The Meaning Of The Number 3 In The Bible

Numbers are thought to carry a lot of meaning and weight in the Bible. The number 3 is very significant, indeed, as it is mentioned over 450 times in the Bible (via Bible Study). According to the Bible, prior to the story of the great flood and Noah, there were three righteous patriarchs: Abel, Enoch, and Noah. After the flood, there were three righteous fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

There are three words that only appear one time in the scriptures: reverend (Psalms 111:9); eternity (Isaiah 57:15); and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5). Likewise, while the Bible mentions God and his armies of angels, only three of those angels are named: Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer. The Bible takes time to emphasize the dangers of sins of a sexual nature, but there are only really three main places where this happens in the Bible: Romans 1:20-32. 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, and Revelations 2:19-25. 

Three also plays a significant role in future prophecy, a key part of the Bible and, especially, the book of Revelation. In Revelations 8:13, an angel will cry out three woes to warn the people of earth to be ready for more trials to come. Also, the bodies of two murdered witnesses were not to buried, but rather will lie in the open for three days prior to their resurrection.

The New Testament of the Holy Bible begins with the birth of Jesus Christ, whom the Bible calls the son of God. There are many times when the number three plays a key role in the life of Jesus Christ. First of all, there are 27 books in the New Testament. As you might already know, 27 is the multiple of 3 cubed (via Numerology Center). One of the significant moments in Jesus' life was when he was transfigured. This was witnessed by three of his disciples, Peter, John, and James. 

Also, prior to his arrest that led to his crucifixion, Jesus prayed three times. When he was arrested, Jesus was nailed to the cross at the third hour. During the last three hours of his life, while on the cross, the world was covered in darkness. The Bible states that Jesus died at the ninth hour, which would have been 3:00 in the afternoon. Upon his death, he was resurrected three days later. 

Three is also symbolic of God's power in the Bible, as there were only three people in the Bible who could question God. Two of them were from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament and, yes, that was Jesus Christ.