What the Holy Bible Says About the Number 4 and What It Means

The Bible uses the number 4 to mean a lot of different things spiritually. As a sign of creation and completion as well as security, order, and hard work, the number 4 can teach us important lessons and serve as a reminder on our spiritual paths. 

Key takeaways

  • The number 4 stands for birth, completion, and the real world.
  • It stands for security, order, and how important it is to build a strong faith base.
  • There are four things that are linked to the number 4. These are earth, air, fire, and water. There are also four major directions: north, south, east, and west.
  • The Bible uses the number 4 in a number of important places, such as the four Gospels, the living animals in Revelation, the rivers in the Garden of Eden, the different parts of the day, and the seasons.
  • In ancient Hebrew, the number 4 is linked to the letter Dalet, which stands for a door or path. This suggests mental changes and fresh starts.
  • Seeing the number 4 a lot can serve as a reminder to strengthen your faith, remain practical and hardworking, lean on God’s strength, and believe in His plan.
  • The number 4 tells us to enjoy the structure and order in God’s world, trust that He is in charge, and stay rooted in our faith as we work toward our God-given goals.

What the Number 4 Means Spiritually

In the Bible, the number 4 has a lot of different levels of spiritual value. Six symbols stand for different things.

1.Making the world and the physical world: There is a strong connection between the number 4 and how God made the world. In Genesis 1:14–19, it says that God made the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day. The cycle of day and night, time, and the seasons are all controlled by these celestial bodies. They keep the world in divine order. The number 4 stands for the real, physical world we live in.

2.Being Complete and Whole: The Bible uses the number 4 to mean being complete and whole a lot of the time. One example is that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the four gospels that tell the whole story of Jesus’ life and mission. In Revelation, the four living things—the lion, the ox, the man, and the eagle—stand for all of God’s creation and His total rule over everything.

3.The four elements and the cardinal directions are: The four traditional elements are linked to the number 4. These are earth, air, fire, and water. People think of these elements as the building blocks of the universe, and they stand for the different parts of the real world. In the same way, the four cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west—show how total and all-encompassing God’s power and presence are.

4.Divine Order and Arrangement:The four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter) and the eight parts of the day (morning, afternoon, evening, and night) show that God’s world is organized and put together in a way that makes sense. This building shows how wise and in charge God is in making and maintaining the world. The number 4 makes us think about how important it is to have order, security, and a reason for living in our lives.

5.Stability and Foundation: The Bible talks a lot about a foundation or a strong base when it talks about the number 4. In Revelation 21:16, for example, it says that New Jerusalem has four equal sides, which means that it is completely stable and safe. We should base our lives on God’s Word and believe that He will keep His promises. The number 4 reminds us of this.

6.Earth and the Physical Realm: The number 3 is often linked to the spiritual and heavenly realms, while the number 4 stands for earth and the physical realms. The real world, where we live, work, and connect with each other, is represented by it. Being a good steward of the land and knowing how important our physical lives are to our spiritual journey are both emphasized by the number 4.

Bible verses that talk about the number 4 talk about creation, completion, heavenly order, stability, and the physical world.We can better understand and appreciate God’s plan and meaning for our lives if we think about these things.

The number 4 tells us to enjoy all that God has made, to set our lives on solid ground, and to believe that He has a perfect plan for us. 

Did you know?

When we look at numbers that are multiples of 4, we come across the number 40, which is often linked to times of testing, trial, and preparation in the Bible. This number is often used to mark important times of change, like Noah’s flood or Jesus’ time in the desert.

The number 44 is also very important; some see it as putting twice as much stress on being complete on earth. Even though it’s not talked about as much, it can be seen as a stronger version of the ideas in 4.

There are more complicated ways that the number 4 can be used to mean things. One example is the number 12, which stands for divine governmental perfection. It can be seen as the result of the numbers 3 (which means divine completeness) and 4 (which means earthly completeness), showing where the divine and the earthly meet.

In the same way, the number 24 is often linked to heavenly worship and classes for priests because it is a multiple of both 4 and 6 (the number of man). The 24 leaders that are talked about in the book of Revelation are clear examples of this.

People who are interested in angel numbers often see 444 as a strong message of safety and support. The meaning is stronger because the number 4 is repeated three times, which suggests a full connection between the spiritual and the physical.

Also, it’s interesting to see how 4 differs from other important numbers. For instance, the number 4 stands for completion on earth, while the number 7 means completion and success in the spiritual world. This difference shows how complicated bible numerology is.

The meaning of 4 can be understood by numbers that aren’t straight multiples of it. For example, the number 50, which is linked to jubilee and freedom, comes after 7 rounds of 7 years plus 1. This means that it has both spiritual and earthly meanings. 

What the Number 4 Means in the Bible

There are many examples of the number 4 in the Bible. Each one has its own spiritual meaning and symbolism.

the number 4
  • The Four Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They tell the whole story of Jesus’ life and mission.
  • The Four Living Things in Revelation: The lion, the ox, the man, and the eagle each stand for a different part of God’s personality and the four ways the world works. “The first living thing looked like a lion, the second like an ox, the third like a man, and the fourth like a flying eagle” (Revelation 4:7, NIV).
  • The four rivers in the Garden of Eden—Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates—stand for God’s power to give and keep life. “From Eden came a river that watered the garden. It split into four headwaters there.” (2) Genesis 2:10 (NIV).
  • The four parts of the day—morning, afternoon, evening, and night—show how God’s world is organized and structured. “The light God called “day,” and the dark God called “night.” It got dark at night and dawn on the first day. (NIV) Genesis 1:5.
  • The Four Seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter—show how life goes in cycles and how God’s plan is always the same. Gen 8:22 says, “As long as the earth lasts, there will always be seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” 

In Ancient Hebrew, the number 4

the number 4

The Hebrew word for four is “arba(אַרְבַּע)It’s interesting that this word has a link to the fourth letter of the Hebrew language, Dalet (ד), which means “door” or “path.” Based on this link, the number 4 may mean crossing over to a higher spiritual world or having a spiritual breakthrough.

