The Significance of the Number 4 in Scriptures
/FOUR: The number four represents God's creative works, especially works associated with the earth:
- Four cardinal directions N, S, E, W. with four Angels keeping watch at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the world [Revelation 7:1]
- The Covenant People of God had four divisions of the day associated with the daily liturgical sacrifice of the Tamid (Dawn - 9AM; 9AM-Noon; Noon - 3PM; 3PM - Sunset)
- Four lunar phases
- Four seasons
- Four rivers flowed out of Eden [Genesis 2:10]
- Four consonants formed God's Divine Name YHWH
- Four cherubim [Genesis 3:22-24; Ezekiel 1:10]
- In Ezekiel's vision of the heavenly throne/chariot the cherubim each had four faces and bodies with four wheels [Ezekiel 1:10-12]
- Four women gave birth to the fathers of the 12 Tribes of Israel
- The tallit/outer cloak covenant men were required to wear had four corners with four tassels [Numbers 15:38-39]
- Four heavenly creatures surround God's heavenly throne. [Revelation 4:6-8]
- The Israelite camp was divided into four parts when camping around the Tabernacle [Numbers 2:1-34]
- The fourth book of the Bible is Numbers, in Hebrew B'Midbar = gematria 248 or 4 x 62
- The ancients considered there to be four elements: earth, fire, air and water
- Bible has four-fold division of mankind: lands, tongues, families and nations [Revelation 13:7]
- Four cups of wine are used in the ritual of the Passover Seder.