Reference: Seven
American
As from the beginning this was the number of days in the week, so it often has in Scripture a sort of emphasis attached to it, and is very generally used as a round or perfect number. Clean beasts were taken into the ark by sevens, Ge 7. The years of plenty and famine in Egypt were marked by sevens, Ge 41. With the Jews, not only was there a seventh day Sabbath, but every seventh year was a Sabbath, and after every seven times seven years came a jubilee. Their great feasts of unleavened bread and of tabernacles were observed for seven days; the number of animals in many of their sacrifices was limited to seven. The golden candlestick had seven branches. Seven priests with seven trumpets went around the walls of Jericho seven days, and seven times on the seventh day. In the Apocalypse we find seven churches mentioned, seven candlesticks, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven vials, seven plagues, and seven angels to pour them out.
Seven is often put for any round or whole number, just as we use "ten" or "a dozen;" so in Mt 12:45; 1Sa 2:5; Job 5:19; Pr 26:16,25; Isa 4:1; Jer 15:9. In like manner, seven times, or seven-fold, means often, abundantly, completely, Ge 4:15,24; Le 26:24; Ps 12:6; 79:12; Mt 18:21. And seventy times seven is a still higher superlative, Mt 18:22.
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And Yahweh said to him - Not so, whosoever slayeth Cain seven - fold, shall it be avenged. So Yahweh set, for Cain, a sign, that none finding him should smite him.
If, sevenfold, be, the avenging of Cain, Then, of Lamech, seventy and seven.
Then will, I also, go in opposition to you. And, I, even I, will plague you seven times for your sins;
In six troubles, he will rescue thee, and, in seven, there shall smite thee no misfortune:
The words of Yahweh, are words, that are pure, silver refined in a crucible of earth, purified seven times!
Return, therefore, unto our neighbours - Sevenfold, into their own bosom, The reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Adonay!
Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
And seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, Our own bread, will we eat, And our own apparel, will we wear, - Only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
Languisheth! she who had given birth to seven, She hath breathed out her life Her sun hath gone in, while yet it was day, She hath turned pale and hath turned red, - And the remnant of them, to the sword, will I deliver before their enemies, Declareth Yahweh.
Then, it goeth, and taketh along with itself, seven diverse spirits, more wicked than itself, - and, entering, abideth there; and, the last state of that man, becometh, worse than the first. So, shall it be, with this, wicked, generation.
Then, coming near, Peter said to him- Lord! how many times, shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until, seven, times? Jesus saith to him - I say not unto thee, unto, seven, times, but, until seventy times seven.
Easton
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 (Ge 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 Le 25:4; 1Sa 2:5; Ps 12:6; 79:12; Pr 26:16; Isa 4:1; Mt 18:21-22; Lu 17:4). The feast of Passover (Ex 12:15-16), the feast of Weeks (De 16:9), of Tabernacles (De 13:15), and the Jubilee (Le 25:8), were all ordered by seven. Seven is the number of sacrifice (2Ch 29:21; Job 42:8), of purification and consecration (34/type/emb'>Le 27:34,34; 8:11,33; 14:9,51), of forgiveness (Mt 18:21-22; Lu 17:4), of reward (De 28:7; 1Sa 2:5), and of punishment (Le 26:21,24,28; De 28:25). It is used for any round number in such passages as Job 5:19; Pr 26:16,25; Isa 4:1; Mt 12:45. It is used also to mean "abundantly" (Ge 4:15,24; Le 26:24; Ps 79:12).
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Thus God finished, on the seventh day his work which he had made, and rested, on the seventh day, from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it, - because therein, rested he from all his work which God, by creating, had made.
And Yahweh said to him - Not so, whosoever slayeth Cain seven - fold, shall it be avenged. So Yahweh set, for Cain, a sign, that none finding him should smite him.
If, sevenfold, be, the avenging of Cain, Then, of Lamech, seventy and seven.
Seven days, unleavened cakes, shall ye eat, surely, on the first day, shall ye put away leaven, out of your houses, - for whosoever eateth what is leavened, then shall that soul be cut off out of Israel, from the first day, unto the seventh day. Both on the first day, a holy convocation, and on the seventh day - a holy convocation, shall there be to you, - no work, shall be done therein, save only what must be eaten by every soul, that alone, shall be done by you.
and he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, - and anointed the altar, and all the utensils thereof and the laver and its stand to hallow them
And from the entrance of the tent of meeting, shall ye not go forth for seven days, until the day that filleth up the days of your installation, - because for seven days, will he install you:
and it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave off all the hair of his head, and his beard, and his eyebrows, even all his hair, shall he shave off, - and shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water so shall he be clean.
and take the cedar wood and the hyssop, and the crimson and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the living water, - and sprinkle the house seven times;
but, in the seventh year - a sabbath of sacred rest, shall there be unto the land, a sabbath unto Yahweh: thy field, shalt thou not sow, and, thy vineyard, shalt thou not prune;
And thou shalt count to thee seven weeks of years, seven years, seven times, - so shall the days of the seven weeks of years become to thee forty-nine years.