The Dalet is also the first letter of the Hebrew word for “door,” which is  (דֶּלֶת, delet) In the Bible, doors often stand for new starts, chances, and changes. His own words were, “I am the door.” John 10:9 says, “Anyone who comes in through Me will be saved. He will go in and out and find a pasture.” This verse talks about the spiritual meaning of a door as a way to get to forgiveness and a full life through Christ.

The number 4 is also connected to the idea of creation and the real world. In Hebrew, “eretz”  (אֶרֶץ)) means “earth” or “land.” It is made up of the letters Aleph (א), Resh (ר), and Tzadi (ץ). These letters’ numerical meanings are 1, 200, and 90, in that order. All of them added up to 291 makes a 4th power, since 291 = 4 x 72 + 3.

The Bible talks about the four corners of the earth in a way that makes this link between the number 4 and the earth clear. In Isaiah 11:12, it says, “He will raise a banner for the nations, bring together the broken-hearted of Israel, and bring together the scattered Jews from all over the world” (NKJV). This text shows that God’s plan to save the world is complete and reaches all people.

When we study the number 4 in old Hebrew, we find deeper meanings that relate to spiritual changes, fresh starts, and how God’s creation is all-encompassing. The more we understand these links, the more we can appreciate how rich and deep biblical math is and how it affects our lives as Christians. 

God made the world on the fourth day.

And on the fourth day, God made the sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1:14–19). By splitting the day from the night, this act created the idea of time and seasons. The stars and planets keep the time and give the earth light and heat, which keeps life going and helps it grow.

The fact that God made the heavenly bodies shows how important light and order are in his world. In the Bible, light is often linked to truth, knowledge, and righteous living. For example, Jesus called Himself the “light of the world” (John 8:12). Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” This verse shows how well God planned and organized the sun, moon, and stars.

The fourth day also shows how different the created world is from the One who made it. Even though the heavenly bodies are amazing, they are not above God’s control. As we think about what God did on the fourth day, we are amazed by how beautiful and well-organized the sky is. We see it as proof of His glory and work. Let’s let the light of Christ shine in our lives and let His truth and knowledge lead us through the different stages of our life on earth. 

Many times seeing the number 4

the number 4

It feels like God is trying to teach us something important when we keep seeing the number 4 in our lives, whether it’s in the Bible or in everyday life.

Seeing the number 4 first helps us remember to build a strong base for our lives. We need to make sure that our faith and relationships are built on something strong, like God and His word, just like a house needs a strong base to stand.

Second, the number 4 is a divine push to get down to business and do the work. We need to live out our faith every day, not just say we do. That means taking care of the things God has asked us to do and working hard at them. But here’s the important thing: the spirit of 4 is also about relying on God all the way through. Keeping in touch with Him through prayer and reading the Bible often are important.

Last but not least, seeing the number 4 over and over again is like God is telling us to keep going, even when things get hard. Just remember that He is with us and we can get through anything and come out better on the other side.

“He gives me strength, so I can do all of this.”

(2 Corinthians 11:13)

When you see the number 4, think of it as a love message from God. He’s supporting you, directing your steps, and giving you the power to live a life that pleases Him. Trust in His plan, keep the faith, and do the work. He has you covered! 

Last thoughts on the number 4…

The number 4 makes us think about how important it is to build a strong faith base. The four corners of the earth stand for stability and wholeness, and so should our lives be based on the lessons of Christ (Matthew 7:24–27). Prayer, learning God’s Word, and putting our faith into action are all things that we can do to build a strong foundation that will last through life’s storms.

Also, the number 4 tells us to accept the structure and order that God put into the world He made. Each day’s routine of morning, afternoon, evening, and night, as well as the four seasons, can bring us comfort. Even when life is crazy and uncertain, we can believe that everything is working out for the best and find peace in the fact that He is in charge.

Let us remember the spiritual meaning of the number 4 as we face problems and seize chances. May it always remind us to stay rooted in our faith, to work hard toward the goals God has given us, and to trust that his plan for our lives is perfect. 

(FAQs) about the number 4 in the Bible:

What does the number 4 symbolize in the Bible?

The number 4 symbolizes creation, completeness, order, stability, and judgment in the Bible. It is often associated with the earth’s four corners, the four elements, and divine completeness.

Are there specific instances in the Bible where the number 4 is significant?

Yes, the number 4 is significant in various passages. For example, the four living creatures in Revelation, the four Gospels, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, and the structure of the Tabernacle all reflect the significance of the number 4.

How does the number 4 relate to creation and the material world in the Bible?

The number 4 is linked to creation and the material world through its associations with the earth’s four corners, the four seasons, and the four elements. It signifies the completeness and wholeness of God’s creation.

Does the number 4 have symbolic meanings in other religious or cultural contexts?

Yes, the number 4 holds significance in various religious and cultural beliefs beyond the Bible. It is often associated with stability, order, and completeness in numerology and symbolism.

What lessons can we draw from the symbolism of the number 4 in the Bible?

The symbolism of the number 4 in the Bible teaches us about God’s order and completeness in creation, the importance of divine judgment, and the significance of stability and wholeness in our spiritual lives.

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