'Three' in the Bible

The earth trembles under three things;it cannot bear up under four:

Three things are stately in their stride,even four are stately in their walk:

And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

And now the Lord says, “In three years, as a hired worker counts years, Moab’s splendor will become an object of contempt, in spite of a very large population. And those who are left will be few and weak.”

the Lord said, “As My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush,

As soon as Jehudi would read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut the scroll with a scribe’s knife and throw the columns into the blazing fire until the entire scroll was consumed by the fire in the brazier.

The commander of the guards also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of the second rank, and the three doorkeepers.

even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

even if these three men were in it, as I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“they could not deliver their sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.

even if these three men were in it, as I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“they could not deliver their sons or daughters, but they alone would be delivered.

Therefore, son of man, prophesyand clap your hands together.Let the sword strike two times, even three.It is a sword for massacre,a sword for great massacre—it surrounds them!

Now there was a wall surrounding the outside of the temple. The measuring rod in the man’s hand was six units of 21 inches; each unit was the standard length plus three inches. He measured the thickness of the wall structure; it was about 10 feet, and its height was the same.

Each recess was about 10 feet long and 10 feet deep, and there was a space of 8¾ feet between the recesses. The inner threshold of the gate on the temple side next to the gate’s portico was about 10 feet.

it was 14 feet, and its pilasters were 3½ feet. The portico of the gate was on the temple side.

There were three recesses on each side of the east gate, each with the same measurements, and the pilasters on either side also had the same measurements.

Then he measured the width of the gate’s entrance; it was 17½ feet, while the width of the gateway was 22¾ feet.

Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one recess to the roof of the opposite one; the distance was 43¾ feet. The openings of the recesses faced each other.

Its three recesses on each side, its pilasters, and its portico had the same measurements as the first gate: 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide.

Both the gate and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide.

Its recesses, pilasters, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both it and its portico had windows all around. It was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide.

(There were porticoes all around, 43¾ feet long and 8¾ feet wide.)

Its recesses, pilasters, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both it and its portico had windows all around. It was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide.

as did its recesses, pilasters, and portico. It also had windows all around. It was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide.

There were three-inch hooks fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be laid on the tables.

Then he brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the pilasters of the portico; they were 8¾ feet thick on each side. The width of the gateway was 24½ feet, and the side walls of the gate were 5¼ feet wide on each side.

The width of the entrance was 17½ feet, and the side walls of the entrance were 8¾ feet wide on each side. He also measured the length of the great hall, 70 feet, and the width, 35 feet.

He went inside the next room and measured the pilasters at the entrance; they were 3½ feet wide. The entrance was 10½ feet wide, and the width of the entrance’s side walls on each side was 12¼ feet.

The side rooms were arranged one above another in three stories of 30 rooms each. There were ledges on the wall of the temple all around to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports would not be in the temple wall itself.

The thickness of the outer wall of the side rooms was 8¾ feet. The free space between the side rooms of the temple

The side rooms opened into the free space, one entrance toward the north and another to the south. The area of free space was 8¾ feet wide all around.

Now the building that faced the temple yard toward the west was 122½ feet wide. The wall of the building was 8¾ feet thick on all sides, and the building’s length was 157½ feet.

the thresholds, the beveled windows, and the balconies all around with their three levels opposite the threshold—were overlaid with wood on all sides. They were paneled from the ground to the windows (but the windows were covered),

The altar was made of wood, 5¼ feet high and 3½ feet long. It had corners, and its length and sides were of wood. The man told me, “This is the table that stands before the Lord.”

Opposite the 35 foot space belonging to the inner court and opposite the paved surface belonging to the outer court, the structure rose gallery by gallery in three tiers.

For they were arranged in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts; therefore the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and middle stories.

“These are the measurements of the altar in units of length (each unit being the standard length plus three inches): the gutter is 21 inches deep and 21 inches wide, with a rim of nine inches around its edge. This is the base of the altar.

The distance from the gutter on the ground to the lower ledge is 3½ feet, and the width of the ledge is 21 inches. There are seven feet from the small ledge to the large ledge, whose width is also 21 inches.

From this holy portion, you will measure off an area 8⅓ miles long and 3⅓ miles wide, in which the sanctuary, the most holy place, will stand.

There will be another area 8⅓ miles long and 3⅓ miles wide for the Levites who minister in the temple; it will be their possession for towns to live in.

