11: The Importance of Numbers in the Bible

The number eleven is the first repdigit or monodigit, meaning it is the first number to be composed of a recurring digit (1 and 1). It is also the smallest number to be comprised of three syllables in the English language (e-lev-en). 
 
Did you know, if a number is divisible by 11, e.g. 264 = 11 x 24, reversing its digits will result in another multiple of 11, e.g. 462 = 11 x 42? Also, do you know the name of an eleven-sided shape? I didn’t; it can either be called a hendecagon or an undecagon. 
 
What else do we know about the number eleven? Well, obviously there are eleven players on a football team. Eleven is the atomic number of sodium. Apollo 11 was the first manned spacecraft to land on the moon. The eleventh moon of Jupiter is called Himalia. Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the zodiac. The maple leaf on the flag of Canada has eleven points. World War One ended on 11thNovember 1918 at 11 o clock, which is why we hold Remembrance Day on the eleventh day of the eleventh month with a two-minute silence at the eleventh hour.
 
In the Bible, the number eleven is apparently only used 24 times, and the term “eleventh”, 19 times. The number has come to mean the opposite of the number ten, i.e. breaking the law, disorder and judgement. This is in part due to events recorded in Genesis 11 when men disobeyed God by building the Tower of Babel. As we know, God hindered their progress by causing them to speak in different languages, thus confusing them and resulting in chaos.
 
Another instance of disorder and law breaking occurs when Judas Iscariot is disgraced, eventually killing himself, leaving only eleven of Jesus’s apostles remaining. Eventually, Matthias was added to bring the total back up to twelve.
 
Let’s look at a handful of the occasions when the number eleven is mentioned in scripture:

• Genesis: 37:9 (NIV): Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
• Deuteronomy 1:2 (NIV): It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.
• Matthew 28:16 (NIV): Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
• Exodus 26:7-8 (NIV): Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle--eleven altogether.All eleven curtains are to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.

 
In the Gospel of John, there are eleven important promises:

1. John 3:16 (NIV): For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2. John 6:54 (NIV): Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
3. John 8:12 (NIV): When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
4. John 8:31-32 (NIV): To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
5. John 8:36 (NIV): So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
6. John 12:26 (NIV): Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.
7. John 14:12 (NIV): Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
8. John 14:15-16 (NIV): If you love me, keep my commands.And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever
9. John 14:21 (NIV): Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.
10. John 15:5 (NIV): I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
11. John 15:14 (NIV): You are my friends if you do what I command.

 
Often, passages from the Old Testament are referred to in Books of the New Testament; however, there are exactly eleven New Testament books that do not have any direct quotes. These are:

1. Philippians 
2. Colossians
3. 1 Thessalonians 
4. 2 Thessalonians
5. Titus
6. Philemon
7. 1 John
8. 2 John
9. 3 John
10. Jude
11. Revelation 

 
Some Old Testament quotes are repeated again and again in the New Testament and there are two that are cited eleven times: 

• Daniel 12:1 (NIV): At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
• Isaiah 6:1 (NIV): In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

 
There are eleven chiefs descended from Esau, the father of the Edomites (Genesis 36:40-43):

1. Timna
2. Alvah
3. Jetheth
4. Oholibamah
5. Elah
6. Pinon
7. Kenaz
8. Teman
9. Mibzar
10. Magdiel
11. Iram

 
Now, a final note about the number eleven: some religious fanatics who are obsessed with the rapture and Armageddon believe the number eleven is a sign of the fulfilment of Biblical prophecy, (i.e. the eleventh hour). As you may remember, there was a scare in 2012 when it was pointed out that the Mayan calendar ended after 5126 years, which happened to fall on 21stDecember 2012. Now, we know this did not result in the end of the world but at the time, many prophesied the end was nigh, using the date as evidence: 21/12/2012 = 2+1+1+2+2+0+1+2 = 11. 
 
Those who believe the number eleven signifies the end times claim there is evidence for this in the Bible. There are four books containing a chapter 11, verse 11 that refer to the end of the world:

• Isaiah 11:11 (NIV): In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush,from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the Mediterranean.
• Ezekiel 11:11 (NIV): This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel.
• Daniel 11:11 (NIV): Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.
• Revelation 11:11 (NIV): But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.

 
Complete hogwash or is there some truth is these conspiracies? I’ll let you decide. 
 
I’ll leave you with a more positive instance of the number eleven: Jesus Christ is eleven letters long.