What does 21 mean in the Bible?
Many believers search the Bible for clues to the number 21 and its significance. In the Christian faith, numbers often represent more than just their numerical value. Because the Bible is God’s word, it contains many numbers and their symbolic meaning.
The most obvious example of numerical symbolism in Scripture is the number seven. This holy number occurs in many passages, such as in the seven days of Creation and the seven churches of Revelation. For believers, seven often symbolizes completeness or fulfillment.
But what about the number 21? In the Bible, the number 21 can represent many different concepts. Depending on the Bible passage and context, 21 can mean a multitude of things, including loyalty, independence, and caution.
One interesting example of the symbolic significance of 21 occurs in the Bible’s book of Revelation. In Revelation, chapter 12, verse 1, an “excellent” woman is described with a crown of twelve stars. This symbolizes the 12 tribes of Israel, as well as the 12 apostles in the New Testament. The woman also has a “moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars,” a total of 21. This could represent the union of the Old Testament and the New Testament, a metaphor for the Church.
In some cases, the number 21 may stand for the number of days it took to complete a particular task. For example, in Numbers 33:38, the Bible reports that the Israelites spent 21 days in the wilderness area of Zin while they traveled to the promised land. This may seem like an arbitrary number, but it tells us how long God’s people waited to reach their destination, showing that they could take comfort in God’s provision even while they were in the wilderness.
The Bible also mentions 21 in relation to the Israelites’ 40-year journey, specifically how long it took them to traverse the wilderness and reach the promised land. Again, the number 21 references the time needed for journey completion, highlighting the importance of patience, obedience, and vigilance during the waiting period.
Another possible meaning of 21 in the Bible is loyalty. The book of Numbers tells us that “Moses swore on that day and said, ‘Surely the land on which your feet have trodden will be an inheritance for your children forever, because you have been completely loyal'” (Numbers 36:13). This passage implies that loyalty, symbolized by the number 21, can reap rewards and blessings from God, such as a sure inheritance.
The symbolic significance of the number 21 in the Bible may also relate to independence. There are several times in which God commands the Israelites to perform rituals of the utmost purity during their wanderings in the wilderness. Of these rituals, Numbers 19:9 says that the Israelites should “purify the clean person on the third day and on the seventh day, and so purify him on the seventh day.” This could relate to the importance of self-determination and personal autonomy since it took twenty-one days to complete the purification process, a significant amount of time.
Finally, the number 21 can symbolize caution in the Bible. In Exodus 22:1, the Lord commands: “You shall not take a widow’s garment as a pledge.” This commandment implies that one should act with caution and mindfulness when dealing with the vulnerable and the needy, and the number 21 may be a reminder of this.
What does 21 mean in regards to sacrifice?
Sacrifices play an important role in the Bible, and the number 21 can be used to symbolize the act of giving up something of value. In the book of Leviticus, God commanded the Israelites to offer sacrifices to atone for their sins. Of these instructions, Leviticus 7:17 states that some sacrifices should be offered “for a peace offering, for an elevation offering, or for a sin offering, for each bull, for each ram, or for their respective portions.” The number 21 may have been used to represent the frequency and importance of these offerings.
The Bible also provides a number of instances in which animals were sacrificed for special occasions, such as festivals or times of prayer. An example of this occurs in Numbers 15:3-9, which details the offering of a goat for sin. This passage further reinforces the idea that sacrificing something of value is an important expression of faith, and the number 21 may be a reference to this.
The symbolic meaning of 21 in the Bible is also related to obedience and respect. In Exodus 29:38, God says that “the burnt offering and the grain offering shall be offered morning by morning continually.” This indicates that sacrifices must be completed faithfully and on a regular basis, echoing the idea that the number 21 acts as a reminder of obedience to the Lord.
The Bible also suggests that 21 could be used to reference a holy calling. In Numbers 18:7, God says that “you and your sons shall perform all that I have commanded you.” This passage could be interpreted to mean that 21 is a reminder to respond quickly and faithfully when God calls to us.
