Seven

Seven [EBD]

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).

Seven [NAVE]

SEVEN
Interesting facts concerning the number.
Days
Week consists of, Gen. 2:3; Ex. 20:11; Deut. 5:13, 14.
Noah in the ark before the flood, Gen. 7:4, 10; remains in the ark after sending forth the dove, Gen. 8:10, 12.
Mourning for Jacob lasted, Gen. 50:10; of Job, Job 2:13.
The plague of bloody waters in Egypt lasted, Ex. 7:25.
The Israelites compassed Jericho, Josh. 6:4.
The passover lasted, Ex. 12:15.
Saul directed by Samuel to stay at Gilgal, awaiting the prophet's command, 1 Sam. 10:8; 13:8.
The elders of Jabesh-gilead ask for a truce of, 1 Sam. 11:3.
Dedication of the temple lasted double, 1 Kin. 8:65.
Ezekiel sits by the river Chebar in astonishment, Ezek. 3:15.
The feast of tabernacles lasted, Lev. 23:34, 42.
Consecration of priests and altars lasted, Ex. 29:30, 35; Ezek. 43:25, 26.
Defilements lasted, Lev. 12:2; 13:4.
Fasts of, 1 Sam. 31:13; 2 Sam. 12:16, 18, 22.
The firstborn of flocks and sheep shall remain with mother, before being offered, Ex. 22:30.
The feast of Ahasuerus continued, Esth. 1:5.
Paul stays at Tyre, Acts 21:4; at Puteoli, Acts 28:14.
Weeks
In Daniel's vision concerning the coming of the Messiah, Dan. 9:25.
Ten times, Dan. 9:24.
The period between the Passover and the Pentecost, Lev. 23:15.
Months
Holy convocations in the seventh month, Lev. 23:24-44; Num. 29; Ezek. 45:25.
Years
Jacob serves for each of his wives, Gen. 29:15-30.
Of plenty, Gen. 41:1-32, 53.
Famine lasted in Egypt, Gen. 41:1-32, 54-56; in Canaan, 2 Sam. 24:13; 2 Kin. 8:1.
Insanity of Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4:32.
Seven times, the period between the jubilees, Lev. 25:8.
Miscellany of Sevens
Of clean beasts taken into the ark, Gen. 7:2.
Abraham gives Abimelech seven lambs, Gen. 21:28.
Rams and bulls to the number of, required in sacrifices, Lev. 23:18; Num. 23:1; 29:32; 1 Chr. 15:26; Ezek. 45:23.
Blood sprinkling seven times, Lev. 4:6; 14:7; oil, Lev. 14:16.
Seven kine and seven ears of grain in Pharaoh's vision, Gen. 41:2-7.
The Israelites compassed Jericho seven times, on the seventh day sounding seven trumpets, Josh. 6:4.
Elisha's servant looked seven times for appearance of rain, 1 Kin. 18:43.
Naaman required to wash in Jordan seven times, 2 Kin. 5:10.
Seven steps in the temple seen in Ezekiel's vision, Ezek. 40:22, 26.
The heat of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace intensified sevenfold, Dan. 3:19.
The light of the sun intensified sevenfold, Isa. 30:26.
The threatened sevenfold punishment of Israel, Lev. 26:18-21.
Silver purified seven times, Psa. 12:6.
Worshiping seven times a day, Psa. 119:164.
Seven chamberlains at the court of Ahasuerus, Esth. 1:10; seven princes, Esth. 1:14.
Seven counselors at the court of Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:14.
Seven maidens given to Esther, Esth. 2:9.
Symbolical of many sons, Ruth 4:15; 1 Sam. 2:5; Jer. 15:9; of liberality, Eccl. 11:1, 2.
Seven magi, Prov. 26:16.
Seven women shall seek polygamous marriage, Isa. 4:1.
Seven shepherds to be sent forth against Assyria, Mic. 5:5, 6.
Seven lamps and pipes, Zech. 4:2.
Seven deacons in the apostolic church, Acts 6:3.
Seven churches in Asia, Rev. 1:4, 20.
Seven seals, Rev. 5:1.
Seven thunders, Rev. 10:3.
Seven heads and seven crowns, Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:9.
Seven kings, Rev. 17:10.
Seven stars, Rev. 1:16, 20; 3:1; Amos 5:8.
Seven spirits, Rev. 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6.
Seven eyes of the Lord, Zech. 3:9; 4:10; Rev. 5:6.
Seven golden lampstands, Rev. 1:12.
Seven angels with seven trumpets, Rev. 8:2.
Seven plagues, Rev. 15:1.
Seven horns and seven eyes, Rev. 5:6.
Seven angels with seven plagues, Rev. 15:6.
Seven golden bowls, Rev. 15:7.
Scarlet colored beast having seven heads, Rev. 17:3, 7.

SEVEN [SMITH]

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. (Numbers 23:1) 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. (Genesis 31:28) 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.

SEVEN [ISBE]

SEVEN - sev'-'-n (shebha`; hepta).

See NUMBER.