The Symbolic Meaning of the Number 9

[Victor]

Since today is 09/09/09, I thought I would share an article on the meaning of the Number 9 in Scripture. It is from Richard's page about Nine (http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_9.asp). What about you brothers? Do you have any other insights on the symbolic meaning of the Number 9?




But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22f


Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ... For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:4ff


THE NUMBER 9 is the largest digit. It use as a numerical symbol in Scripture is relatively rare and somewhat diverse, so many commentators have found it difficult to establish its meaning. Almost all begin with the two verses above, which list nine fruits and nine gifts of the Spirit (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Tet_Fruit.asp). This correlation finds its origin in the creation of Fruit on the Third Day (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Gimel_ThirdDay.asp) (9 = 3 x 3) and the great Spoke 3 theme (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Gimel_Spirit.asp) relating to Food, Nourishment, and the Holy Ghost.

Many commentators also note that there is a certain sense of "finality" associated with the Number 9 because it is the largest and last digit. This is particular pronounced in its repdigit (http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_Repdigits.asp) form, 999 (http://www.biblewheel.com/GR/GR_999.asp), which is one less than 1000 (http://www.biblewheel.com/GR/GR_1000.asp), which is the literal meaning of the name of the first letter Aleph (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Aleph_Leader.asp), and so seems to bring us back around "full circle" from 1 (God) to a 1000 (= Ho Nikon, The Victor). In general, the numbers 9, 99, 999, and so forth, are used in contrast with powers of 10 as representative of something just shy of perfection or completion. This is because powers of ten minus 1 always produce a repdigit (http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_Repdigits.asp) of repeated 9s. The power indicates how many 9s will be repreated. For example: 105 - 1 = 99999 (five 9s).


Jesus used numbers of this form in his parables. For example, he used 99 = 100 - 1 in Matthew 18:12:
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Likewise, He used 9 = 10 - 1 in Luke 17:17:
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
This last example recalls the tithe since 90% remains after giving 10%. Note that all these examples are based on the fact that Biblical mathematics is based on the Number 10.

[Rose]

Since today is 09/09/09, I thought I would share an article on the meaning of the Number 9 in Scripture. It is from Richard's page about Nine (http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_9.asp). What about you brothers? Do you have any other insights on the symbolic meaning of the Number 9?




But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22f


Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ... For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:4ff


THE NUMBER 9 is the largest digit. It use as a numerical symbol in Scripture is relatively rare and somewhat diverse, so many commentators have found it difficult to establish its meaning. Almost all begin with the two verses above, which list nine fruits and nine gifts of the Spirit (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Tet_Fruit.asp). This correlation finds its origin in the creation of Fruit on the Third Day (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Gimel_ThirdDay.asp) (9 = 3 x 3) and the great Spoke 3 theme (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Gimel_Spirit.asp) relating to Food, Nourishment, and the Holy Ghost.

Many commentators also note that there is a certain sense of "finality" associated with the Number 9 because it is the largest and last digit. This is particular pronounced in its repdigit (http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_Repdigits.asp) form, 999 (http://www.biblewheel.com/GR/GR_999.asp), which is one less than 1000 (http://www.biblewheel.com/GR/GR_1000.asp), which is the literal meaning of the name of the first letter Aleph (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Aleph_Leader.asp), and so seems to bring us back around "full circle" from 1 (God) to a 1000 (= Ho Nikon, The Victor). In general, the numbers 9, 99, 999, and so forth, are used in contrast with powers of 10 as representative of something just shy of perfection or completion. This is because powers of ten minus 1 always produce a repdigit (http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_Repdigits.asp) of repeated 9s. The power indicates how many 9s will be repreated. For example: 105 - 1 = 99999 (five 9s).


Jesus used numbers of this form in his parables. For example, he used 99 = 100 - 1 in Matthew 18:12:
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?Likewise, He used 9 = 10 - 1 in Luke 17:17:
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?This last example recalls the tithe since 90% remains after giving 10%. Note that all these examples are based on the fact that Biblical mathematics is based on the Number 10.

Great post on "9" in Scripture. :)

I especially find your statement about Biblical mathematics being based on the number 10 interesting, because it clearly establishes the ancient usage of the base 10 system.

So, now we have established the ancient usage of the base 10 system, and the 12 month = 1 year system. :thumb:

God Bless

Rose

[joel]

Victor,

I like your reference to 9/9/09, today being that day on our calendar......as being appropriate to look at the number 9.

some things which come to mind;

9 is one number shy of 10, and as you pointed out.....one number shy of 100.
Tet, the ninth Hebrew letter, so I am told, is the least common letter in the Torah.

