0 What The Bible says about Seven

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

Seven

Seven is God's favorite number

At least it seems that way judging from the way it is used in the Bible. Here are some examples:

God rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth.

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Genesis 2:2

God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Genesis 2:3

God set put a mark on Cain and said that whoever took vengeance on him would be punished sevenfold.

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. Genesis 4:15

And Lamech said that whoever avenged him for killing a man, would be punished seventy seven times.

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. Genesis 4:24

God told Noah to take the clean beasts on the ark by sevens.

Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. Genesis 7:2-3
(Well, sometimes he said by twos.)

During the flood of Noah, God made it rain for seven days.

Genesis

Jacob served Laban for seven years to get Rachel for a wife. (It actually turned out to be fourteen.)

And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. Genesis 29:18

Laban chased after Jacob for seven days after Jacob and his family ran way.

He [Laban] took his brethren with him [Jacob], and pursued after him seven days' journey. Genesis 31:23

Jacob bowed seven times when meeting his brother Esau.

And he [Jacob] passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother [Esau]. Genesis 33:3

Jacob dreamed about seven fat and seven skinny cows.

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. Genesis 42:2=3

The Pharaoh dreamed about seven heads of grain.

An he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. Genesis 41:5

There were seven good years and seven years of famine in Egypt. (As predicted by the Pharaoh's dream.)

Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

And there shall arise after them seven years of famine Genesis 41:29-30

Unleavened bread is to be eaten for seven days during Passover.

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread. Exodus 12:15

There will be seven lamps in the tabernacle.

And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof. Exodus 25:37

Priests are to dip their fingers in the blook and sprinkle it seven times in front of God.

And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD. Leviticus 4:6, 4:17

A woman is unclean for seven days after she has a baby boy.

If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days. Leviticus 12:2

Those diagnosed with Leprosy are shut up for seven days.

If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days. Leviticus 13:4

In God's cure for leprosy, the blood of a bird is sprinkled on the patient seven times.

[The priest] shall dip ... the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed ... And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose. Leviticus 14:7-8

In the cure for house leprosy, the house is sprinkled seven times with bird blood.

And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. Leviticus 14:51

A man with a running issue out of his flesh is unclean for seven days after he is cleansed of his issue.

And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. Leviticus 15:13

Menstruating women are unclean and must be set apart for seven days.

And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. Leviticus 15:19

A man who has sex with a menstruating woman is unclean for seven days.

And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. Leviticus 15:24

The blood of a bullock is to be sprinkled seven times on the mercy seat with the priest's finger.

And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Leviticus 16:14

If you disobey God he'll punish you seven more times for your sins.

And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. Leviticus 26:18, 21, 24, 28

When Miriam criticized Moses about his Ethiopian wife, God gave her leprosy, and then asked Moses this inciteful question:

And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? Number 12:14

Whoever touches a dead body is unclean for seven days.

He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. Numbers 19:11

Before the Jericho massacre, seven priests blew seven trumpets while walking around the city seven times.

And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.Joshua 6:4

When Elisha stretched himself a dead boy's body, the boy sneezed seven times.

And he [Elisha] went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he ... and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times. 2 Kings 4:34-35

Naaman was cured of leprosy by washing himself seven times in the Jordan River.

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 2 Kings 5:14

Jesus said we must forgive whoever sins against us seventy time seven times.

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22

And seven is a special number in the book of Revelation. There are seven churches, Spirits of God, candlesticks, stars, lamps, seals, horns, eyes, trumpets, angels, thunders, heads, plagues, vials, kings, and beasts.


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