Biblical numerology is related to the study and interpretation of the numbers featured in the Scriptures. It’s a revealing insight into the deeper meaning of the passages within the Holy Book, especially because the biblical facts related to them are often veiled in mystery.
The numbers sometimes have literal meanings, but more often than not, they bear metaphorical and symbolic messages and meanings. In this article, we analyze the angel number 17 and how it’s featured in the Holy Scriptures.
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What Does the Number 17 Mean in the Bible?
In simple terms, the number seventeen represents victory in the Bible.
The thing to remember about biblical numerology, though, is that the meanings are rarely simple or straightforward, so this is victory as in overcoming the enemy, sin, or even oneself in terms of spiritual perfection. In the Bible, this is frequently referred to as complete victory.
It’s also about how God overcame things like rebellious humans and the sins of mankind. One example would be when He caused heavy rains to flood the earth on the 17th day of the second month on the Hebrew calendar.
In contrast to that are examples of God’s eternal love being victorious over all things. All those who have faith until the end of their lives will gain victory over the grave and find eternal life, as stated in John and Corinthians, respectively.
Where Does the Number 17 Appear in the Old Testament?
The number 17 appears many times throughout both testaments of the Bible. For starters, there are seventeen Old Testament books.
Another example—Noah and his ark with eight passengers rested on the Ararat mountains on the 17th day of the seventh month. This occurred in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles, a time with a biblical meaning of being God’s annual holy period.
Also, in Genesis 18, we find that the 17th time Abraham is mentioned relates to his final victory—the true purpose of his calling. In the same book of the Old Testament, when Isaac, Abraham’s son, is mentioned for the 17th time, it’s when his bride comes to meet him (Genesis 24).
Since Abraham was said to have descendants as many as the stars in the sky, Isaac’s bride can be a symbol of the growing Church, also known as the Bride of Christ. It can be said that this is a great victory for all of Christianity and all things present that are related to God’s people.
Jacob is mentioned for the 17th time in Genesis 27 in connection with his victory over Esau. In this case, though, there is a negative connotation.
Even with the blessing of his father, we learn that Jacob found victory through deceit. Interestingly, Joseph was actually separated from his father, Jacob, for 17 years.
Another interesting fact in Genesis is that Joseph was 17 years old when he had the two famous dreams of his life. The result was that Joseph’s brothers decided to plot his demise due to the nature of these dreams (Genesis 37).
Another reference to the number 17 is seen in Psalm 83, in that 17 enemies of Israel are listed. God is asked to treat them and anyone else who would harm Israel in the future, just as God chose to destroy seven enemies in the past.
A final point about the first book shows how the number seventeen, Rehoboam, and his reign are all connected.
Rehoboam was the first king in Judah, and he was also Solomon’s son. As he was the first, Judah’s king reigned for 17 years after the previously united kingdom split.
Where Does the Number 17 Appear in the New Testament?
The theme of victory occurs again with Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:4. On the 17th day of the first Hebrew month, Nisan, Jesus Christ was resurrected from the grave, and thus, He defeated death.
Also in St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, there’s some biblical meaning to the number 17. This comes when the apostle Paul states, as he gives the word “love” a seventeenth mention, that if anyone doesn’t love the Lord, then that person should be cursed.
Jumping to the end of the New Testament, in Revelation 13:1, we can find a more metaphorical biblical meaning related to the end time system where the beast with ten horns and seven heads is mentioned.
The fact that it had seven heads and ten horns creates a total of 17.
This is the binding of Satan, and the 10 + 7 signifies Christ’s perfect victory over him. It’s also said to represent world-ruling powers that do evil and how we can overcome them in worldly life.
Additionally, this is symbolic of the devil’s end time system on the religious calendar, and on that same day, true Christians will gain victory as God resurrects them.
This is the Day of Atonement and complete victory, which brought peace and movement towards the right path. It’s often referred to as Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism, and it falls on the tenth day of the seventh Hebrew month.
What Does the Number 17 Mean Prophetically?
The prophetic meaning behind the number 17 is related to the fact that God and His everlasting glory prevailed over the sin inherent on Earth. The Earth was restored and returned to the perfection that was originally intended for it, so the number 17 represents the restoration of the Earth and the overcoming of any existing darkness.
This is best signified by the tale of the beast and the binding of Satan in Revelation.
What Does the Number 17 Mean in Hebrew?
The number 17 in Hebrew is “Yod Zayin,” which also means victory.
It’s a symbol of spiritual weaponry. This weaponry ultimately leads to the conquering and overcoming of the spiritual world, resulting in victory from all the sadness of materialism and other evil world ruling powers.
What Does the Bible Number 17 Mean in Daily Life?
The number 17 is significant in terms of daily life in that it provides the inspiration to overcome any and all challenges. If God can be victorious, then so can you, as is demonstrated by the numerous messages given with the use of this number in the Holy Scriptures.
If you can find the self-confidence to grasp what life means in terms of finding your true purpose, you, too, will be able to overcome obstacles and find victory. Remember the message of the Holy Scriptures—love conquers all.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, the numerology of the Bible has much wisdom—both literally and symbolically. By taking the time to study the deeper messages of the scriptures and their angel numbers, we can find more purpose and meaning in our own lives.