The 1st use of the letter Tet is Gen. 1:4, as the beginning letter of the word "good"...And God saw the light that it was good." This is the first of His works of creation....the light...which He divided from the darkness.

You also pointed out that there are 9 fruits of the Spirit, and 9 diverse gifts.

The fruits are applicable to an individual person......9 fruits to be nurtured within.

Whereas, the gifts are applicable to the body of Christ, a plurality of individuals who are to be as "one" body, wherein 9 gifts are operating.

10 is the number that signifies the plurality in operation in this case as the one major missing piece to operate towards the edification of the body is "love". (I have been told that a gathering of Jewish men so as to function as a synogogue is 10).

So 9 represents in that case just one step short of functioning......as it should.

It seems helpful to see that God chose 9 months for a woman to carry her child under normal conditions. In Romans 9:9, we have a picture of the promise of birth given to Sarah; "For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son". Isaac represents the one that was missing, but, was promised to come. When he did come, the family was "completed" in the sense of one more being added.

Nine is also a number that when it is multiplied with another number less than 10, the two numbers of the total, when added together, make 9 again.
9 x 2 = 18 (8 + 1)= 9, etc.

This indicates to me that we can multiply ourselves all we want, but, if God is not in it, as the One needed to "build" the house, we will always be one shy.

Joel

[CWH]

Hi,

God gave us 10 fingers so that we can easily do simple multiplications by 9. I remember doing such calculation when I was a child:

1) Put your fingers in front of you palms up.
2) Suppose you want to calculate 3 X 9, put the 3rd finger i.e the middle finger of your left hand down and you got 2 fingers on the left hand separated by the down left middle finger and total of 7 fingers to your right = 27.

http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/2148094/howtocakeclustersfingers019_Full.jpg

Goes the same for calculating other numbers by nine such as 4 X 9 (downed 4th finger of your left hand and you have 36) etc. up to 10.

The following website will describe in details:

http://www.wikihow.com/Remember-the-9's-in-Multiplication-Using-Your-Hands


There are other methods of calculating by 9:

1) Take the number you are multiplying 9 by and subtract one. That number is the first number in the solution.
Then subtract that number from nine. That number is the second number of the solution.

Examples:
4 * 9 = 36
4-1=3
9-3=6
solution = 36

8 * 9 = 72
8-1=7
9-7=2
solution = 72

5 * 9 = 45

5-1=4
9-4=5
solution = 45

2) Take the one-digit number you are multipling by nine, and insert a zero to its right. Then subtract the original number from it.
For example: if the problem is 9 * 6, insert a zero to the right of the six, then subtract six:
9 * 6 = 60 - 6 = 54


9 is a fascinating number indeed!:)

Many Blessings to all.

[Victor]

Great post on "9" in Scripture. :)

I especially find your statement about Biblical mathematics being based on the number 10 interesting, because it clearly establishes the ancient usage of the base 10 system.

So, now we have established the ancient usage of the base 10 system, and the 12 month = 1 year system. :thumb:

God Bless

Rose

Oh yes! The base 10 system is implicit in the gematria table of the letters of the alphabet. It is very ancient. The letter values range from 1-9, 10-90 and 100-900 (including the sofit values).

[Victor]

Victor,

I like your reference to 9/9/09, today being that day on our calendar......as being appropriate to look at the number 9.

some things which come to mind;

9 is one number shy of 10, and as you pointed out.....one number shy of 100.

That's correct.

9 = 10 - 1
99 = 10^2 - 1
...
99999 = 10^5 - 1
and so on...



Tet, the ninth Hebrew letter, so I am told, is the least common letter in the Torah.

The 1st use of the letter Tet is Gen. 1:4, as the beginning letter of the word "good"...And God saw the light that it was good." This is the first of His works of creation....the light...which He divided from the darkness.

The Nineth Letter is a rare one indeed. It is maybe the most mysterious of all 22 Letters.

The symbolic meaning of Tet is demonstrated by its first appearance in Genesis 1:4 - it means Goodness. "Good" is the dominant Tet KeyWord in the Alphabetic Verses (e.g., Psalm 119:65-72).


You also pointed out that there are 9 fruits of the Spirit, and 9 diverse gifts.

The fruits are applicable to an individual person......9 fruits to be nurtured within.

Whereas, the gifts are applicable to the body of Christ, a plurality of individuals who are to be as "one" body, wherein 9 gifts are operating.

Very good! It is a ninefold fruit - and they are all good!


10 is the number that signifies the plurality in operation in this case as the one major missing piece to operate towards the edification of the body is "love". (I have been told that a gathering of Jewish men so as to function as a synogogue is 10).

So 9 represents in that case just one step short of functioning......as it should.

