What Does The Number 8 Mean In The Bible - Scriptural Thinking (2024)

The Bible is an amazing book filled with an abundance of rich treasures to explore and find. Many of the gems are revealed by the numbers mentioned in the Bible.

God was always very specific when giving instructions involving measurements and the numbers He gave are not just random but have very significant meanings. Today we are going to look at the number eight.

What does the number 8 mean in the Bible? The number 8 signifies the resurrection, regeneration, or new beginnings and Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of the number 8.

Jesus himself said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25

A quick thought, notice he said THE resurrection and THE life. It is singular, mankind’s only hope is in one single person… Jesus Christ and the resurrection number backs him up completely…

The Letters In The Name Jesus Add Up To 888

In case you are not familiar with how Bible numerics works most of us know about Roman numerals and how each letter represents a number.

What seems far less known is that the Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) alphabets are very similar with each letter also representing a number.

The Greek word for Jesus is Iēsous. The number value of each letter is as follows…I = 10, e = 8, s = 200, o = 70, u = 400, s = 200. The grand total = 888

It is apt that we start our study of the Bible number 8 with Jesus who is the resurrection and the life. He is the entryway into a new beginning.

All of the Bible terms such as born again, a new creature in Christ, a new heaven and a new earth, a new Jerusalem, a new name written down in glory, and so on, can only be possible because of the resurrection of Jesus.

The Number 8 Is Stamped All Over Jesus Representing Resurrection And A New Beginning

• Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man and this phrase appears exactly 88 times in the New Testament.
• Jesus was referred to as the Son of David and the phrase appears 80 times (10×8) in the New Testament.
• David was the 8th son of Jesse.
• Bethlehem, where both Jesus and David were born, is mentioned exactly 8 times in the New Testament.
• Doubting Thomas became believing Thomas when Jesus appeared 8 days after his visit to the other disciples when Thomas wasn’t there. On the 8th day (resurrection day) Thomas believed in the resurrection.
• The terms “said Jesus” appears 23 times and “Jesus said” appears 65 times for a total of 88

The very phrase New Testament is a new beginning and only exists because Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant.

Jesus Resurrection Was On The 8th Day

There are two ways to see that Jesus rose from the dead on the eighth day…

The first is that he rose on the first day of the week, Saturday was the sabbath day (7th day) and he rose from the dead the next morning making it the resurrection number and 8th day.

By the way, if you search the Bible for the phrase first day of the week (day 8) it appears in exactly 8 verses.

The first day of the week is like the 8th day and symbolizes a new beginning. The start of a new week, the old week is gone and a new one now starts, the resurrection of a new week.

The second way to look at it is very exciting…

In the Old Testament on the 10th day of Nissan, the Israelites were to choose their Passover lamb and it was on this exact same date that Jesus made his entry into Jerusalem on an ass and the people…

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessedis the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. (John 12:13)

On that very same day, they would have chosen their Passover lambs ready for the Passover however they (unknowingly) had just chosen Jesus as the Passover lamb – and 8 days later he rose from the dead.

To learn more about the significance of the above story I recommend you read Why the ‘Date’ of Palm Sunday Is so Profound – it is written by Karen Engleand is the best article I could find that explains it all in an easy to read (and easy to be understood) manner.

Jesus Declared To Be The Son Of God… By The Resurrection From The Dead!

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:4)

Everything hinges on the resurrection of Christ. It is through the resurrection on the first day of the week which is written in 8 Bible verses, and Jesus the 888 numerical man rising from the dead on the 8th day that salvation is possible.

The Bible says in John 3:1-8 that we must be born again. Through the death and resurrection of Christ, we can have a new beginning.

Roms 6:3-5 talks about us being baptized into his death… that’s the end of our old week, our old ways, and as Rom 6:6 puts it… the body of sin might be destroyed, and our old man is crucified.

Why?

So we can have a new beginning.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:5)

8 People Were Saved On Noah’s Ark and 8 People Had A New Beginning When The Flood Was Over

The like figure whereunto evenbaptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by theresurrection of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 3:21)

Once again the number 8 is all about new beginnings and THE resurrection of Christ.