If therefore, ye will go in opposition to me, And not be willing to hearken unto me, Then will I yet further plague you seven times according to your sins;
Then will, I also, go in opposition to you. And, I, even I, will plague you seven times for your sins;
Then will, I also, go in opposition to you. And, I, even I, will plague you seven times for your sins;
Then will I go in a rage of opposition to you, - And I, even I, will correct you seven times for your sins;
These are the commandments which Yahweh commanded Moses for the sons of Israel, - in Mount Sinai.
These are the commandments which Yahweh commanded Moses for the sons of Israel, - in Mount Sinai.
then shalt thou smite, the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, devoting it to destruction, and all that is therein and the cattle thereof: with the edge of the sword, -
Seven weeks, shalt thou count unto thee, - from the beginning of thrusting in the sickle into the standing corn, shalt thou begin to count, seven weeks.
Yahweh will deliver thine enemies who rise up against thee, to be routed before thee, - one way, shall they come out against thee, and seven ways, shall they flee before thee:
Yahweh will give thee up to be routed before thine enemies, one way, shalt thou go out against them, and, seven ways, shalt thou flee before them, - and thou shalt become a terror unto all the kingdoms of the earth.
And they brought in seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven young sheep, and seven he-goats for bearing sin, for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah, - and he bade the sons of Aaron, the priests, cause them to ascend upon the altar of Yahweh.
In six troubles, he will rescue thee, and, in seven, there shall smite thee no misfortune:
Now, therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go unto my servant Job, and ye shall offer up an ascending-sacrifice in your own behalf, and, Job my servant, shall pray over you, - for, him, will I accept, that I may not deal out to you disgrace, because ye have not spoken concerning me the thing that is right, like my servant Job.
The words of Yahweh, are words, that are pure, silver refined in a crucible of earth, purified seven times!
Return, therefore, unto our neighbours - Sevenfold, into their own bosom, The reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Adonay!
Return, therefore, unto our neighbours - Sevenfold, into their own bosom, The reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Adonay!
Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
And seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, Our own bread, will we eat, And our own apparel, will we wear, - Only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
And seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, Our own bread, will we eat, And our own apparel, will we wear, - Only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
Then, it goeth, and taketh along with itself, seven diverse spirits, more wicked than itself, - and, entering, abideth there; and, the last state of that man, becometh, worse than the first. So, shall it be, with this, wicked, generation.
Then, coming near, Peter said to him- Lord! how many times, shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until, seven, times?
Then, coming near, Peter said to him- Lord! how many times, shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until, seven, times? Jesus saith to him - I say not unto thee, unto, seven, times, but, until seventy times seven.
Jesus saith to him - I say not unto thee, unto, seven, times, but, until seventy times seven.
Even if, seven times a day, he sin against thee, and, seven times, turn to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.
Even if, seven times a day, he sin against thee, and, seven times, turn to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.
Fausets
(See NUMBER.) The Semitic has the word in common with the Indo-European languages; Hebrew sheba answering to Latin septem, Greek hepta.
Hastings
Morish
See NUMBERS AS SYMBOLS.
Smith
Seven.
The frequent recurrence of certain numbers in the sacred literature of the Hebrews is obvious to the most superficial reader, but seven so far surpasses the rest, both in the frequency with which it recurs and in the importance of the objects with which it is associated, that it may fairly be termed the representative symbolic number. The influence of the number seven was not restricted to the Hebrews; it prevailed among the Persians, ancient Indians, Greeks and Romans. The peculiarity of the Hebrew view consists in the special dignity of the seventh, and not simply in that of seen. The Sabbath being the seventh day suggested the adoption of seven as the coefficient, so to say, for their appointment of all sacred periods; and we thus find the 7th month ushered in by the Feast of Trumpets, and signalized by the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Great Day of Atonement; 7 weeks as the interval between the Passover and the Pentecost; the 7th year as the sabbatical year; and the year: succeeding 7X7 years as the Jubilee year. Seven days were appointed as the length of the feasts of Passover and Tabernacles; 7 days for the ceremonies of the consecration of priests, and so on; 7 victims to be offered on any special occasion, as in Balaam's sacrifice.
and especially at the ratification of a treaty, the notion of seven being embodied in the very term signifying to swear, literally meaning to do seven times.
Seven is used for any round number, or for completeness, as we say a dozen, or as a speaker says he will say two or three words.
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and didst not suffer me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now, hast thou done, foolishly.
Then said Balaam unto Balak: Build me here seven altars, - and prepare me here, seven bullocks and seven rams.
