אבנימ

Biblical Hermeneutics Part Second Chapter 19

Terry now turns to the interpretation of symbolic numbers, names and colors. As with other kinds of symbolism in Scripture, the interpreter must be guided by the principles which can be derived from a large collation of passages where such symbolism occurs. [Aside: The unfortunate flights of fancy of some interpreters do not negate the fact that such symbolism is indeed present in Scripture, and there for God’s people to understand and appreciate.]

Using this approach one can find warrant for a symbolic significance of certain numbers in many cases throughout Scripture. The number three is often associated with divine fullness and unity, as in Abraham’s three visitors, the triple benedictions of Numbers 6.22-26 and 2 Corinthians 13.14, the baptismal formula in Matthew 28, the seraphic worship of Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4, et al. Terry also cites scripture to show the reasonableness of understanding certain instances of the number four as the number of the world, seven as the number of the covenant between God and His creation, ten as the number of completeness, and twelve as the number of God’s chosen people. Though the use of a number in a particular text may be symbolic, this does not mean that it necessarily loses its literal sense.

Similarly with symbolic names and colors, the context and the comparison of texts brings clarity. So it is that we can safely understand certain names symbolically, such Sodom, Egypt, Babylon, Ariel and Leviathan. Even certain occurrences of the names David and Elijah are clearly symbolic for Christ and John the Baptist respectively. Finally, certain colors may be identified as symbolic by observing patterns of usage in things like the construction of the tabernacle, the priestly garments, and certain aspects of prophetic visions. Taking this approach we learn that blue often denotes the holy, heavenly and divine, purple the royal, white the pure and black the evil or calamitous.