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The number seven
#1
Shalama to All

Can anyone please tell me, does the number 7 have some kind of significance in Semetic culture at all? Is it like a special number? Reason I ask is because of its occurences in the bible, and Lamsa's observation.

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#2
Shlama Bro. John,

I've heard it said by a number of pastors, teachers and commentators that seven is God's number of perfection and completion. But here's something from Strong's Hebrew Dictionary I believe you'll appreciate....

{QUOTE} shaw-baw' ; a primitive root; (properly) to be complete;...... to seven oneself, i. e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times).

Shlama w'Burkate, Larry Kelsey
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#3
Thank you brother for that, it does help.

So would I be right to think that the word 'seven' in Semetic languages, can also mean just in general 'many'? Could it be similar to our usage in English of the word 'several'?
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#4
Shlama John,

I don't think seven can mean "several". In Matthew 18:22, the Peshitta has a very interesting
reading. Jesus says "I say not seven times, but seventy sevens of sevens times", answering Peter's question, "Shall I forgive my brother seven times ?"

The Aramaic NT from Matthew to Jude (minus Revelation)
has 49 sevens [font=Estrangelo (V1.1)]9b$[/font] "Sheva" in Aramaic.
49 is 7 squared.

Revelation itself has 58 of them ! It is a highly significant number in prophecy, obviously, and highly symbolic.

There are multiples of seven sets of sevens in Revelation. 7 blessings, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 horns, 7 stars,7 angels, 7 spirits, 7 headed dragon,
7 lamps,7 vials, 7 churches, 7 thunders,7 letters,7 hills of Rome.

7 has a long history as a Divine number in prophecy and vision, signifying perfection and fulfillment .

That does not mean I subscribe to the current theories about a literal fulfillment of Revelation. It is a highly symbolic and mystical book which has been highly abused and misapplied. It is a book with an extremely positive message.
It is "The Unveiling of Jesus The Messiah".

See Rev. 1:1

Blessings,


Dave
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#5
Members of the Forum,

I warn you. Do not try to assign the allegorical with a definite meaning.

About Nineteen:

"The people (Jews) in France made it a custom to add (in the morning prayer) the words: " ???Ashrei temimei derekh (blessed are those who walk the righteous way)," and our Rabbi, the Pious, of blessed memory, wrote that they were completely and utterly wrong. It is all gross falsehood, because there are only nineteen times that the Holy Name is mentioned (in that portion of the morning prayer), . . . and similarly you find the word Elohim nineteen times in the pericope of Ve-???elleh shemot . . . . Similarly, you find that Israel were called "sons" nineteen times, and there are many other examples. All these sets of nineteen are intricately intertwined, and they contain many secrets and esoteric meanings, which are contained in more than eight volumes. Therefore, anyone who has the fear of God in him will not listen to the words of the Frenchmen who add the verse " ???Ashrei temimei derekh (blessed are those who walk in the paths of God???s Torah, for according to their additions the Holy Name is mentioned twenty times . . . and this is a great mistake. Furthermore, in this section there are 152 words, but if you add " ???Ashrei temimei derekh" there are 158 words. This is nonsense, for it is a great and hidden secret why there should be 152 words . . ." (Studies In Jewish Mysticism, Joseph Dan, Association for Jewish Studies. Cambridge, Massachusetts: 1978, p 88.)

He, Judah, centered his entire interpretation of certain Biblical passages around 19.

Bad.
???Do not give up, for that is ignorance and not according to the rules of this art... Like the lover, you cannot hope to achieve success without infinite perseverance.???
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