What is the meaning of the number 8 in the Bible?
Introduction
Numbers are not just ordinary figures in the Bible.
They have profound meanings and carry hidden messages that can bring a deeper level of understanding of scriptures and reveal hidden truths to believers and readers of the Bible.
All numbers have their significance. However, some numbers are more frequently used than others.
One of these numbers is the number eight.
In the Bible, the number 8 is often associated with the concept of new beginnings or regeneration.
In Christianity, the number 8 is connected to the idea of resurrection, regeneration, and newness.
Let’s examine some meanings of the number eight with scriptural references.
Number 8 meaning in the Bible:
A new beginning
Genesis 6-9 records how sin and wickedness increased upon the surface of the earth shortly after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.
God was not pleased with the turn of even because His intent was that man flourish, prosper and carry out His will.
Therefore, He decided to wipe out humanity with water but spare Noah and his family because he was a just man, perfect in his generation.
God’s plan to wipe man and keep Noah and his family was not because He was blood-thirsty.
Instead, He wanted a new beginning for humanity. So that His will and purpose of creation would be fulfilled.
The significance of this story is not the destruction of the earth, but the number of people in Noah’s family preserved and given the commission to be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, just as He told Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 9:1, Genesis 1:28)
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1 Peter 3:20 states they were eight souls.
“Who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water” (1 Peter 3:20).
Eight symbolizes a new beginning, a fresh start and another opportunity to make amends, right wrongs, and fulfill God’s plan and purpose.
Another truth to consider about the number eight, meaning a new beginning, is that God rested on the seventh day after creation, representing the eighth day as a new beginning (Genesis 2:2–3).
Jesus rose on the eighth day, the first day of the week, which was a new beginning for the world (John 20:1-21).
Jesus’ resurrection marked a new spiritual dispensation and beginning for His disciples and the entire church that will have to navigate the world without their Master.
Jesus’ resurrection on the eighth day also marked the end of His earthly ministry and the beginning of the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, who will dwell in believers to teach, comfort, and guide them.
As such, the early church had a new experience, especially when the Holy Spirit came upon them, giving them new utterances and the ability to speak diverse languages and win souls into God’s kingdom (Acts 2:1-13).
God rested on the seventh day, and the eighth day was a new beginning (Genesis 2:2–3). The entire universe turned over a new leaf on the eighth day after God’s seven days of creation.
The eighth day was a new dawn for every living creature and all non-living things.
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New birth
The number eight also signifies a new birth. According to Jewish practice, a male child is circumcised on the eighth day after birth.
Circumcision is the act of removing the foreskin of a male child on the eighth day after birth as a sign of a covenant with God.
In the Old Testament, God appeared to Abraham to establish a covenant with Him (Gen. 17:1-14).
God told Abraham that He would make him great and the father of all nations. He must circumcise his son, Isaac, and the male in his household, including his servant, to be partakers of the blessings of God’s covenant with the patriarch, Abraham.
However, since the practice of circumcision was restricted to only the Jews in the Old Testament and the Bible has proven that Jesus came for the Jews and Gentiles, Paul argued that the circumcision of the heart, which is genuine repentance, makes anybody accepted by God and qualified for God’s blessings (Colossians 2:11, Philippians 3:3, Romans 2:28-29)
Circumcision of the heart signifies a new birth, where a sinner becomes a new creature in Christ, accepts His Holy Spirit, and begins a new life.
Every believer, especially those with no Jewish root, has experienced a new birth or circumcision of the heart, a spiritual fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham to circumcise on the eighth day.
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New order
The number eight also stands for a new order.
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The Bible records in Genesis 1:2 that“the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.”
That was how things were, or the old order, before God stepped in and uttered eight creative words recorded in Genesis chapter 1, verses 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, and 26, respectively.
After God spoke the eight creative words, the earth took a new form.
Light came, and darkness stopped being the dominant force.
Instead, it began to rule the night while the light rules the day.
The heavens and the earth and all in it, visible and invisible to the eyes, and man came into existence.
God created a new order with His eight creative and powerful words, and the new order overruled the old.
Jesus gave us a new beginning
The number 8 is often referred to as the number of Jesus.
