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There are many sacred numbers in the Bible: three patriarchs, ten commandments, twelve tribes, forty years. But more than any other, one holy number appears just about everywhere in the Bible: seven. God rested on the seventh day, Joshua marched around Jericho seven times, and the Menorah in the Tabernacle had seven branches. To honor the seventh month of July, let’s look at what gives 7 its unique spiritual power. 
 
The Most Deeply Sacred Number
Pretty much anywhere you look in the Bible you find seven. The number seven is mentioned over 700 times in Scripture. The Book of Revelation alone contains dozens of sevens – churches, bowls, lamps, seals, and the list goes on. In ancient Israel, the number seven was thought to be a symbol of divine perfection. As opposed to other numbers which derive their power from human endeavors, seven comes from God.

The Sevenfold Spirit of the Lord
What evidence is there for God’s identity being related to the number seven? If we look at the famous “branch of Jesse” prophecy in Isaiah chapter 11, we find that the Holy Spirit will come to rest upon the Messiah in seven distinct facets:
1. “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on himרוּחַ יְהוָהruaḥ adonai
2. The spirit of wisdomרוּחַ חָכְמָהruaḥ hohma
3. And understandingוּבִינָהruaḥ bina
4. The spirit of counselרוּחַ עֵצָהruaḥ etza
5. And mightוּגְבוּרָהruaḥ gevura
6. The spirit of knowledgeרוּחַ דַּעַתruaḥ da’at
7. And the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11:2)וְיִרְאַת יְהוָהruaḥ yirat adonai
Discover the Power of Hebrew Collectively, these attributes form the sevenfold essence of the Holy Spirit. When read in translation, this might seem like just a list of abstract qualities. But in the original Hebrew, the words form a spiritual package, exploding with power. When you can read the Word of God in the original Hebrew, new details suddenly burst with meaning. Enroll in our online Biblical Hebrew course today and allow yourself to appreciate the Bible in its fullness!