Seven has long been regarded as a sacred number with strong spiritual and numerological symbolism in several cultures. It is also closely connected to the Bible, as it appears multiple times throughout the scriptures. Indeed, this number is often referred to as ‘God’s Perfect Number’, and has been tied to many important Biblical stories and events.
For example, according to Genesis 6:3, God decreed that the Great Flood would last seven days. This seven-day period, known as ‘The Days of Noah’, is a clear reference to the importance of the number. Similarly, Leviticus 25:4 states that “For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops” and on the seventh year the people of Israel were instructed to give the land a rest. This, of course, was an important moment in the Bible, as it was the first Sabbath.
Additionally, the number seven often appears in the Ten Commandments. It is the number of words with which God himself begins the text of this law book, which is highly significant. The same is true for the Seven Feasts of Israel, which were also decreed by God in Leviticus 23. Of these feasts, three were classified as Sabbaths and were meant to be days of rest.
Another important moment in the Bible involves the number seven, is the story of Joshua crossing the Jordan river. The scripture declares that the Lord commanded Joshua to have seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark and the passage of priests, who marched around the city once per day for seven days. This was a declaration of God’s protection over them.
Perhaps one of the most important and meaningful connections between seven and the Bible can be found in the book of Revelations. This book is filled with visions, prophecies and descriptions of the End Times. One such vision is the seven sealed scroll carried by a powerful, angelic being. It then must be opened by Christ, who is described as the Lamb, in order to reveal the events of the End of Days.
When it comes to numerology, seven stands out as a particularly potent force. It is oftentimes considered a symbol of completeness, seeing as it contains a number that is both a prime number and one of the perfect numbers. This means that seven represents a perfect formula of the elements of the physical world, and can therefore be interpreted to denote the union of physical and spiritual, the integration of man and universe.
Symbolism of Seven in the Old Testament
Another area of the Bible where seven is a common motif is the Old Testament, or Torah. This is the first of the Bible ’s five books, and it contains several stories with seven as a core element. Take for instance the story of the Tower of Babel, in which the Lord had punished mankind for building the tower by confusing their speech, so that they did not understand each other.
This story is interesting in relation to seven, because it implies that the number can be a sign of embarrassment and punishment, representing a lack of control and understanding. This concept can be further seen in the Book of Job, in which Job is made to suffer sevenfold punishments for his sins. In this case too, the number seven seems to point to something uncomfortable and chaotic.
In another story, the story of salvation of Noah and his family in the Ark, the number seven also holds perennial relevance. In the story, Noah must adhere to God’s commandments and bring aboard seven pairs of clean animals and birds, while the rest of the pairs must stay outside. This symbolism is clear; the life inside the Ark is saved from the doomed world, while the rest is left to be destroyed.
Symbolism of Seven in the New Testament
The New Testament, or the Christian Gospels, also contains stories that feature seven prominently. To start with, there is the parable of the seven virgins, in which Jesus draws a parallel between the five wise virgins who were ready for the bridegroom and the five foolish ones who were not. By the believers being prepared for Christ’s return at the End of Days, it is the wise ones who will be taken in and the rest who will stay behind.
Next, Jesus himself often used the number seven. For instance, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus states, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”. This “blessed are” are seven statements, making that sermon particularly meaningful.
Similarly, Jesus is said to have instituted seven different types of healings. These seven healing acts, as mentioned in the Gospels, included healing of blindness, deafness, dumbness, leprosy, devils, fever, and death. This serves to show how Jesus had practiced mercy, compassion and healing over suffering, and how he was able to tap into a powerful source of spiritual energy to bring about healing and restoration.
Mystical Interpretation of Seven
It is difficult to go into the full, elaborate metaphysical explanation for why seven is such an important number in spiritual kingdoms. What we can say with certainty is that seven is a powerful symbol of balance, harmony and perfection. The scriptures point to the number seven representing a foundation from which a new phase of life can emerge.
It is also widely accepted that this number contains its own forms of energy and power, being a union of different elements which in turn have an effect on our physical and spiritual world. As such, it can be interpreted to mean both a spiritual opening and the potential for the creation of something new.
Seven’s References and Allusions in Modern Culture
Seven is a pervasive figure in modern culture and can be found in many contexts in films, books, art, music, and other media. It has also come to be associated with luck, with the phrase “lucky seven” commonly used to mean luck and probability. Seven is also often seen in dreams, being associated with intuition and intuition. While the interpretations of these dreams vary, there is typically a feeling that something significant and mysterious is about to happen.
In the world of music, there is a long list of songs dedicated to the number seven. These range from songs by Genesis (“The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway), Stevie Wonder (“Superstition”), and Kanye West (“Power”). These songs often explore the idea of the power of seven, or how the number plays a role in something special and unique.
Furthermore, seven plays an important role in various religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, where the number is associated with enlightenment and inner peace. Similarly, in Taoism, seven is associated with the cycle of life and death, and its presence is seen in its symbol of a cycle of seven stars in its philosophy.
Relationship to Holistic Healing
Finally, seven has strong resonances with the field of holistic healing. It is associated with the seven chakras, which are considered the life-force energy centers of the body. Each chakra is associated with a specific area of the body, and in practice it is said that understanding and activating the power of the seven chakras can supposedly lead to spiritual fulfillment and balance.
Similarly, seven has also been used to denote the law of vibration. This is a law of natural philosophy which states that all things in the material world vibrate at certain frequencies. According to this theorem, all things in the universe possess a set of seven natural vibrations, which are the foundation for all physical events.
Seven in Astrology
In astrology, the number seven is closely linked to the seven visible planets, which are the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. These seven planets form the basis of the twelve zodiac signs and are said to represent the energy which each individual brings into the world from their own unique experience of life.
In addition to this, the number seven is also connected to the seven stars of the Pleiades. These stars have been associated with prophetic messages and powerful transformations of the soul, and are believed to open a person up to new spiritual opportunities.
The number seven is thus a powerful and mysterious one, filled with spiritual, numerological and symbolic significance. Indeed, it has been associated with a number of important stories and events throughout the Bible and spiritual literature, and its vast meaning can be analyzed and interpreted through its references in modern culture and holistic healing.