What does 21 mean in regards to guidance and protection?
As well as representing sacrifices and obedience, the number 21 can also be used to signify guidance and protection. In other words, 21 could be a reminder of God’s power to provide direction and protection for those who put their faith in Him.
For example, in Numbers 21:33-34, God commands that “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” This passage implies that trusting in the Lord can help us find our way through life’s obstacles and receive His divine protection. The number 21 may be a symbolic reference to this idea.
In some Bible passages, 21 may be used to symbolize the love of God for His people. In Numbers 14:19-20, God promises to always love His people and to protect them from harm. This passage may be interpreted to mean that 21 serves as an assurance of God’s steadfast love.
The same concept is echoed in Isaiah 54:10-11, which states that the Lord will be with us like the eagle that protects its young. Again, this shows that the Lord will never forsake us and will always come to our aid. The number 21 may represent this idea of divine protection and guidance.
Finally, 21 may be symbolic of repentance and turning to God. In Numbers 6:22-26, God says: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” This passage could be interpreted to mean that by repenting and turning to God, we can receive His blessings and favor. The number 21 may symbolize the journey of repentance and returning to God.
What does 21 mean in regards to prayer?
The number 21 can also be used to represent prayer and turning to God in a time of need. The Bible states that prayer is a powerful act, and specifically mentions the number 21 when discussing this concept.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says that “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” This suggests that by turning to God in prayer, we can receive His forgiveness and blessings. It is possible that the number 21 was included in this passage to signify the importance of prayer and supplication.
Additionally, Ecclesiastes 7:20 indicates that prayer can help us live good and righteous lives. This passage states that “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.” In light of this fact, the author encourages us to “complete the number of your days in righteousness.” The number 21 may be a reminder to pray and seek God’s grace and mercy.
The Bible also references 21 in relation to fasting and humility. Daniel 9:3 states that “I set my face toward the Lord God to make petition by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.” In other words, fasting is an act of humility which can help us to be heard by God and experience His power. The number 21 may symbolize how fasting brings us closer to God and helps us receive His mercy.
Finally, the Bible uses the number 21 in reference to prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord. Psalm 50:23 encourages us to offer up thanksgiving and praise to the Lord, and to call upon Him when we are in need. The number 21 may be a reminder of this act of faith and devotion.
What does 21 mean in regards to love and forgiveness?
Finally, the number 21 can also be used to symbolize love and forgiveness in the Bible. In many situations, God commands those who are in sin to repent and ask for forgiveness.
For example, in Numbers 15:32-34, the Lord commands that a man who did not observe the Sabbath must be brought to the camp, and that the entire congregation must stone him to death. They do this in an effort to cleanse the camp of iniquity. In essence, they use the number 21 to communicate the importance of repentance and forgiveness.
Other passages focus more directly on the concept of love and forgiveness. In Luke 15:20, Jesus says that the prodigal son “was lost, and is found,” which symbolizes the Lord’s merciful and loving nature. This passage implies that the Lord eagerly awaits us to return home to Him, and the number 21 may be a reminder of that.
The number 21 can also be seen in other passages to symbolize the love that God has for us. For example, Psalm 86:15 states that “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” This suggests that the Lord has an infinite amount of love for all of those who believe in Him, and the number 21 could represent that magnanimous love.
Finally, the Bible includes several stories which emphasize the importance of forgiving those who have wronged us. For example, in the story of Joseph, we learn that Joseph was unjustly thrown into jail by his brothers, yet despite this, he shows mercy and forgives them. In Matthew 18:22, Jesus even says that we should forgive our enemies up to seventy-seven times. This implies that the importance of forgiving is so great that it is worth mentioning multiple times. The number 21 may be a reminder of this truth.
In conclusion, the number 21 is an important symbol of many concepts in the Bible, and its use in Scripture carries many significant meanings. It can represent loyalty, independence, guidance, protection, prayer, love, and forgiveness. In all cases, 21 stands as a reminder of the power of faith and the mercy of God.
