible also hold this meaning, but in the context of 12, it symbolizes the completeness of the nation of Israel. This stands for the completeness of His governing authority.
What Are Some Other Important Numbers in the Bible?
As stated above, other numbers hold special meaning in the Bible. Several mean completeness—particularly the numbers 3, 7, and 10.
- 3. Jesus prayed 3 times in the Garden of Gethsemane. Darkness covered the land for 3 hours when He hung on the Cross, and it was also the number of days before His resurrection. The number 3 is also found in the Holy Trinity, as well as the number of fathers of the Jewish faith, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a number meaning completion, wholeness, and perfection.
- 7. The number’s most notable appearance in the Bible is the story of creation. God took six days to complete His masterpiece, and on the seventh day, He rested. God could have made the length of a week any number, but He designed the length of our weeks to be 7 days. And on the seventh day, the world was complete and perfect.
- 10. The number 10 also shares the meaning of completeness and perfection demonstrated in the number of the commandments written on the stone tablets. Also, a tithe is a tenth of our earnings given to the Lord, demonstrating our complete trust and worship.
- 40. Often considered a period of testing or probation, “Significant Numbers in Judaism” explains it is also seen as a time of radical transformation. The flood lasted 40 days. Jesus was tempted in the desert for 40 days, and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. After this period, life changed. The Israelites entered the Promised Land. The earth now received rain. Animals feared man. After Jesus’s time in the desert, His ministry and authority were established. Forty is definitely a significant number. I keep this in mind while waiting for God to fulfill his promises.
What Can We Learn from the Fact 12 Has a Special Meaning in the Bible?
So, what do we do with this knowledge? What do we learn from the fact that numbers hold meaning in God’s Word and that the number 12 signifies God’s control and reign? Perhaps the most significant thing we can take away from this knowledge is nothing in Scripture is random or incomplete. God is a God of details, all pointing to His wisdom and power.
The meaning of 12 symbolizes His government and authority and should encourage us as the world seems spinning out of control. Though we’re living in the middle of the now and not yet, the New Jerusalem not on this earth with its twelve foundations and twelve gates, we know God is not finished.
Ultimately, the meaning of the numbers in the Bible, especially the number 12, point to hope. As I write this article during December, the significance of our celebration during the twelfth month can mean even more to me because this is the month we worship the birth of the King prophesied by Isaiah.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 6:9)
“The Government will be on His shoulders.” Praise the Lord. As we celebrate Christ’s birth and recognize the symbolism of 12, may we remember that His reign starts in us. We are to seek His Kingdom, righteousness, holiness, and will for our lives. One day, those of us who have made Him King will bow before His throne, worshiping Him with the angels and 24 elders bowed before Him. And we will sing:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
Prayer for God’s Reign in Our Lives
His reign starts in our hearts. That reign is a simple prayer away.
“King of Kings and Lord of Lords, please govern my life. Jesus, I repent of my sin. I’m not holy like you. I need your grace. I need your wisdom, and I want you to be in control. Help me seek your Kingdom more than my own. You are perfect. You make me complete. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, God, for your wisdom and your ways. Holy Spirit, have your way. Reign in my life today and forever. Amen.”
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/papparaffie
Andy Lee is an event speaker, blogger, YouTuber, and award winning author of three books, A Mary Like Me; The Book of Ruth Key-Word Bible Study, and Radiant Influence: How an ordinary girl changed the world. She passionately teaches how to find life in God's Word in order to live abundantly. You can catch her life giving messages weekly on Instagram and YouTube. She also provides monthly Bible reading plans and articles on her website www.wordsbyandylee.
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