This number occurs frequently in
Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning.
On the seventh
day God rested, and hallowed it (
Gen. 2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of
seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of
perfection, and also the symbol of
rest. "Jacob's seven years' service to
Laban; Pharaoh's seven
fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden
candlestick; the seven
trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days' siege of
Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven
stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number" (see
Lev. 25:4;
1 Sam. 2:5;
Ps. 12:6; 79:12;
Prov. 26:16;
Isa. 4:1;
Matt. 18:21, 22;
Luke 17:4). The
feast of
Passover (
Ex. 12:15, 16), the feast of Weeks (
Deut. 16:9), of Tabernacles (13:15), and the
Jubilee (
Lev. 25:8), were all ordered by seven.
Seven is the number of
sacrifice (
2 Chr. 29:21;
Job 42:8), of
purification and
consecration (
Lev. 42:6, 17; 8:11, 33; 14:9, 51), of forgiveness (
Matt. 18:21, 22;
Luke 17:4), of reward (
Deut. 28:7;
1 Sam. 2:5), and of
punishment (
Lev. 26:21, 24, 28;
Deut. 28:25). It is used for any round number in such passages as
Job 5:19;
Prov. 26:16, 25;
Isa. 4:1;
Matt. 12:45. It is used also to mean "abundantly" (
Gen. 4:15, 24;
Lev. 26:24;
Ps. 79:12).