Topical Encyclopedia The number 12 holds significant symbolic and theological importance throughout the Bible, often representing completeness, divine authority, and governance. It appears in various contexts, both in the Old and New Testaments, and is frequently associated with God's chosen people and His divine order.Old Testament References 1. Twelve Tribes of Israel: The most prominent occurrence of the number 12 in the Old Testament is the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel). These tribes form the foundation of the nation of Israel. Genesis 49 details Jacob's blessings to his sons, who become the patriarchs of the tribes. The division of the land among these tribes is described in the Book of Joshua. 2. Twelve Stones: In Joshua 4:1-9, twelve stones are taken from the Jordan River to serve as a memorial for the Israelites' crossing into the Promised Land. Each stone represents one of the tribes of Israel. 3. Priestly Garments: The high priest's breastplate, as described in Exodus 28:15-21, contains twelve stones, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel. This symbolizes the priest's role in representing the entire nation before God. 4. Solomon's Administration: King Solomon organized his kingdom into twelve districts, each overseen by an official responsible for providing provisions for the king's household (1 Kings 4:7). This structure reflects the administrative completeness and order of his reign. New Testament References 1. Twelve Apostles: Jesus Christ chose twelve apostles to be His closest followers and to carry on His ministry after His ascension. This choice reflects the continuity and fulfillment of God's covenant with Israel, as the apostles are seen as the foundation of the Church. Matthew 10:1-4 lists the names of the twelve apostles. 2. Twelve Baskets: In the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, twelve baskets of leftover fragments are collected after everyone has eaten (Matthew 14:20). This abundance signifies God's provision and the completeness of His care. 3. Heavenly Jerusalem: The Book of Revelation describes the New Jerusalem with twelve gates, each made of a single pearl, and twelve foundations, each inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles (Revelation 21:12-14). This imagery underscores the perfection and eternal nature of God's kingdom. 4. Twelve Stars: In Revelation 12:1, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head, represents Israel and the fulfillment of God's promises through the Messiah. Symbolic Significance The number 12 is often seen as a symbol of God's authority and the establishment of His kingdom. It represents the idea of divine government and order, as seen in the organization of Israel and the Church. The recurrence of the number 12 in both the Old and New Testaments highlights the continuity of God's plan and His faithfulness to His people. Topical Bible Verses Revelation 12:1-17And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars: Topicalbible.org Greek 3793. ochlos -- a crowd, multitude, the common people ... along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot -- company, multitude, number (of people ... (ochlo) -- 12 Occurrences. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3793.htm - 8k 3756. ou, ouk, ouch -- not, no 5064. tessares -- four 1325. didomi -- to give (in various senses lit. or fig.) 846. autos -- (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the ... 4183. polus -- much, many Strong's Hebrew 8147. shenayim -- two (a cardinal number)... number) NASB Word Usage 1,052* (2), 1,222* (1), 112* (3), 12* (2), 12,000* (8), 120,000* (1), 122* (2), 172* (1), 2,172* (2), 2,322* (1), 2,812* (1), 20,000* (2 ... /hebrew/8147.htm - 7k 7230. rob -- multitude, abundance, greatness 5315. nephesh -- a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire ... 6485. paqad -- to attend to, visit, muster, appoint 7969. shalosh -- a three, triad Library That the Romans Added a Vast Number of Gods to those Introduced by ... Number Index Many Tumults under Cumanus, which were Composed by Quadratus. ... Number, 48, 49 1 Thessalonians v. 12, 13 John Chapter ii. 21-Dec Proofs in Continuation, Extracted from St. John's Gospel the ... The Doctrine of Angels. Grecian Literature, and the Roman Empire. John Chapter xxi. 12-19. Resources The: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics the Epistle of Paul To Philemon the First Epistle General Of John The Kingdom or Church of Christ the Second and Third Epistles Of John Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
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