What does the number 5 mean in the Bible?
Biblical numerology suggests that many numbers in the Bible have symbolic meaning, offering a deeper understanding of the scriptures beyond the literal interpretation of the text.
The number 5, in particular, appears often throughout the Old and New Testaments and is often linked to grace, goodness, and God’s favor. So, what does the number 5 mean in the Bible?
This article explores the various ways the number 5 shows up in the Bible, along with the associated meanings and interpretations.
Grace and Favor: The Foundational Meaning of 5
In biblical numerology, the number five is most often associated with grace and favor. In theological terms, grace is understood as unearned or unmerited favor that’s freely given by God.
The frequent appearance of the number five in the Bible is often seen as a symbol of God’s abundant grace in a variety of contexts.
For example, the Old Testament describes five primary types of offerings made to God. These included Burnt offerings, Sin offerings, Trespass offerings, Grain offerings, and Peace offerings. Each of these offerings was seen as a way to find provision and grace from God.
Even the Ten Commandments can be seen through the lens of grace. The first five commandments deal with our relationship with God, while the second set of five concerns how we relate to other people. This balance between law and grace is another example of how the number five can represent God’s character and intentions.
The Pentateuch: Five Books of Law
The first five books of the Old Testament – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy – are known as the Pentateuch (from the Greek for “five books”) or the Torah in Judaism. These books are the foundation of Jewish law and tradition. They explain how God formed a covenant with Israel, promising blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.
These books are crucial for understanding God’s character and His plan for humanity. They tell the story of creation, the fall of humanity, the flood, the call of Abraham, the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, and the journey to the Promised Land.
Some scholars also refer to a “New Testament Pentateuch,” comprised of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the Book of Acts. These books tell the story of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, and the birth of the early church, representing a new covenant between God and humanity.
The Tabernacle: A Structure Reflecting Divine Order
In the Book of Exodus, God gave very specific instructions for building the Tabernacle, a portable place of worship the Israelites could take with them as they wandered through the desert.
What’s interesting is how often the number 5 appears in the Tabernacle’s design. It’s as if God was intentionally weaving this number into the very fabric of their worship space.
For example, the Tabernacle had five curtains, five bars, five pillars, and five sockets. The altar was five cubits long and five cubits wide, and the height of the court was five cubits.
Even the holy anointing oil was comprised of five parts, although in this case, there were four ingredients: 500 shekels of pure myrrh, 250 shekels of sweet cinnamon, 250 shekels of sweet calamus, and 500 shekels of cassia.
The number 5 was clearly important in the design of the Tabernacle, reinforcing the idea that God’s presence and order were central to the Israelites’ lives.
Prophecy and world empires: Daniel’s visions
The Old Testament Book of Daniel is full of prophesies and visions, and one of the most well-known is Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a giant statue made of different metals.
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the number 5
In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar has a troubling dream of a massive statue composed of several different materials: a head of gold, a chest and arms of silver, a belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet made of a mixture of iron and clay. Daniel interprets the dream, explaining that each metal represents a succession of kingdoms that will rise and fall.
While the statue is usually seen as representing four kingdoms, you could also argue that it contains five distinct sections: head, chest/arms, belly/thighs, legs, and feet.
Interpretations and symbolic connections
Many biblical scholars believe that the statue’s metals are symbolic of actual historical kingdoms and that the dream reveals a prophetic timeline. The number five, in this context, could be seen as representing a period of transition or judgment related to these empires.
The broader theme of prophetic periods
Prophetic periods associated with world empires are often linked to specific numbers in the Bible, though the exact relationship between the number five and these periods isn’t necessarily spelled out in the Book of Daniel or other related texts.
Adversaries and Opposition: The Number 5’s Darker Side
While the number 5 is often associated with grace, it’s worth noting that it can also be connected to the adversaries of God.
The Greek word “Antidikos,” meaning adversary, appears five times in the Bible. The word “Antichristos,” or antichrist, occurs five times as well. And the word “Daimon,” which refers to an evil spirit, also appears five times.
Here are those occurrences:
- “Antidikos” (adversary): Luke 18:3, Luke 18:5, Luke 21:15, 1 Timothy 5:14, 1 Peter 5:8
- “Antichristos” (antichrist): 1 John 2:18 (2 times), 1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7
- “Daimon” (evil spirit): Matthew 8:31, Mark 5:12, Luke 8:27, Luke 8:29, Revelation 16:14
It’s important to interpret these instances within their specific biblical contexts. The number 5 in these cases may represent the limits or the eventual defeat of these adversaries.
As with all biblical symbolism, there are different interpretations and points of view. Some scholars believe that focusing too heavily on the negative connotations of numbers can be misleading, and that the overall message of the Bible is one of hope and redemption.
Wrapping Up
The number five shows up in the Bible in many ways, from representing God’s grace and the law given to Moses to connecting with prophecy and the enemies of God’s people. Biblical numerology, the study of the meaning of numbers in the Bible, is a powerful tool for understanding scripture more deeply.
When you study the Bible, it’s important to recognize that it uses a lot of symbolic language. Learning about biblical numerology can help you understand not just what the words say, but what they mean.
If you want to understand the Bible better, keep exploring biblical numerology. But remember, interpreting the Bible is never simple. It takes careful study, prayerful consideration, and a reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide you to the truth.