What is the significance of the number 17 in the Old Testament?

Answer 1

The number 17 is a particularly propitious number associated in The Bible with all the most important early leaders. For example, the first five persons in the biblical genealogy (Cain and Abel were not included):

Name

Lifespan

Pattern

Adam

930

7x9 + 51x17

Seth

912

5x9 + 51x17

Enos

905

8x9 + 49x17

Cainan

910

6x10 + 50x17

Mahalalel

895

5x9 + 50x17

The lifespans of the Patriarchs each contain the number 17 coded in a sequence defined by numerology. The Bible says that:

1. Abraham lived to 175

   (5 X 5 X 7)

2. Isaac lived to 180

   (6 X 6 X 5)

3. Jacob lived to 147

   (7 X 7 X 3)

Examining these supposed lifespans, we find that:

• Each lifespan involves a perfect square (5, 6, then 7 in a numeric series),
• The third factor also forms a series (7, 5, 3)
• In each case the sum of the factors is 17.

The other great leaders were Joseph, Levi, Moses and Joshua. The priestly tribe of Levites was said to be descended from Levi, great grandfather of Moses who, along with Joshua, fulfilled the covenant that God gave to the patriarchs. We find a similar fascination with elegant series and the number 17 in their lives:

1. Levi, who lived to 137

   (7 X 5 + 6 X 17)

2. Amran, Moses' father, who also lived to 137

   (therefore also 7 X 5 + 6 X 17)

3. Moses, who lived to 120

   (7 X 5 + 5 X 17)

4. Joshua, who lived to 110

   (5 X 5 + 5 X 17).

5. Joseph, who also lived to 110

   (5 X 5 + 5 X 17).

Jacob lived his last 17 years in Egypt. Joseph was sold into Egypt at age 17.

Another Old Testament example of the special significance of the number 17 occurs in the life of the Bible's oldest human, Methuselah. He had his first son at 187 (17 X 11 years) and died at 969 (17 X 57 years).

The biblical heroes may not have lived to such great ages, if they lived at all, but we can see from a study of their biblical lifespans that 17 was a very significant number in early numerology.