“This is the contribution you are to offer: Three quarts from five bushels of wheat and three quarts from five bushels of barley.

You must also prepare a grain offering every morning along with it: three quarts, with one-third of a gallon of oil to moisten the fine flour—a grain offering to the Lord. This is a permanent statute to be observed regularly.

“The special portion you donate to the Lord will be 8⅓ miles long and 3⅓ miles wide.

This holy donation will be set apart for the priests alone. It will be 8⅓ miles long on the northern side, 3⅓ miles wide on the western side, 3⅓ miles wide on the eastern side, and 8⅓ miles long on the southern side. The Lord’s sanctuary will be in the middle of it.

“Next to the territory of the priests, the Levites will have an area 8⅓ miles long and 3⅓ miles wide. The total length will be 8⅓ miles and the width 3⅓ miles.

“The remainder of the length alongside the holy donation will be 3⅓ miles to the east and 3⅓ miles to the west. It will run alongside the holy donation. Its produce will be food for the workers of the city.

there will be three gates facing north, the gates of the city being named for the tribes of Israel: one, the gate of Reuben; one, the gate of Judah; and one, the gate of Levi.

On the east side, which is 1½ miles, there will be three gates: one, the gate of Joseph; one, the gate of Benjamin; and one, the gate of Dan.

On the south side, which measures 1½ miles, there will be three gates: one, the gate of Simeon; one, the gate of Issachar; and one, the gate of Zebulun.

On the west side, which is 1½ miles, there will be three gates: one, the gate of Gad; one, the gate of Asher; and one, the gate of Naphtali.

The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they were to serve in the king’s court.

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?”“Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king.

and over them three administrators, including Daniel. These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded.

When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.”

“Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’

“While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man’s, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.

I also wanted to know about the 10 horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that was more visible than the others.

The 10 horns are 10 kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings.

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.

I didn’t eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over.

Now I will tell you the truth.“Three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth will be far richer than the others. By the power he gains through his riches, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

The Lord says:I will not relent from punishing Damascusfor three crimes, even four,because they threshed Gilead with iron sledges.

The Lord says:I will not relent from punishing Gazafor three crimes, even four,because they exiled a whole community,handing them over to Edom.

The Lord says:I will not relent from punishing Tyrefor three crimes, even four,because they handed overa whole community of exiles to Edomand broke a treaty of brotherhood.

The Lord says:I will not relent from punishing Edomfor three crimes, even four,because he pursued his brother with the sword.He stifled his compassion,his anger tore at them continually,and he harbored his rage incessantly.

The Lord says:I will not relent from punishing the Ammonitesfor three crimes, even four,because they ripped openthe pregnant women of Gileadin order to enlarge their territory.

The Lord says:I will not relent from punishing Moabfor three crimes, even four,because he burned the bonesof the king of Edom to lime.

The Lord says:I will not relent from punishing Judahfor three crimes, even four,because they have rejected the instruction of the Lordand have not kept His statutes.The lies that their ancestors followedhave led them astray.

The Lord says:I will not relent from punishing Israelfor three crimes, even four,because they sell a righteous person for silverand a needy person for a pair of sandals.

Come to Bethel and rebel;rebel even more at Gilgal!Bring your sacrifices every morning,your tenths every three days.

I also withheld the rain from youwhile there were still three months until harvest.I sent rain on one citybut no rain on another.One field received rainwhile a field with no rain withered.

Two or three cities staggeredto another city to drink waterbut were not satisfied,yet you did not return to Me.This is the Lord’s declaration.

Now the Lord had appointed a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the fish three days and three nights.

So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh according to the Lord’s command.Now Nineveh was an extremely large city, a three-day walk.

In one month I got rid of three shepherds. I became impatient with them, and they also detested me.

For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

Around three in the morning, He came toward them walking on the sea.

Now Jesus summoned His disciples and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry; otherwise they might collapse on the way.”

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here! If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

But if he won’t listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.”

About noon and at three, he went out again and did the same thing.

“I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!”

stated, “This man said, ‘I can demolish God’s sanctuary and rebuild it in three days.’”

and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

and saying, “The One who would demolish the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land.

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive He said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’

He saw them being battered as they rowed, because the wind was against them. Around three in the morning He came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them.

“I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—

For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise three days later.”

and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him, and He will rise after three days.”

“I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times!”

“We heard Him say, ‘I will demolish this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’”

Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” When he thought about it, he began to weep.

Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The One who would demolish the sanctuary and build it in three days,