For starters, Jesus was crucified on Nisan 14 in the Jewish Calendar 4 days after he had been selected as the lamb that would take away the sins of the world.
He then rose from the dead on Nisan 17. Nisan 17 was the 8th day from the time Christ was selected as the sacrificial lamb. As such, the death of Jesus signified a new beginning for humanity.
Another significance of the number 8 in the context of Jesus is the name redeemer. A redeemer is someone who redeems or buys back. In Isaiah 59;20, the Bible says that the Redeemer will come back to Jerusalem and buy back his people.
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This redeemer was none other than Jesus Christ. The title Redeemer appears exactly 8 times in the Bible. Here are the 8 times the Redeemer appears in the Bible:
- Isaiah 48:17 – This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
- Isaiah 49:7 - This is what the Lord says— the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel— to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
- Isaiah 49:26 - I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
- Isaiah 54:5 – For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.
- Isaiah 54:8 - In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness, I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.
- Isaiah 59:20 - The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.
- Isaiah 60:16 - You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
- Jeremiah 50:34 – Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon.
Some of these verses, such as Isaiah 59:20 and Isaiah 60:16, portray a common statement.
He will also have compassion over his people after he hid his face from them because of their sin Isaiah 54:8.
The Reappearance of Jesus After Eight Days
The resurrection of Jesus marked a new beginning when Jesus walked on Earth after his death.
The number 8 is connected to his resurrection and his appearance to his disciples.
Jesus reappeared to his disciples exactly 8 days after his resurrection John 20:26.
Thomas had doubted that Jesus had risen.
His appearance to them marked a new beginning where Thomas and the rest would confirm that Jesus had risen. This is after believing that he was actually killed and buried.
It would give them the confidence to continue with the gospel after the confirmation that Jesus had risen.
Jesus also revealed himself after he had risen 8 times before he ascended.
He first appeared to Mary Magdalene according to Mark 16:9-11. He then revealed himself to two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus(Luke 24).
Jesus then appeared to all his disciples, but Thomas was not among them (John 20:19-24). A week afterwards he appeared to all the disciples again, and this time, Thomas was among them (John 20:26-29)
The fifth time, he appeared to 500 believers (1 Corinthians 15:4-7). After this, he met the disciples in a meeting he had arranged for before his death (Matthew 28:16-17).
The seventh appearance was at the Sea of Galilee. In this one, Peter caught 153 fish (John 21:1-24). The last appearance is when he appeared to James, his half-brother (1 Corinthians 15:5-7)
Other mentions of the number 8 in the Bible
- Circumcision
In the Old Testament, baby boys were circumcised once they turned eight days old.
The covenant of circumcision was given by God to Abraham as a way of distinguishing his people from the heathens (Genesis 17:10-12).
This act of removing the foreskin would signify a covenant or an agreement between Abraham and God. It signified a new covenant relationship or, more precisely, a new beginning.
- Noah’s Ark
After destroying the Earth with water, only 8 people survived, and they were in the ark.
There was no one else left on the Earth, so the 8 people left had the task of refilling the Earth (1 Peter 3:20).
Apart from birthing a new creation, these 8 people had a chance to start living a new life. This confirms that, indeed, 8 is the number of new beginnings.
- 8 Authors of the New Testament
The New Testament is a set of books that speak about the new era after the birth of Christ.
This quite differs from the Old Testament, where blood sacrifices were the order of the day.
In this set of books, Jesus comes to give new life to those who would believe him.
This set of New Testament books were written by 8 authors.
These authors are Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, James, Peter, and Jude.
Number 8 in the Bible means new beginnings or a new birth.
There are lots of illustrations that support this in the Bible.
For instance, 8 people entered the Ark of Noah to signify the new beginning after the flood. But perhaps the most prolific is how the number 8 represents Jesus.
By mentioning the name redeemer 8 times in the bible, we are reminded that Jesus is our ultimate savior who came to give us a fresh start in God.
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David Akeju
David Akeju is a Christian writer who believes in the transformational power of God’s Word. His articles and books have been published on global platforms, and thousands of lives have been touched. He works with pastors and ministers, churches and ministries, and brands.