Excellent insight. It links to the versification of the great Love Chapter of Scripture which is First Corinthians 13 (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Mayim_Love.asp). When we reach verse 9 what do we read?

http://www.biblewheel.com/forum/../images/f_r48.gif

Tet: 9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

This links to this aspect of 9 falling short of the whole by a unit. Perfection comes with Number 10.

http://www.biblewheel.com/forum/../images/y_r48.gifYod: 10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Do you have any references about 10 being the minimum number to form a synagogue?


It seems helpful to see that God chose 9 months for a woman to carry her child under normal conditions. In Romans 9:9, we have a picture of the promise of birth given to Sarah; "For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son". Isaac represents the one that was missing, but, was promised to come. When he did come, the family was "completed" in the sense of one more being added.

Very good! I love the reference to Romans 9:9. Reminds me of the early days of my research on the Wheel. This also links to the ages of Abraham and Sarah during those times (99 and 90). And Abraham was 100 when Isaac was born.


Nine is also a number that when it is multiplied with another number less than 10, the two numbers of the total, when added together, make 9 again.
9 x 2 = 18 (8 + 1)= 9, etc.

This indicates to me that we can multiply ourselves all we want, but, if God is not in it, as the One needed to "build" the house, we will always be one shy.

Joel

Nice! The digit sum of any multiple of 9 (sans zero) adds up to 9.

Thank you for your great post!

[Victor]

Hi,

God gave us 10 fingers so that we can easily do simple multiplications by 9. I remember doing such calculation when I was a child:

1) Put your fingers in front of you palms up.
2) Suppose you want to calculate 3 X 9, put the 3rd finger i.e the middle finger of your left hand down and you got 2 fingers on the left hand separated by the down left middle finger and total of 7 fingers to your right = 27.

http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/2148094/howtocakeclustersfingers019_Full.jpg

Goes the same for calculating other numbers by nine such as 4 X 9 (downed 4th finger of your left hand and you have 36) etc. up to 10.

The following website will describe in details:

http://www.wikihow.com/Remember-the-9's-in-Multiplication-Using-Your-Hands


There are other methods of calculating by 9:

1) Take the number you are multiplying 9 by and subtract one. That number is the first number in the solution.
Then subtract that number from nine. That number is the second number of the solution.

Examples:
4 * 9 = 36
4-1=3
9-3=6
solution = 36

8 * 9 = 72
8-1=7
9-7=2
solution = 72

5 * 9 = 45

5-1=4
9-4=5
solution = 45

2) Take the one-digit number you are multipling by nine, and insert a zero to its right. Then subtract the original number from it.
For example: if the problem is 9 * 6, insert a zero to the right of the six, then subtract six:
9 * 6 = 60 - 6 = 54


9 is a fascinating number indeed!:)

Many Blessings to all.

Nine is a fascinating number! And there's a lot of math trivia that involves nine and digital structure (pun intended)!

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Since today is 09/09/09, I thought I would share an article on the meaning of the Number 9 in Scripture. It is from Richard's page about Nine (http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_9.asp). What about you brothers? Do you have any other insights on the symbolic meaning of the Number 9?


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22f


Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ... For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:4ff


THE NUMBER 9 is the largest digit. It use as a numerical symbol in Scripture is relatively rare and somewhat diverse, so many commentators have found it difficult to establish its meaning. Almost all begin with the two verses above, which list nine fruits and nine gifts of the Spirit (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Tet_Fruit.asp). This correlation finds its origin in the creation of Fruit on the Third Day (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Gimel_ThirdDay.asp) (9 = 3 x 3) and the great Spoke 3 theme (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Gimel_Spirit.asp) relating to Food, Nourishment, and the Holy Ghost.

Many commentators also note that there is a certain sense of "finality" associated with the Number 9 because it is the largest and last digit. This is particular pronounced in its repdigit (http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_Repdigits.asp) form, 999 (http://www.biblewheel.com/GR/GR_999.asp), which is one less than 1000 (http://www.biblewheel.com/GR/GR_1000.asp), which is the literal meaning of the name of the first letter Aleph (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Aleph_Leader.asp), and so seems to bring us back around "full circle" from 1 (God) to a 1000 (= Ho Nikon, The Victor). In general, the numbers 9, 99, 999, and so forth, are used in contrast with powers of 10 as representative of something just shy of perfection or completion. This is because powers of ten minus 1 always produce a repdigit (http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_Repdigits.asp) of repeated 9s. The power indicates how many 9s will be repreated. For example: 10^5 - 1 = 99999 (five 9s).

Jesus used numbers of this form in his parables. For example, he used 99 = 100 - 1 in Matthew 18:12:
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?Likewise, He used 9 = 10 - 1 in Luke 17:17:
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?This last example recalls the tithe since 90% remains after giving 10%. Note that all these examples are based on the fact that Biblical mathematics is based on the Number 10.
Wonderful post Victor!

