The number eight has significance in the Bible. From the source of God’s blessings to a child’s gestation period, details like these help readers of the Bible draw a deeper understanding from its pages. The number 8 holds great symbolic meaning in the Bible, representing new beginnings and resurrection. In the context of new beginnings, the number 8 is closely associated with circumcision and baptism. In the Old Testament, circumcision was a physical sign of the covenant between God and Abraham’s descendants.
What Does The Number 8 Mean In The Bible
The number 8 has a lot of different meanings in the Bible.
It can represent new beginnings, because it’s the first number that has more than one digit. In Hebrew, the word for “eight” sounds like the word for life (chai), so eight is often considered a lucky number. Eight is also a symbol of completeness and wholeness—the four legs of a table, the four directions on a compass rose, etc.
The number eight holds significant meaning in the Bible, representing new beginnings, completion, and prosperity. Here are five biblical meanings associated with the number eight:
1. Renewal and Rebirth
The number eight is often linked to new beginnings and fresh starts. In the Bible, we see this symbolism in the story of Noah and the Great Flood. After the waters receded, Noah, his family, and the animals emerged from the ark to start anew. The number eight represents the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one.
2. Victory and Resurrection
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the eighth day, known as the first day of the week. This event symbolizes victory over death and sin, with Jesus ushering in a new era of hope and salvation for humanity.
3. Regeneration and Transformation
The number eight is associated with regeneration and transformation in the Bible. Just as a baby is circumcised on the eighth day in Jewish tradition, believers are called to undergo a spiritual transformation and become new creations in Christ.
4. Completion and Fulfillment
The number eight is often seen as a symbol of completeness and wholeness. In the story of creation, God rested on the seventh day, signifying the completion of His work. The eighth day represents the fulfillment of God’s plan for the world and His eternal kingdom.
5. Prosperity and Blessings
In Hebrew, the word for “eight” sounds like the word for life (chai), making it a lucky number associated with blessings and abundance. The number eight is a reminder of God’s faithfulness and provision for His people.
Three Bible verses that illustrate the significance of the number eight are:
1. Genesis 17:12 – “For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.”
2. Luke 24:1 – “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.”
3. Revelation 21:6 – “He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.'”
Overall, the number eight in the Bible symbolizes new beginnings, completion, and blessings. It serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and the promise of a fresh start for those who trust in Him. Through biblical stories and teachings, we can see how the number eight reflects the renewing power of God in our lives.
| Symbolism | Biblical Example |
|---|---|
| Renewal and Rebirth | Noah and the Great Flood |
| Victory and Resurrection | Jesus rising from the dead on the eighth day |
| Regeneration and Transformation | Circumcision on the eighth day |
| Completion and Fulfillment | God resting on the seventh day |
| Prosperity and Blessings | Hebrew association with life and blessings |
In Exodus 25:13-14, God tells Moses to build an altar to God out of acacia wood and cover it with gold plates. He then instructs Moses to place two gold rings on either side of the altar and hang two bronze poles through them so that they’ll be able to carry it around during travel. This is what’s known as the tabernacle: a portable tent where God would dwell among His people during their desert journey from Egypt to Canaan (see Exodus 25:8).
If you look closely at these instructions from God, you’ll notice something interesting about how He describes this portable structure: He tells Moses to make sure there are eight poles holding up its roof! Eight people were to carry the tabernacle—
The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 8
The number 8 represents a new beginning, meaning a new order or creation, and man’s true ‘born again’ event when he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life.
Eight is also an integral part of Jesus’ sacrifice. Like the Passover lamb, Jesus was selected as the Lamb to take away man’s sins on Nisan 10 (April 1, 30 A.D. – John 12:28–29). He was crucified on Nisan 14 (Wednesday, April 5 in 30 A.D.). His resurrection occurred three complete days after he was buried, which was at the end of the weekly Sabbath day that fell on Nisan 17. Nisan 17 was day 8, counting inclusively, from the time Christ was selected as man’s sacrificial Lamb. All this bears record of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice and His complete victory over death.
Boys were to be circumcised on the 8th day. The number 8 symbolizes the circumcision of the heart through Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:28–29; Colossians 2:11–13). Those in Christ are becoming a new creation, with godly character being created by the power of God’s Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10; 4:23–24).
After the 7 weeks of the spring harvest, the next day, the 50th day, is Pentecost. This is “day eight” of the seventh week. This 8 and 50-day combination pictures the first resurrection, when the saints will be raised from the dead and made immortal (1 Corinthians 15:20–23, John 3:3–12, Revelation 20:4–6). After the 7 days of the Feast of Tabernacles, there is an 8th day, called the Last Great Day.
Forty different people wrote the Scriptures. Forty is the product of five (symbolizing grace) times 8 (symbolizing a new beginning). It is therefore only by God’s grace and love that man will someday be given a chance for a new beginning, as promised in the Word of God.
Appearances of the Number Eight
The New Testament was penned by only eight men (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Peter, Jude, Paul). Abdon (in the East) was a Judge of Israel who served 8 years (Judges 12:13 – 14).
The most joyous feast period of the year is the eight-day period of the Fall Feast of Tabernacles, followed immediately afterward by the Last Great Day. Abraham, the father of the faithful, had 8 sons total. They were Ishmael, Isaac, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.
Timekeeping
One method of timekeeping used in Israel was called a ‘watch.’ Watches were time periods in which guards were placed on duty. Although days were initially divided into 6 equal watch periods (Judges 7:19), by the time of the New Testament, days were divided into 8 equal parts (Matthew 14:25, Mark 6:48).
