As a theologian, I take an interest in numbers since I find them quite fascinating. I was intrigued by this topic after realizing that the number 4 appears numerous times across the Bible, right from the creation story in Genesis 1:17-19 to the vision of John in Revelation 9:15.
This made me wonder what the biblical meaning of the number 4 is, and I and I decided to conduct more research. Besides the Bible, I read numerous online articles to understand what the number 4 means.
I even consulted a theology professor who is a math nerd to find out the meaning of the number 4. My findings came in handy when my colleagues in an online forum asked what number 4 means.
One member wanted to know whether the number 4 has a biblical significance, while another member asked its meaning in numerology. I was the first to answer since I had extensively researched this topic.
The discussion was quite productive, and it inspired me to write this article to share my knowledge of the meaning of number 4.
Though the Bible does not directly mention the meaning of the number 4, scholars suggest that it indicates completeness. This suggestion is based on Genesis 1:14-19 which narrates how God created the sun, stars, and the moon on the fourth day. Scholars speculate that the number 4 in this story signifies God completing the material universe. Others imply that the number 4 in the Bible is associated with prophetic visions since in the vision of John in Revelation 9:15, he described seeing 4 angels. They also speculate that the number 4 represents prophetic visions in the Bible since Zechariah had a vision of 4 chariots coming out of two mountains in Zechariah 6:1-5).
In this article, I invite you to join me as we delve into the meaning of number 4. Keep reading to find out the biblical meaning of the number 4, the spiritual meaning of the angel number 4, what the angel number means in different scenarios, and much more.
What is the biblical meaning of the number 4?
Though the Bible does not directly mention the meaning of the number 4, some theologians suggest that it means completeness. They support their suggestion through the story of creation highlighted in Genesis 1:14-19.
The Bible says that God created the stars, moon, and sun on this day. Since this was the fourth day of creation, theologians imply that the number 4 represents God completing the material universe.
According to some Bible scholars, the number 4 in the Bible is related to a sense of completeness since Genesis 2:10-14 mentions 4 rivers in the Garden of Eden.
These rivers were the Euphrates, Tigris, Gihon, and Pishon. They argue that the number 4 in this passage gives the impression of a unit or a full picture.
Others speculate that the number 4 is a significant value in the design of the sacred buildings and furnishings in the Old Testament.
They argue that God chose the rectangle, which has 4 corners, as the main shape for most of the elements in the Old Testament.
This suggestion is based on sacred buildings like Solomon’s temple mentioned in 1st Kings 7:2. According to this verse, the House of the Forest of Lebanon was built on four rows of cedar pillars.
Some theologians also posit that four in the Bible represent prophetic visions. They base their argument on the story of Daniel, who saw four great beasts coming out of the sea (Daniel 7:3), and Zechariah, who had a vision of 4 chariots coming out of two mountains (Zechariah 6:1-5)
What is the meaning of the number 4 in numerology?
According to numerologists, humans have been associated with numbers since birth. They believe that numbers hold profound vibrations and meanings that can help you gain insights about your life, including your future.
Individuals born on the 31st and 22nd are believed to be ruled by the numerology number 4 since adding the individual digits in these numbers equals 4.
Here is what numerologists believe the number 4 means.
Balance and hard work
Numerologists suggest that the number 4 is a guiding force that urges you to strive for balance and work diligently to establish a strong foundation.
They believe that when you embrace the essence of the number 4, you can easily navigate the spiritual path and discover your true purpose in life.
People also posit that numerology number 4 reminds you of the importance of maintaining a balance between the mind, spirit, and body.
This number is believed to prompt you to nurture the different aspects of yourself and address your spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.
Wisdom and groundedness
The number 4 is also believed to reflect the connection to the earth and represent qualities like groundedness, stability, and wisdom.
Numerologists speculate that the energy of this number reminds you to learn from your experiences and embrace the lessons of the physical realm to achieve spiritual growth.
They also suggest that the number 4 reminds you to remain grounded and seek wisdom from different resources.
Discipline
Some people suggest that the numerology number 4 represents perseverance and discipline. This number is believed to remind you to persevere in life and always remain disciplined to achieve your goals.
Reliability
People believe that if you have number 4 in your numerology, you are reliable and always deliver when efficiency and strength are required.
They argue that this is a rational number that brings a sense of consistency and security. Most people who believe in numerology speculate that this number means you are extremely dependable.
Leadership
In numerology, the number 4 is also believed to symbolize leadership. Some people speculate that when you are guided by the number 4, you are a born leader.
They argue that this number means that you have the characteristics of a leader, such as honesty, practicality, and being oriented to details.
5 Spiritual meanings of the angel number 4
Receiving support and love from the angels
Angel numbers are believed to appear in your life when they are trying to communicate with you. Some people suggest that angel number 4 means that you are receiving support and love from your guardian angels.
They further speculate that this angel number means that your guardian angels encourage you to be resilient to achieve your goals.
Those with this school of thought imply that the angel number 4 means that your guardian angels will guide you even during tough situations in life and help you become a better version of yourself.
The universe is working in your favor
Some people also believe that the angel number 4 means that the universe is working in your favor and you will achieve your heart’s desires.
They suggest that this angel number means that to succeed, you have to be prepared for uncertainty.
Dreams come true
Others posit that the angel number 4 means your dreams will come true. They believe that this will happen not only because your guardian angels are helping you but also because you put your energy and time into expressing yourself and you are not afraid of facing challenges.
The angel number 4 is believed to spiritually mean that your spirit guides are reminding you to stay motivated so that your dreams come true.
Building strong foundations
Spiritually, the angel number 4 is believed to be about ensuring mental stability and building strong foundations.
People believe that this angel number reminds you to move beyond your comfort zone in a calculated manner and send good vibes out into the universe.
Follow your intuition
We mentioned that some people believe that the number 4 is a sign of stability. They speculate that to get to a point of stability, you need to follow your intuition and trust yourself.
According to some people, the angel number 4 reminds you to listen to your intuition. It is believed to remind you that you have the knowledge to make the right decisions and that you need to tap into your inborn wisdom.
What is the symbolism of the biblical number 4?
Since the number 4 appears numerous times in the Bible, most people believe it is not a coincidence. They suggest that the biblical number 4 symbolizes the following.
Time of worship
Some theologians imply that the biblical number 4 symbolizes a time of sacrifice and worship of Israel. This suggestion is based on Leviticus 19:24, where God commanded the Israelites to offer the first fruits of the trees in the new land in the fourth year.
Theologians suggest that the number 4 in this passage symbolizes a time of reflection and a reminder for the Israelites to worship God and remain faithful to him.
Ministry of Jesus
Christians believe the number 4 in the Bible symbolizes the ministry of Jesus, which is recorded in the 4 Gospels of the New Testament: John, Luke, Mark, and Matthew.
Each of the gospels is believed to emphasize an aspect of his ministry and his sacrifice. While the gospel of Luke presents Jesus as the Perfect son of man (Luke 9:22), John proclaims him as the begotten son of God (John 3:16).
On the other hand, Matthew refers to Jesus as the King and son of David (Matthew 1:1-17), while Mark refers to Jesus as a suffering servant (Mark 8:31).
The Crucifixion
The number four in the Bible is also believed to symbolize the crucifixion of Jesus since his cross had four corners. Matthew 27 tells us of how Jesus was tried and sentenced to death through crucifixion.
He sacrificed his life willingly to save us from our sins. His cross had four corners at the bottom, top, left, and right. Some Ch