The number thirty-three holds significance in various contexts within the Bible, often symbolizing a period of promise, fulfillment, or divine intervention. While not as frequently mentioned as other numbers, its occurrences are noteworthy and carry theological implications.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Reign of King David: One of the most prominent mentions of the number thirty-three is in relation to King David. According to 2 Samuel 5:4-5 , "David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah." David's reign in Jerusalem for thirty-three years signifies a period of consolidation and unification of the tribes of Israel under a single monarchy, marking a time of prosperity and divine favor.

2. Levitical Cities: In the allocation of cities to the Levites, the number thirty-three appears in the context of the cities given to the descendants of Merari. According to Joshua 21:40 , "All these were the cities of the Merarite clans, the rest of the Levites, with their allotment of twelve cities." When combined with the other Levitical cities, the total comes to forty-eight, but the specific mention of thirty-three in the broader context of Levitical cities highlights the structured and divinely ordained distribution of land among the tribes.

Symbolic Interpretations

In biblical numerology, the number thirty-three is often associated with the promises of God. It is seen as a number that represents the fulfillment of God's covenantal promises and the manifestation of His divine plan. The reign of David, a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), for thirty-three years in Jerusalem can be viewed as a period where God's promises to Israel were being realized through a stable and righteous leadership.

Theological Reflections

From a theological perspective, the number thirty-three can be seen as a symbol of Christ's earthly ministry. Although the Bible does not explicitly state Jesus' age at the time of His crucifixion, tradition holds that He was thirty-three years old. This association with Jesus' life and ministry further underscores the number's connection to divine fulfillment and the completion of God's redemptive work through Christ.

Conclusion

While the number thirty-three does not appear frequently in the Bible, its occurrences are significant and imbued with meaning. Whether in the context of King David's reign or the allocation of Levitical cities, thirty-three serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the unfolding of His divine purposes throughout biblical history.4999. taberne -- "hut," a tavern, spec. Treis Tabernai, "Three ...
... tab-er'-nahee) Short Definition: taverns Definition: taverns; Three Taverns, the
name of a village or town on the Appian Way, about thirty-three miles from Rome ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4999.htm - 6k7969. shalosh -- a three, triad
... 64,300* (1), 7,337* (2), 743* (2), 973* (2), forks* (1), oftentimes* (1), third
(11), thirteen* (12), thirteenth* (11), thirty (2), thirty-three* (7), three ...
/hebrew/7969.htm - 7k

7970. sheloshim -- thirty
... thirty-ninth* (3), thirty-one* (3), thirty-second* (2), thirty-seven* (4),
thirty-seventh* (3), thirty-six* (1), thirty-sixth* (1), thirty-three* (7), thirty ...
/hebrew/7970.htm - 6k

Paul's Persuasion
... TALK THIRTY-THREE. PAUL'S PERSUASION. Paul uses the term "persuaded" in
the sense of assurance. When he said that he was persuaded ...
/.../naylor/heart talks/talk thirty-three pauls persuasion.htm

The Disciple, -- what is the Meaning and Purpose of the Cross...
... At the moment when by My baptism I took the cross upon My shoulders for the sake
of sinners, heaven was opened, and by means of My thirty-three years bearing ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/singh/at the masters feet/section i the disciple 5.htm

The First vision "On Earth"
... Lord into the air to meet His Church, and His coming unto the Earth with His Church,
in power and great glory, may correspond to the thirty-three years between ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the first vision on earth.htm

The Removal of Joseph's Father with all his Family, to Him, on ...
... Dinah. These are thirty-three. ... Arad. These fourteen added to the
thirty-three before enumerated, amount to the number forty-seven. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 the removal of.htm

The Heavenly Banquet.
... And when He came, there was no "Let there be," and it was done, but there were
thirty-three years spent on earth, and there were the laborious ministry, the ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lvii the heavenly banquet.htm

[Endnotes]
... "Ecc. Hist." icx. [26:3] He lived, therefore, about thirty-three years.
According to Malto Brun ("Universal Geography," book xxii ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/endnotes.htm

Early Mentions of Christianity in Britain. --King Lucius. --Origin ...
... it is in fact large[28]. Thirty-two or thirty-three bishops, in all, signed
the decrees of the Council. Of these, seven were from ...
/.../lecture ii early mentions of.htm

Chapter xlvi
... The total number of his sons and his daughters was thirty-three. ... Yet, perhaps,
he may be counted in on the first group of thirty-three. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlvi.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Title Page. PREFACE. BOOK I. Containing The Interval Of Three Thousand Eight Hundred
And Thirty-Three Years. From The Creation To The Death Of Isaac. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Heart Talks
... BEING EASILY ENTREATED. TALK THIRTY-TWO. FOLLOWING "WHITHERSOEVER". TALK
THIRTY-THREE. PAUL'S PERSUASION. TALK THIRTY-FOUR. IN CHRIST AND IN EPHESUS. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/

Thirty-three (7 Occurrences)
Thirty-three. Thirty-sixth, Thirty-three. Thirty-two . Multi-Version
Concordance Thirty-three (7 Occurrences). Genesis ...
/t/thirty-three.htm - 8k

Kohath (30 Occurrences)
... He came down to Egypt with Jacob, and lived to the age of one hundred and
thirty-three years (Exodus 6:18). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. KOHATH; KOHATHITES ...
/k/kohath.htm - 18k

Ruling (123 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 5:5 Ruling over Judah in Hebron for seven years and six months, and in
Jerusalem, over all Israel and Judah, for thirty-three years. (BBE). ...
/r/ruling.htm - 37k

Thirty-two (15 Occurrences)
Thirty-two. Thirty-three, Thirty-two. This . Multi-Version Concordance
Thirty-two (15 Occurrences). ... Thirty-three, Thirty-two. This . Reference Bible.
/t/thirty-two.htm - 10k

Reigned (206 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in
Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. ...
/r/reigned.htm - 37k

Hebron (71 Occurrences)
... Exodus 6:18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the
years of the life of Kohath were one hundred thirty-three years. ...
/h/hebron.htm - 41k

Thirty (189 Occurrences)
... All the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three. ... Leviticus 12:4 She
shall continue in the blood of purification thirty-three days. ...
/t/thirty.htm - 39k

Months (65 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in
Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. ...
/m/months.htm - 28k

Kohath's (3 Occurrences)
... Exodus 6:18 And the sons of Kohath: Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Uzziel: and the
years of Kohath's life were a hundred and thirty-three. (BBE NAS). ...
/k/kohath's.htm - 7k

Numbered (209 Occurrences)
... Genesis 46:15 All these, together with his daughter Dinah, were the children of
Leah, whom Jacob had by her in Paddan-aram; they were thirty-three in number. ...
/n/numbered.htm - 35k

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