The meaning of Four in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
for ('arba'; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Genesis 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Ezekiel 37:9; Daniel 7:2; Daniel 8:8; Daniel 11:4; Zechariah 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; 2 Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isaiah 11:12; Revelation 7:1; Revelation 20:8, the King James Version "quarters"); "the four corners of the house" (Job 1:19); Jephthah's daughter was bewailed four days a year (Judges 11:40); "four cities" are several times mentioned in Jos. in the allotment of inheritances (Joshua 19:7; Joshua 21:18, etc.); Nehemiah's enemies sent to him "four times" (Nehemiah 6:4); "four kinds" (the Revised Version, margin "families" of destroyers were threatened, Jeremiah 15:3); Yahweh's "four sore judgments" (Ezekiel 14:21); "four generations" were seen by Job (Job 42:16).
(2) "Four" is frequent in prophetic visions: Daniel saw "four .... beasts" arise, representing four kings (Daniel 7:3, Daniel 7:17); "four notable horns" (Daniel 8:8, Daniel 8:22; compare 2 Esdras 11:39); "four gates" (2 Esdras 3:19; four wings, 12:2 the King James Version); "four horns" were seen by Zechariah, as the powers that had scattered Israel, and "four smiths" (Revised Version) as powers that would cast the four horns down (Zechariah 1:18-21); "four chariots and .... horses" represented the "four spirits," the King James Version and the Revised Version, margin (better than "winds"), that went "forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth" (Zechariah 6:1-5); in the visions of Ezekiel, "four living creatures," each with four faces, four wings, etc., were the bearers of the throne of God (Ezekiel 1:5 f., Ezekiel 1:23); so, in the visions of John there were "four living creatures" before and around the throne (Revelation 4:6; Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 5:14; Revelation 6:1; Revelation 15:7; Revelation 19:4); John saw "four angels" of destruction loosed for their work (Revelation 9:14 f.).
(3) "Four" occurs frequently in the measurements of the sacred buildings, etc. (a) of the tabernacle (Exo. 25; 26; 27; Exodus 28:17; 36, etc.); (b) of Solomon's temple (I Kings 7:2, etc.; I Chronicles 9:24); (c) of Ezekiel's temple (Ezekiel 40:41; Ezekiel 41:5; Ezekiel 42:20; Ezekiel 43:14, etc.).
(4) "Four" is used as an alternative with "three" (Proverbs 30:15, Proverbs 30:18, Proverbs 30:21, Proverbs 30:24, Proverbs 30:29); we have "three or four" (2 Esdras 16:29,31); "the third and .... the fourth generation" (Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9).
(5) Ten times four, or forty is also a special and sacred number, e.g. forty years did Israel eat manna (Exodus 16:35); forty years in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33; Numbers 32:13); "the land had rest forty years" (Judges 3:11; Judges 5:31); Israel was delivered unto the hands of the Philistines for forty years (Judges 13:1); Eli judged Israel forty years (I Samuel 4:18); Moses was forty years old when he visited his brethren (Acts 7:23); the flood continued for "forty days and forty nights" (Genesis 7:4); Moses was in the Mount "forty days and forty nights" (Exodus 24:18; Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9); Jesus fasted in the desert forty days and nights (Matthew 4:2, etc.); He remained with His disciples forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3).
(6) Fourscore is also frequent (shemonim) (Exodus 7:7; Judges 3:30; Jeremiah 41:5, etc.; ogdoekonta, Luke 2:37; Luke 16:7).
(7) Four hundred represents a large number, e.g. the years of the oppression in Egypt (Genesis 15:13); Esau's company (Genesis 33:1); the men with David (I Samuel 22:2; I Samuel 25:13; I Samuel 30:10, I Samuel 30:17); the prophets of Baal "four hundred and fifty," of Asherah, "four hundred" (I Kings 18:19, I Kings 18:22); the prophets of Israel (I Kings 22:6). Four thousand represents a larger number, e.g. the musicians and porters of Solomon's temple (I Chronicles 23:5); the stalls for horses in Solomon's stables (II Chronicles 9:25); the Assassins who made insurrection under an Egyptian (Acts 21:38); Christ fed "four thousand men, besides women and children" (Matthew 15:38). Four hundred thousand represents a very large number, e.g. the congregation of Israel that gathered at Mizpah, "four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword" (Judges 20:2, Judges 20:17); Abijah's army (II Chronicles 13:3; Jeroboam's, twice that number).
(8) The fourth part also frequently occurs (Exodus 29:40; Leviticus 23:13; Numbers 23:10; Revelation 6:8, etc.).
W. L. Walker
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