The evidence for Base Ten runs throughout Scripture. We have the examples of 100 vs. 99 that you gave, the tithe, and the alphanumeric structures of both the Greek and Hebrew alphabets. And then we have amazing examples of links between the values of theologically related Hebrew and Greek words, e.g.

Christos (Christ) = 1480 = 10 x 148 (Pesach, Passover)

Holy Spirit (Pneuma Hagion) = 710 = 10 x 71 (Yonah, Dove)

I talk about these and many more in my article Multiples of Ten (http://www.biblewheel.com/GR/GR_Ten.asp).

We should all try to post a response at 9:09 PM to get to see if anyone can get a 09/09/2009 9:09 PM in the header. We could call it our Nines party. Obviously, I'm easily entertained.

As an aside, has anyone ever seen the movie "Nines" - it's a very interesting mind-bending movie about an angelic being who, if God were a Ten, would be a "Nine." :p

Richard

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Since today is 09/09/09, I thought I would share an article on the meaning of the Number 9 in Scripture. It is from Richard's page about Nine (http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_9.asp). What about you brothers? Do you have any other insights on the symbolic meaning of the Number 9?


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22f


Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ... For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:4ff


THE NUMBER 9 is the largest digit. It use as a numerical symbol in Scripture is relatively rare and somewhat diverse, so many commentators have found it difficult to establish its meaning. Almost all begin with the two verses above, which list nine fruits and nine gifts of the Spirit (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Tet_Fruit.asp). This correlation finds its origin in the creation of Fruit on the Third Day (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Gimel_ThirdDay.asp) (9 = 3 x 3) and the great Spoke 3 theme (http://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Gimel_Spirit.asp) relating to Food, Nourishment, and the Holy Ghost.

Something just occurred to me. The rabbis associate Tet with childbirth, the fruit of the womb, in part because of the nine months of gestation.

Humm ....

Richard

[Victor]

Something just occurred to me. The rabbis associate Tet with childbirth, the fruit of the womb, in part because of the nine months of gestation.

Humm ....

Richard

Well, Joel has mentioned that... Is there anything more to it? :pop2:

[Victor]

There's a movie being released today that is called "9"... :D

[Victor]

Seems like I made it... :D :D

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Seems like I made it... :D :D
That's your time ... when I look at your header, it says 5:09 PM (we have a four hour difference). You should take a screen shot and share it with us all. I'll try to do the same in a few hours.
:pop2:
Richard

[Victor]

Here's the evidence... :lol:

http://i29.tinypic.com/5l79sz.jpg

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Here's the evidence... :lol:

http://i29.tinypic.com/5l79sz.jpg
Vicotr wins! Congrats. :congrats:

[derekkye]

666 = 18 = 9

[Richard Amiel McGough]

666 = 18 = 9
I think we might want to be a little more precise with our use of the equals (=) sign.

Assuming 18 = 9 we divide by 9 and conclude that 2 = 1. Then we subtract 1 from each side and conclude that 1 = 0, and something about that equation just doesn't seem quite "right." :rolleyes:

Of course, I know what you meant. A proper mathematical expression of your idea is to define the digital root function dr(n) which means "sum of the digits of the number n." Then we can express your idea with mathematical perfection:

dr(dr(666)) = dr(18) = 9

Richard

[derekkye]

by adding digits 666 = 18 = 9;

funny you mention 2 = 1

for today = 2day? with the idea that each day is the sum of two days - didn't Jesus mention in John that there are twelve hours in a day? Using twelve hours in a day it adds up that indeed Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

by adding digits 666 = 18 = 9;

funny you mention 2 = 1

for today = 2day? with the idea that each day is the sum of two days - didn't Jesus mention in John that there are twelve hours in a day? Using twelve hours in a day it adds up that indeed Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.
There are many, many different attempts to find a way to literalize the 3 days and 3 nights. I find the "12 hours in a day" the least likely to be true.

The two best solutions I have seen are 1) count parts of a day as a day, recognizing that 3 days + 3 nights was an idiom, not a literalism, or 2) assume that the crucifixion happened on Thursday.

But none of this means anything to me because I try to conform my thinking to the Bible, and God did not seem interested in giving us enought info on this point. So if God didn't put the info in His Word in any way that just plain settles the issue, then I've got better fish to fry, since there are many, many things that God did make plain in His Word that most people know nothing about. So I work on those so I can proclaim the truth that God plainly established like a ROCK in His Word.

I notice you are posting a lot today. That's great! It's good to have you here.

Many blessings in Christ,

Richard