Know the Text
☰
⌕

Reading as Seek: to learn Scripture and its teachings. Same facts, warmer framing.

Topic

Seven

132 passages cited, from 4 classic reference works.

These works date from 1884–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.

The verses

The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.

Show 120 more

In the reference works

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 42 references

This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen. 2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. “Jacob’s seven years’ service to Laban; Pharaoh’s seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days’ siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number” (see Lev. 25:4; 1 Sam. 2:5; Ps. 12:6; 79:12; Prov. 26:16; Isa. 4:1; Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke 17:4). The feast of Passover (Ex. 12:15, 16), the feast of Weeks (Deut. 16:9), of Tabernacles (13:15), and the Jubilee (Lev. 25:8), were all ordered by seven. Seven is the number of sacrifice (2 Chr. 29:21; Job 42:8), of purification and consecration (Lev. 42:6, 17; 8:11, 33; 14:9, 51), of forgiveness (Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke 17:4), of reward (Deut. 28:7; 1 Sam. 2:5), and of punishment (Lev. 26:21, 24, 28; Deut. 28:25). It is used for any round number in such passages as Job 5:19; Prov. 26:16, 25; Isa. 4:1; Matt. 12:45. It is used also to mean “abundantly” (Gen. 4:15, 24; Lev. 26:24; Ps. 79:12).

Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 2 references
The frequent recurrence of certain numbers in the sacred literature of the Hebrews is obvious to the most superficial reader, but seven so far surpasses the rest, both in the frequency with which it recurs and in the importance of the objects with which it is associated, that it may fairly be termed the representative symbolic number. The influence of the number seven was not restricted to the Hebrews; it prevailed among the Persians, ancient Indians, Greeks and Romans. The peculiarity of the Hebrew view consists in the special dignity of the seventh, and not simply in that of seen. The Sabbath being the seventh day suggested the adoption of seven as the coefficient, so to say, for their appointment of all sacred periods; and we thus find the 7th month ushered in by the Feast of Trumpets, and signalized by the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Great Day of Atonement; 7 weeks as the interval between the Passover and the Pentecost; the 7th year as the sabbatical year; and the year: succeeding 7X7 years as the Jubilee year. Seven days were appointed as the length of the feasts of Passover and Tabernacles; 7 days for the ceremonies of the consecration of priests, and so on; 7 victims to be offered on any special occasion, as in Balaam’s sacrifice. (Numbers 23:1) and especially at the ratification of a treaty, the notion of seven being embodied in the very term signifying to swear, literally meaning to do seven times. (Genesis 31:28) Seven is used for any round number, or for completeness, as we say a dozen, or as a speaker says he will say two or three words.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 0 references

sev'-'-n (shebha`; hepta).

See NUMBER.

In the topical indexes

Nave's Topical Bible (1896) · 112 references, grouped by sub-topic
  • → Interesting facts concerning this number
  • → DAYS
    • Week consists of Ge 2:3; Ex 20:11; De 5:13,14
    • Noah in the ark before the great flood for Ge 7:4,10
    • Noah remains in the ark after sending forth the dove for Ge 8:10,12
    • Mourning for Jacob lasted for Ge 50:10
    • The sympathy for Job by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar for Job 2:13
    • The plague of bloody waters in Egypt lasted for Ex 7:25
    • The Israelites encircled Jericho for Jos 6:4
    • The Passover lasted for Ex 12:15
    • Saul directed by Samuel to stay at Gilgal awaiting the prophet' s command for 1Sa 10:8; 13:8
    • The elders of Jabesh-gilead ask for a truce of 1Sa 11:3
    • Dedication of the temple lasted double 1Ki 8:65
    • Ezekiel sits by the Chebar River in astonishment for Eze 3:15
    • The Feast of Tabernacles lasted for Le 23:34,42
    • The consecration of priests and altars lasted for Ex 29:30,35; Eze 43:25,26
    • Defilements lasted for Le 12:2; 13:4
    • Fasts of 1Sa 31:13; 2Sa 12:16,18,22
    • The firstborn of flocks and sheep must remain with their mothers, before being offered Ex 22:30
    • The feast of Ahasuerus continued for Es 1:5
    • Paul waits at Tyre for Ac 21:4
    • Paul stays at Puteoli for Ac 28:14
  • → WEEKS
    • In Daniel' s vision concerning the coming of the Messiah for Da 9:25
    • Ten times for Da 9:24
    • The period between the Passover Feast and the Feast of Pentecost Le 23:15
  • → MONTHS
  • → YEARS
  • → MISCELLANY OF SEVENS

Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.

Report a problem

Found something wrong, unsourced or unfair? Tell us; every report is read. Please don’t include personal information.

↑