Jesus Is Given The Title Redeemer 8 Times

The word redeemer actually only appears in the Old Testament and there 18 occurrences however as a prophetic title that is obviously referring to Jesus the word Redeemer (with a capital R) appears exactly 8 times.

You can find the word Redeemer 8 times:

1. Isaiah 48:17 – Thus saith the LORD, thyRedeemer, the Holy One of Israel; Iamthe LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the waythatthou shouldest go.
2. Isaiah 49:7 – Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
3. Isaiah 49:26 – And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
4. Isaiah 54:5 – And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
5. Isaiah 54:8 – In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
6. Isaiah 59:20 – And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
7. Isaiah 60:16 – Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
8. Jeremiah 50:34 – Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

Christ hathredeemedus from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursedis every one that hangeth on a tree: (Gal 3:13)

Book Of Ruth – The Only Way Naomi Could Get Her Inheritance Back Was Through A Near Kinsman Redeemer

One of the most amazing books in the Bible the book of Ruth symbolizes the falling away of Israel (Naomi) and the emergence of the Church (Ruth) and the eventual redemption of both through a near Kinsman redeemer.

The Word Redeem Appears Exactly 8 Times In The Book Of Ruth

Screen capture fromBlueletterbible.org

Now let’s get into some really fascinating stuff. We read in verses 13-16 how Boaz and Ruth get married and have a child and it was said to Naomi this child shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life!

Oh, there is so much about the Church, Israel and Jesus our Savior in this book however let’s stick the number 8. Let’s look at verse 17 onwards…

Screen capture fromBlueletterbible.org

Obed the son of Boaz and Ruth was number 8 in the line of Pharez.

So… the 8th person in the line of Pharez and son of the story of redemption and the Kinsman redeemer had a child name Jesse whose 8th son was David and Jesus the 888 was called the son of David the 8th. And this is all recorded in the book of Ruth that has the word redeem 8 times!

The Beginning Of The Church On The Day Of Pentecost Was On The 8th Day!

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (Acts 2:32-33)

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Unlocking The Sacred Significance Of Number 8 In The Bible

This is another exciting example of the number 8 being associated with resurrection, a new beginning, and regeneration.

The word Pentecost means fiftieth and it was a feast day so named because it fell 50 days after Passover.

This was a massive feast of weeks which coincided with the spring harvest (spring also represents new birth, new beginnings) which was comprised of 7 weeks of 7 with the 50th day being the final day of the feast.

The 50th day was the 8th day of the final week.

It was on this day that the resurrected Jesus was pouring out the Holy Ghost and the Church was born.

God Made A New Creation On The 8th Day!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

One line of thought is God created everything in 6 days and rested on the 7th-day and then Jesus (God in the flesh) rose from the dead on the 8th day to start a new creation.

One day there is going to be a new heaven, and a new earth and God, through Jesus Christ is preparing new creatures to enter in.

That’s why you must be born again because you can not enter the new heaven and the new earth unless you yourself become new as well.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)

There is also going to be a new Jerusalem and we are also going to receive new names.

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God,which isnewJerusalem, which cometh down out ofheavenfrom my God: andI will write upon himmynew name. (Revelation 3:12)

The whole point of all this is that it all still revolves around what the number 8 represents. Resurrection, new beginnings, and regeneration. Everything must become new!

God’s Great Week Ends With A New Beginning On The 8th Day!

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)

Taking this further many consider us to be living in God’s great week. Assuming 1000 years equals a day than from Adam & Eve we have had about 6000 years, therefore 6 days.

We all waiting for the return of the Lord and then there will be another 1000 years of peace known as the millennium, therefore day 7.

At the end of the millennium, there will be the final scuffle with Satan and his troops and we win – yeah!

Then on the 8th day will be the final resurrection and we will be forever with the Lord. The 8th day again relating to resurrection and new beginnings.

Children Of Israel Were Circumcised On The 8th Day!

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised… And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. (Genesis 17:10-12)

Once again the 8th day signified the time they could enter into the covenant with God. Remember Jesus represents the ultimate number 8.

His name adds up to 888, he rose from the dead on the 8th day, and he was also circumcised on the 8th day. (Luke 2:21)

But of course, all of this was just a shadow of the real thing to come.