Watsons
SEVEN. The number seven is consecrated, in the holy books and in the religion of the Jews, by a great number of events and mysterious circumstances. God created the world in the space of seven days, and consecrated the seventh day to repose. The rest of the seventh day, according to St. Paul, Heb 4:4, intimates eternal rest. And not only the seventh day is honoured among the Jews, by the repose of the Sabbath, but every seventh year is also consecrated to the rest of the earth, by the name of a sabbatical year; as also the seven times seventh year, or forty- ninth year is the year of jubilee. In the prophetic style a week often stands for seven years, Da 9:24-26. Jacob served his father-in-law Laban seven years for each of his daughters. Pharaoh's mysterious dream represented to his imagination seven fat oxen, and seven lean ones; seven full ears of corn, and as many that were empty and shrivelled. These stood for seven years of plenty, and seven of scarcity. The number of seven days is observed in the octaves of the great solemnities of the passover, of tabernacles, and of the dedication of the tabernacle and the temple; the seven branches of the golden candlestick, the number of seven sacrifices appointed on several occasions, Nu 27:11; 29:17-21, &c. Seven trumpets, seven priests that sounded them, seven days to surround the walls of Jericho, 6/4/type/emb'>Jos 6:4,6,8. In the Revelation, are the seven churches, seven, candlesticks, seven spirits, seven stars, seven lamps, seven seals, seven angels, seven phials, seven plagues, &c. In certain passages, the number seven is put for a great number. Isa 4:1, says that seven women should lay hold on one man, to ask him to marry them. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, says, 1Sa 2:5, that she who was barren should have seven children. Jer 15:9, makes use of the same expression. God threatens his people to smite them seven times for their transgressions, Le 26:24, that is to say, several times. The Psalmist, speaking of very pure silver, says it is "purified seven times," Ps 12:6. And elsewhere, "Render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom," Ps 79:12; punish them severely, and as often as they deserve it. The slayer of Cain was to be punished seven times; but of Lamech seventy times seven times, Ge 4:15,24. The slothful man thinks himself wiser than seven men, that set forth proverbs, Pr 26:16; he thinks himself of more worth than many wise men. St. Peter asks our Saviour, Mt 18:21-22, How many times should he forgive his brother? till seven times? And Christ answers him, I say not only seven times, but seventy times seven; meaning, as often as he may offend, however frequent it may be.
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And Yahweh said to him - Not so, whosoever slayeth Cain seven - fold, shall it be avenged. So Yahweh set, for Cain, a sign, that none finding him should smite him.
If, sevenfold, be, the avenging of Cain, Then, of Lamech, seventy and seven.
Then will, I also, go in opposition to you. And, I, even I, will plague you seven times for your sins;
And, if his father hath no brethren, then shall ye give his inheritance unto his blood-relation that is near unto him of his family, and he shall possess it, - So shall it serve the sons of Israel as a regulative statute, As Yahweh commanded Moses.
And on the second day, twelve choice bullocks two rams, - fourteen he-lambs a year old without defect; with their meal-offerings and their drink-offering - to the bullocks, to the rams, and to the lambs, by their number according to the regulation; read more. also one young he-goat as a sin-bearer, - in addition to the continual ascending-sacrifice, with its meal-offering, and their drink-offerings. And on the third day, eleven bullocks two rams, - and fourteen he-lambs a year old without defect; with their meal-offering and their drink-offerings, to the bullocks, to he rams, and to the lambs, by their number, according to the regulation;
And, seven priests, shall bear the seven rams' horns before the ark, and, on the seventh day, shall ye compass the city seven times, - and, the priests, shall blow with the horns.
Then called Joshua son of Nun unto the priests, and said unto them, Bear ye the ark of the covenant, - and let, seven priest, bear seven rams horns, before the ark of Yahweh.
And it was so, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that, the seven priests who were bearing the seven rams' horns before Yahweh, passed on and blew with the horns, - the ark of the covenant of Yahweh also coming after them.
The sated, have, for bread, taken hire, But, the famished, have left off their toil, - So that, the barren, hath given birth unto seven, While, she that hath many sons, languisheth:
The words of Yahweh, are words, that are pure, silver refined in a crucible of earth, purified seven times!
Return, therefore, unto our neighbours - Sevenfold, into their own bosom, The reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Adonay!
Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
And seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, Our own bread, will we eat, And our own apparel, will we wear, - Only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
Languisheth! she who had given birth to seven, She hath breathed out her life Her sun hath gone in, while yet it was day, She hath turned pale and hath turned red, - And the remnant of them, to the sword, will I deliver before their enemies, Declareth Yahweh.
Seventy weeks, have been divided concerning thy people and concerning thy holy city - to put an end to the transgression, and fill up the measure of sin, and put a propitiatory-covering over iniquity, and bring in the righteousness of ages, and affix a seal the vision and prophecy, and anoint the holy of holies. Thou must know, then, and understand: From the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem - unto the Anointed One, the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks, - the broadway and the wall, shall again be built, even in the end of the times. read more. And, after the sixty-two weeks, shall the Anointed One, be cut off, and have, nothing, - and, the city and the sanctuary, will one destroy with the Prince, and so will his own end come with an overwhelming flood, howbeit, up to the full end of the war, are decreed astounding things.
Then, coming near, Peter said to him- Lord! how many times, shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until, seven, times? Jesus saith to him - I say not unto thee, unto, seven, times, but, until seventy times seven.
For he hath spoken, somewhere, concerning the seventh day , thus - And God rested, on the seventh day, from all his works;