In the context of the Bible, the term "counts" can refer to various concepts, including the act of counting, the significance of numbers, and the moral or spiritual evaluation of actions and individuals. The Bible often uses numbers symbolically and practically, and counting is a recurring theme in both the Old and New Testaments.

Counting in the Old Testament

1. Census and Genealogies: The act of counting people is evident in the censuses recorded in the Old Testament. For instance, the Book of Numbers derives its name from the censuses of the Israelites. Numbers 1:2-3 states, "Take a census of the whole congregation of the Israelites by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years old or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army." These censuses were crucial for organizing the tribes and preparing for military endeavors.

2. Symbolic Numbers: Numbers often carry symbolic meanings. For example, the number seven is associated with completeness and perfection, as seen in the seven days of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). The number forty is another significant number, often representing periods of testing or judgment, such as the forty days and nights of rain during the flood (Genesis 7:12) and the forty years of Israel's wandering in the desert (Numbers 14:33-34).

3. Moral and Spiritual Evaluation: The concept of counting is also used metaphorically to describe God's evaluation of human actions. In Psalm 90:12 , Moses prays, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." This verse emphasizes the importance of recognizing the brevity of life and living wisely in accordance with God's will.

Counting in the New Testament

1. Parables and Teachings of Jesus: Jesus often used numbers in His parables to convey spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, He speaks of a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to find the one that is lost (Luke 15:4-7). This illustrates God's concern for each individual and His desire for repentance and salvation.

2. The Cost of Discipleship: Jesus also uses the concept of counting in teaching about the cost of discipleship. In Luke 14:28 , He says, "Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?" This highlights the importance of understanding the commitment required to follow Him.

3. Divine Accounting: The New Testament speaks of God's ultimate accounting of human deeds. In Revelation 20:12 , John describes the final judgment: "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books." This passage underscores the belief that God keeps a record of human actions and will judge each person accordingly.

Conclusion

The concept of counting in the Bible serves both practical and symbolic purposes. It is used to organize and manage the people of God, to convey spiritual truths, and to remind believers of the importance of living a life accountable to God. Through counting, the Scriptures teach lessons about God's order, the significance of each individual, and the ultimate judgment that awaits humanity.2803. chashab -- to think, account
... root Definition to think, account NASB Word Usage accounting (1), calculate (5),
composed (1), consider (3), considered (13), counted (1), counts (1), designer ...
/hebrew/2803.htm - 6k

5608. saphar -- to count, recount, relate
... Word Origin denominative verb from sepher Definition to count, recount, relate NASB
Word Usage assigned (1), count (17), counted (6), counts (2), declare (6 ...
/hebrew/5608.htm - 6k

4487. manah -- to count, number, reckon
... root Definition to count, number, reckon NASB Word Usage appoint (1), appointed
(9), count (3), counted (2), counts (1), destine (1), muster (1), number (4 ...
/hebrew/4487.htm - 6k

He Received the Same Honors from the Counts and Other Officers as ...
... Book IV. Chapter LXVII."He received the same Honors from the Counts and
other Officers as before his Death. The military officers ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter lxvii he received the same.htm

Doing Something Worth While
... We all like to feel that what we are doing counts for something, that it is really
worth while. ... is it only those things that the world counts great? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk eleven doing something worth.htm

The Sifting Time, 1743-1750.
... At Herrnhaag they had turned the Church into a business concern! Instead of paying
rent to the Counts of Isenburg, they now had the Counts in their power. ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter viii the sifting time.htm

Our Status.
... And thus his status is determined by his king; and in it he is accounted not
according to what he is, but what his king counts him to be. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxi our status.htm

The Pilgrim Band, 1736-1743.
... castles, called Ronneburg and Marienborn. The owners of the estate, the Counts
of Isenberg, had fallen on hard times. They were deep in ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter vii the pilgrim band.htm

Ill-Temper
... But it is an instance of misconception as to the nature of sin that with most men
this counts for nothing; although in those whose defalcation is in the lower ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/the ideal life/ill-temper.htm

Of the Prohibition of Adultery in the Decalogue.
... religious regard toward parents second (only to that) toward God, (that Law) laid,
as the next substratum in strengthening and fortifying such counts, no other ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter v of the prohibition of.htm

The Common Conception among the Dregs of Darwinian Culture is that ...
... The whole story is told in the single title of Counts of the Holy Roman Empire,
which merely means officers in the European army against the contemporary ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 15 the common conception.htm

Letters of the Council of Sardica to the Churches of Egypt and of ...
... had come up to the Council, were afraid to do this; but, while all besides met with
honest intentions, they again brought with them the Counts [589] Musonianus ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/chapter iii letters of the council.htm

Whether Suffrages Offered for one Deceased Person Profit the ...
... person. Now where one satisfies for a living person the satisfaction counts
only for the person for whom it is offered. Therefore ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether suffrages offered for one.htm

Counts (15 Occurrences)
...Counts (15 Occurrences). ... (WEY). Romans 4:6 Even as David also pronounces blessing
on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works, (WEB). ...
/c/counts.htm - 10k

Couple (19 Occurrences)

/c/couple.htm - 14k

Useless (47 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Romans 4:14 For if it is the righteous through Law who are heirs, then
faith is useless and the promise counts for nothing. (WEY YLT). ...
/u/useless.htm - 19k

Occasions (8 Occurrences)
... KJV WBS). Job 33:10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me
for his enemy. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). Zechariah ...
/o/occasions.htm - 8k

Loss (90 Occurrences)
... shall be no "loss" of life from the storm); zemia, "loss" (Acts 27:21, referring
to the harm sustained in the storm; Philippians 3:7, where Paul counts all his ...
/l/loss.htm - 37k

Law-breaker (3 Occurrences)
... Romans 2:25 Circumcision does indeed profit, if you obey the Law; but if you are
a Law-breaker, the fact that you have been circumcised counts for nothing. ...
/l/law-breaker.htm - 7k

Guilt (180 Occurrences)
... It is not ritual correctness that counts with God, incense and sacrifices and new
moons and Sabbaths, but to cease to do evil, to learn to do well (Isaiah 1 ...
/g/guilt.htm - 46k

Gain (142 Occurrences)
... 3:7, in the former, Paul asserting that to him to die was a personal advantage,
because then he would "be with Christ"; in the latter, he counts as "loss" his ...
/g/gain.htm - 39k

Game (11 Occurrences)
... points are game. 6. (vi) In some games, a point credited on the score to
the player whose cards counts up the highest. 7. (n.) A ...
/g/game.htm - 10k

Invents (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Invents (1 Occurrence). Job 33:10 Behold, he finds
occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy. (See NAS). ...
/i/invents.htm - 6k

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