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Real circumcision is of the heart and only possible by being filled with the Holy Ghost which in turn is only possible because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen withhim through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Col 2:12)

In the Old Testament, it was all outward appearance and the procedure was carried out by men. In the New Testament, circumcision is inward and God does the operating.

The New Testament Was Written By 8 Authors

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Peter, Jude, and Paul authored the New Testament.

Some dispute that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews and the author is unknown however it has been a long-held view that he did and even so we could say there are 8 known authors of the New Testament.

Considering it is the NEW Testament and the number 8 means a NEW beginning or resurrection, and the entire New Testament only exists because of the resurrection of Christ and is in fact all about the power and the life available through the resurrection of Christ then it seems more than coincidental that the number 8 is stamped upon it.

You Must Be Born Again

In John 3:3-8 Jesus said you MUST be born again. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Except a man be born of water andof the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. This statement is so important and is all about new beginnings you would think the number 8 would have to be prominent to back it up – and it is!

Screen capture fromBlueletterbible.org

The Number 8’s Associated With Being Born Again!

• As you can see in the image above the word born when Jesus is speaking about being born again is used exactly 8 times.
• The very last phrase “So is every one that is born of the Spirit.” contains 8 words in the original Greek and of course it is in the final and eighth appearance of the word born.
• In verse 6, the phrase “and that which is born of the spirit is spirit” also contains 8 words in the original Greek.
• In 1 Cor 15:8 – Paul says, “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” also has exactly 8 words in the original Greek.
• And to top it off in 1 John 4:7 – where it says, “and every one that loveth is born of God” also has exactly 8 words in the original Greek.

So… Being Born Again Is Also Stamped With The Number 8

Through the resurrection (8) on the first day of the week (8) of Jesus (888) who was born in Bethlehem (8), and who was the Son of Man (88) and the Son of David (80) we can be born again (8) just like the disciples when the Church began on the day of Pentecost (8).

We become a new creation (8) through Circumcision of the heart (8) and become partakers of the New Testament (8) and we look forward to new heaven (8), new earth (8), new Jerusalem (8), and a new name (8) and finally the time we will be forever with the Lord (8).

8 Things The New Creation Should Put On

Colossians 3:10 tells us to put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. And then in verses: 12-14 Pauls tells us what to put on.

1. Bowels of mercies
2. Kindness
3. Humbleness of mind
4. Meekness
5. Longsuffering
6. Forbearing one another
7. Forgiving one another
8. And above all these thingsput oncharity

I always think of this as a way of getting dressed in the morning by putting each of the above things on and above all things put on charity (love) – like an overcoat going over the rest of the items you put on. Nonetheless – there are 8 things the new creature in Christ should be putting on.

8 Things To Make You Fruitful In The Lord

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Pet 1:5-8)

1. Faith
2. Virtue
3. Knowledge
4. Temperance
5. Patience
6. Godliness
7. Brotherly Kindness
8. Charity

Bones Mentioned 8 Times In The Valley Of Dry Bones

In Ezekiel 37 where the very well known prophecy about the valley of dry bones is spoken about, the word bones are mentioned precisely 8 times.

This is yet another confirmation that the number 8 is always associated with resurrection, new birth, new beginnings, new creation, regeneration, and reviving. This whole prophecy is about God breathing his Spirit on dead dry bones and bring them back to life again.

The Word REVIVE Is Mentioned 8 Times In The Bible

Again we see when the scriptures are talking about regeneration and in this case using the word revive the number 8 is always prevalent. The word revive is mentioned exactly 8 times in the Bible and of course, it is all possible through Jesus (888) the great reviver.

In summary, I have covered a lot about what the number 8 means in the Bible in as brief a manner as possible. By all means, examine the topic further as you can really go quite in-depth and uncover many more instances of the number in the Bible.

However, what I have already covered above clearly demonstrates the number 8 in the Bible is related to resurrection and words closely associated with it… such as revive, renew, regenerate, and a new beginning.

I have for most of my Church life always know the number 8 is associated with resurrection however after writing this little study I am blown away by the number eights associated with being born again and was thrilled to learn about it.

You may also be interested in God’s Eternal Purpose For You In Christ (The Plan Of God For You) and Jesus Came To Destroy The Works Of The Devil

God Bless!