Biblical number 12appears in the Bible 187 times. Only in the book of Revelation does the number appear 22 times. The number 12, which is regarded as a perfect number, represents God's power and authority while also serving as a perfect governmental foundation. It can also represent completion or the entire Israeli nation.
Jacob (Israel), for example, had twelve sons, each representing a tribe founded by a prince, for a total of twelve tribes. Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar, also had twelve princes.
Every week, God directed that twelve unleavened loaves of bread and frankincense be placed in the temple, one next to each of the two piles to be made. The priests were given instructions to change the bread every Sabbath day (Leviticus 24).
What Does The Biblical Number 12 Mean In The Bible?
As indicated in this article, the number 12 typically means perfection or authority and is frequently used in a political context.
The 12 tribes of Israel, for example, are named after Jacob's 12 sons. In addition, the Old Testament contains 12 minor prophets. The biblical number 12 appears 187 times in the Bible, but it is especially prominent in Revelation, indicating God's ultimate authority and perfection.
Jesus chose 12 disciples to demonstrate the perfection and authority of those who followed him, and the disciples later replaced Judas Iscariot with Matthias to keep the number at 12. (Acts 1).
Not every instance of the number 12 is likely to be a 'good' kind of perfection, similar to the number three. Jesus, for example, heals a woman who has been bleeding for 12 years (Matthew 9:20-22). The 12 years may have represented how bad her condition was, with the disease described as a "perfect storm" with no apparent cure. Or it could signify the end of a difficult period and the beginning of something new from God.
However, the number 12 is almost always associated with something positive. The number 12 is everywhere in the new Jerusalem, for example. (Revelation 21: gates, angels, foundations, and so on).
Where Does The Number 12 Appear In The Bible?
Jacob had twelve sons, according to the Old Testament book of Genesis, who became the 12 tribes of Israel (Genesis 49:1-28). Furthermore, the breastplate of decision, also known as the high priest's breastplate, was encrusted with twelve stones, one for each of Israel's twelve tribes (Exodus 28:15-21).
Shem, one of Noah's sons saved by the Ark from the Great Flood, was also one of the Old Testament's 12 patriarchs.
According to Numbers 13, the Israelites wandered in the desert after fleeing Egypt. Only two of the twelve spies sent out to scout the Promised Land were not intimidated by the Canaanites.
It's also worth noting that Elijah built an altar out of twelve stones, one for each of Israel's tribes (1 Kings 18:31).
Moving on to the New Testament, it's worth noting that Jesus said the first words (at least, the first recorded words) about God in public when He was 12 years old (Luke 2:42-51). Jesus was seen at the temple, listening to and conversing with the teachers about God. The Holy Gospels describe the 12 apostles and the authority they wielded with Jesus as their leader. They were originally known as the 12 disciples, but they were later renamed the 12 apostles.
Furthermore, after Jesus fed the five thousand, the disciples gathered 12 baskets of leftover food (Matthew 14:20).
According to Revelation 21:9-21, the foundation of the holy city in Heaven, New Jerusalem, was ornamented with 12 beautiful stones and surrounded by12 gates guarded by 12 angels. Each gate was named after one of Israel's 12 tribes, which, as you may know, were named after Jacob's 12 sons.
In the following chapter, John also witnessed the Tree of Life, which bore 12 different types of fruit that grew every month (Revelation 22:2).
What Does The Number 12 Mean Prophetically?
The number 12 represents everything in biblical numerology—the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve stars, the twelve apostles, the twelve princes, and so on. The number twelve is also associated with anointed service.
A prophet of God anointed twelve men to carry out a specific task in the Bible.
Among them were Aaron and his four sons (anointed as priests in Exodus 29:7-9), Saul, David, David's son Absalom, King Jehu, Judah's Kings Joash and Jehoahaz, and King Solomon.
Number 12 And An Anointed Service
Twelve people are specifically mentioned in the Bible as being anointed for a specific task or responsibility. Aaron and his four sons will be priests (Exodus 29:7–9), and Saul (1 Samuel 10:1), David (1 Samuel 16:13), and Solomon (1 Kings 1:39) will rule over a united Israel.
Some anointed David's son Absalom as king, despite the fact that he wanted to take his father's throne but was killed (2 Samuel 19:10). The three remaining specially anointed kings are Israel's King Jehu (2Kings 9:6), Judah's King Joash (2Kings 11:12), and Jehoahaz (2Kings 11:13). (2Kings 23:30).
Additional Info On Biblical Meaning Of 12
Jesus is twelve years old when his words are first recorded in the Bible (Luke 2:42). The breastplate of the high priest, also known as the breastplate of decision, was encrusted with 12 stones. Each stone represented a different tribe of Israel.
The Urim and Thummim were part of the High Priest's breastplate. They were mostly used to seek God's guidance on important issues (1Samuel 28: 3 - 6, Numbers 27:21 and so on). Both the Talmud and the first-century historian Josephus identify the Urim and Thummim as breastplate stones.
Twelve, along with three, four, seven, and ten, are unmistakably used in God's word in a symbolic manner.
People Also Ask
What Is Significant About The Number 12 In The Bible?
Some believe that the number 12 represents authority and governmental rule. As a result, in both ancient Israel and the Christian church, the 12 sons and apostles are symbols of authority. In this painting of the Last Supper, Jesus is depicted with his 12 disciples.
Why Is 12 A Special Number?
The smallest abundant number is twelve, because it is the smallest integer with proper divisors greater than itself (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 6 = 16). Twelve is a sublime number with an infinite number of divisors, and the sum of its divisors is also infinite.
What Are The 12 Stars In Revelation?
The twelve stars above her head symbolize the twelve patriarchs of Israel (God's original people) as well as the twelve apostles (renewed people of God). Naturally, this symbolism has been interpreted in a variety of and more subjective ways, particularly in relation to various devotional forms.
Are The 12 Apostles?
The names of the twelve apostles are as follows: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; second, James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; third, Philip and Bartholomew; fourth, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; fifth, James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; sixth, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the betrayer.
The Bottomline
Overall, the biblical number 12 had a significant impact on both the Bible and our everyday lives. Jacob perfected his presence in Israel when he had 12 sons, and the new city described in the book of Revelation has 12 angels, 12 gates, 12 sons who formed 12 tribes, and so on.
So, remember your life's purpose and the profound meaning of the number 12 the next time you see it.
May this post helped you understand the meaning of the 12th angel number. You've seen how the number 12 demonstrates that God communicates with us through numbers.
Rejoice when you see this number again because you are not on this Earth. You are, in fact, a member of His kingdom, and you are destined for greatness.