16: The Importance of Numbers in the Bible

Sweet sixteen; the smallest number with five divisors: 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16. Those who still use the imperial measurement system will know there are sixteen ounces in one pound, and other cultures also counted many things in groups of sixteen, for instance, Chinese Taoists used their fingertips and joints of the fingers to count up to sixteen on each hand. 
 
In science, sixteen is the atomic number of sulphur, which is apparently the fifth most common element on Earth. Those interested in psychology will know there are sixteen Myers-Briggs personality types. In music, a semiquaver lasts for one-sixteenth of a semibreve and is, therefore, known as a “sixteenth note” in America. In a game of Chess, there are a total of sixteen pawns on the board at the beginning of play. 
 
In America, girls celebrate a “Sweet Sixteen” party on their sixteenth birthdays; however, the age was not good for the fictional Briar Rose in Sleeping Beautywho was cursed to "prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die" on her sixteenth birthday. 
 
In Chinese history, between the years AD 304 to 439, the country was split into sixteen kingdoms. In Ancient Greece, a symbol known as the Vergina Sun had sixteen rays. In Japan, the Imperial Seal of Japan, also known as the Chrysanthemum Seal, is made up of sixteen petals.
 
In the Bible, the number sixteen is said to represent love and loving. God’s name is written in various ways in the Old Testament, however, sixteen of these, when written in Hebrew, have meanings that indicate His constant, never-ending love for His people. Also, the phrase “the Father”, appears sixteen times in scripture.
 
The number sixteen itself has been counted only twenty-one times in the Bible. Here are a handful of examples:

• 2 Kings 13:10 (NIV): In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years.
• 2 Kings 14:21 (NIV): Then all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
• 2 Kings 15:2 (NIV): He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem.
• 2 Kings 15:33 (NIV): He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.
• 2 Kings 16:12 (NIV): Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God.
• 1 Chronicles 24:4 (NIV): A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than among Ithamar’s, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar’s descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar’s descendants.
• Genesis 46:18 (NIV): These were the children born to Jacob by Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah--sixteen in all.

 
Since there are so few occurrences of the number sixteen, it is unlikely that it held any particular value in these examples; its meaning of love has been added much later. The meaning has likely derived from the well-known verses in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, wrote that there are sixteen distinct qualities of God’s love:

1. Love is patient
2. Love is kind
3. It does not envy
4. It does not boast
5. It is not proud
6. It does not dishonour others
7. It is not self-seeking
8. It is not easily angered
9. It keeps no record of wrongs
10. Love does not delight in evil
11. But rejoices with the truth
12. It always protects
13. Always trusts
14. Always hopes
15. Always perseveres
16. Love never fails

 
In addition to this list, the Book of 1 John mentions the word love numerous times, the sixteenth being “There is no fear in love.” (1 John 4:18, NIV) 
 
In the Old Testament, between the times the Israelites took possession of the Promised Land until Saul was anointed their first king, there were a total of sixteen judges who governed the whole of or part of Israel:

• Joshua
• Othniel
• Ehud
• Deborah
• Barak
• Eli 
• Gideon
• Abimelech
• Tola
• Jephthah
• Samson
• Samuel
• Ibzan
• Jair
• Elon
• Abdon

 
Finally, just as I did with the number fifteen, I have found a few words in scripture that are sixteen letters long!

• Covenantbreakers (Romans 1:31, KJV)
• Evilfavouredness (Deuteronomy 17:11, KJV)
• Lovingkindnesses (Psalm 25:6, KJV)
• Unprofitableness (Hebrews 7:18, KJV)