Night Watches: First Watch: Sunset to 9 p.m. Second watch – 9 p.m. to Midnight Third watch: Midnight to 3 a.m. Fourth watch: 3 a.m. to sunrise.
Day Watches: First watch: Sunrise to 9 a.m. Second watch: 9 a.m. to Noon Third watch: noon to 3 p.m. Fourth watch: 3 p.m. to sunset.
What Does The Number 8 Mean Spiritually
Jesus showed himself alive 8 times after his resurrection from the dead. His first appearance alive was to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9 – 11). He then showed himself to two disciples traveling to Emmaus (Luke 24). Next, he appeared to all the disciples except Thomas (John 20:19 – 24) then a week later to all them when Thomas was present (John 20:26 – 29).
According to the apostle Paul, Christ also was seen by 500 believers at one time (1Corinthians 15:4 – 7). Jesus also met his disciples at the appointed place in Galilee (Matthew 28:16 – 17) and on Galilee’s shores (John 21:1 – 24). His final meeting was on the Mount of Olives, where he gave his followers instructions before ascending to heaven (Acts 1).
Additional info on Biblical Meaning of 8
God saved eight people on the ark in order to have a new beginning for mankind after the flood. Since the symbolism of four in the Bible is derived from God’s creation of everything, 8 (4 + 4) pictures the new creation after the flood.
Eight is the number of Jesus, whose name in the Greek adds up to 888
Number 8 Meaning In Love
8 Angel Number in LoveAngel number 8 will offer you excellent news when it comes to love. It’s a sign that your relationship woes are likely to be resolved if you see angel number 8 in love. What is this? You may expect nothing but happiness and joy from angel number 8 meaning.
Meaning of Number 8
Today, Lord be willing, we’ll bring a few thoughts to do with the number (8).
Before we begin, let me say that I obtained much of this information from reading behind Brother Ed Vallowe and others.
It’s my hope and prayer that as folks listen and read these great truths, they will be drawn closer to God and that their faith will increase as they realize that only the All-Knowing God can do such a thing, and that man simply could have never put all these facts together as we have them here in the meaning of Bible numbers.
* Before we get into the number EIGHT I want you to listen to this wonderful truth.
Christ was crucified on the 14th day of the first month,”Nissan” (7 + 7, or double completeness) which was also the 4th day of the week. “Wednesday”.
He was in the tomb exactly 3 days and 3 nights. (RESURRECTION) He was resurrected toward the end of the next weekly Sabbath, “Saturday” the 17th (the number of victory).
The 17th was also the 8th day when counted inclusively from the 10th day, the day of His selection. Thus, the whole of these numbers shows Jesus’ PERFECT (seven) sacrifice and His total COMPLETE VICTORY (SEVENTEEN) over death.
“EIGHT” IS FOUND 193 times in our KJ Bible.
The number EIGHT always means a NEW BEGINNING a NEW ORDER OF THINGS. As the number SEVEN means completion, EIGHT signifies a new beginning; so 8 stands for the NEW in contrast to the old.
The EIGHTH day is really the first day of a new week. — the EIGHTH note of the musical scale, which is the same as the first, as I mentioned last time as we were talking about the number SEVEN, there are seven notes in the musical scale, all other sounds are only different pitches to these seven, so the eighth is simple a variation of one of the seven major notes.
There were EIGHT writers of the New Testament, who wrote of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
40 authors collectively contributed to the creation of the Scriptures; this number equals 5 (grace) times 8 (a new beginning). By the grace of God mankind has the opportunity for a new beginning
EIGHT is the number for the NEW BIRTH or the NEW CREATION.
FOUR is the number for the first creation and EIGHT is the number for a NEW CREATION.
There were EIGHT people carried over from beyond the flood in the ark.
I Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
With those EIGHT the world was populated ANEW. This is a figure of a new beginning or a new order.
There are eight individual resurrections (other than the Lord Jesus, and the saints that arose when He was resurrected.
~Elijah: ONE
1 Kings 17:17-22–the son of a widow that lived in Zarephath
~ Elisha: TWO
2 Kings 4:30-37– Son of the Shunammite woman.
2 Kings 13:21– when a dead man was cast into the sepulcher of Elisha:
~ Jesus: THREE
John 11:38-44- – Lazarus raised after 4 days.
Luke 7:11-17- — Widow’s son raised during funeral.
Matt. 8:28-43 — Jairus daughter.
~Paul: ONE
Acts 20:7-12 –Eutychus fell from the window.
~Peter: ONE
Acts 9:36-42– Raised Dorcas—Of coarse it was God working through these men that done the raising.
There were many that were raised from the dead when Jesus arose; this is not pertaining to the number eight.
- Listen as I read us that account.
Matt. 27:50-53 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints (not all) which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Graves, or sepulchers, were most commonly made among the Jews in solid rocks, or in caves of rocks. And so the quake caused the rocks to move opening the graves.
It is probable that these were people who had recently died, because they appear to have been known in Jerusalem. Had the ancient saints arose they would not have been known by the people in the city.
This happening is found only here in Matthew. Those who arose were part of that great company that went to Paradise now above, (3rd heaven, 2nd cor. 12:1-4) when Christ led captivity captive at His ascension (Eph. 4:8–10).
God caused this earthquake purposely because the graves were opened by it, and “many bodies of the saints who slept arose”—just certain ones.