Topical Encyclopedia
The number thirty-two appears in various contexts within the Bible, often symbolizing specific events, genealogies, or measurements. While not as prominently featured as other numbers, it holds significance in the biblical narrative.
1. Military and Leadership Contexts:In the context of military and leadership, the number thirty-two is notably mentioned in the account of Gideon. In
Judges 7:3, Gideon initially gathers an army of 32,000 men to fight against the Midianites. However, God instructs Gideon to reduce the number of his troops to ensure that the victory would be attributed to divine intervention rather than human strength. This reduction emphasizes the biblical theme of reliance on God's power rather than human might.
2. Genealogical Significance:The number thirty-two also appears in genealogical records, which are crucial for understanding the lineage and heritage of biblical figures. In
1 Chronicles 2:23, the descendants of Geshur and Aram captured the towns of Jair, which included thirty-two towns. This reference highlights the territorial expansions and the significance of land inheritance among the tribes of Israel.
3. Symbolic and Theological Implications:While the number thirty-two does not carry a specific symbolic meaning universally recognized in biblical numerology, its occurrences can be seen as part of the broader biblical narrative that underscores God's sovereignty and the unfolding of His divine plan. The reduction of Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300, for instance, serves as a theological lesson on faith and obedience to God's will.
4. Historical and Cultural Context:In the ancient Near Eastern context, numbers often held symbolic meanings and were used to convey completeness, authority, or divine order. Although thirty-two is not as frequently highlighted as numbers like seven or twelve, its presence in the biblical text contributes to the historical and cultural understanding of the events described.
5. Other References:While the number thirty-two is not extensively mentioned throughout the Bible, its occurrences are part of the intricate tapestry of biblical history and theology. Each mention serves a purpose within the narrative, whether it be to illustrate God's intervention, to record genealogical details, or to describe territorial boundaries.
In summary, the number thirty-two, though not as prominent as other biblical numbers, plays a role in illustrating key themes of divine intervention, faith, and the unfolding of God's plan through historical events and genealogical records.
Strong's Hebrew
8147. shenayim -- two (a cardinal number)... 2), double (7), each other (1), few (1), forty-two* (3), pair (7), second (11),
second time (1), sixty-two* (4), thirty-second* (2),
thirty-
two* (7), twelfth
...7970. sheloshim -- thirty
... ninth* (3), thirty-one* (3), thirty-second* (2), thirty-seven* (4), thirty-seventh*
(3), thirty-six* (1), thirty-sixth* (1), thirty-three* (7),thirty-two* (7...
Library
Having Reigned AboutThirty-Two Years, and Lived Above Sixty, He...
... Book IV. Chapter LIII."Having reigned aboutThirty-Two Years, and lived
above Sixty, he still had a Sound Body. He completed the...
Following "Whithersoever"
... TALKTHIRTY-TWO. FOLLOWING "WHITHERSOEVER". One day as Jesus was passing
along the highway, a man said to him, "I will follow thee...
He Deplores his Wretchedness, that Having Been BornThirty-Two...
... Book VIII. Chapter VII."He Deplores His Wretchedness, that Having Been Born
Thirty-Two Years, He Had Not Yet Found Out the Truth. 16....
How Hadad King of Damascus and of Syria, Made Two Expeditions...
... the son of Hadad, [Benhadad,] who was king of the Syrians and of Damascus, got together
an army out of all his country, and procuredthirty-two kings beyond...
The Commentaries which He Prepared at Alexandria.
... Theol. 1851, p. 75 sq.), reports that the commentary consisted ofthirty-two books
and some notes (cf.... II. 22) speaks ofthirty-two books only....
Letter vii.
... The two hours, to complete the day of twelve hours, makethirty-two hours.
Thethirty-two hours are four hours less than thirty-six...
A Willing People.
... It was a motley crowd, no doubt. There werethirty-two thousand of them.... This was
the first test.Thirty-two thousand out of four tribes stood this test....
Faith and Courage.
... he taught this lesson to Gideon. Gideon had gathered around him an army
ofthirty-two thousand men. He may probably have counted...
You See by this what his Opinions are About Origen and Also About...
... of good it had hitherto been ignorant of and now has begun to understand,' that
is the twenty six books on Matthew, the five on Luke, and thethirty two on John...
On the Prophet Isaiah. Iii>
... III>. We find in the commentaries, written by our predecessors, that day had
thirty-two hours.... And thus there werethirty-two hours. [1281]. Footnotes:...
Thesaurus
Thirty-two (15 Occurrences)Thirty-
two. Thirty-three,
Thirty-
two. This . Multi-Version
Concordance
Thirty-
two (15 Occurrences). Genesis 11:20 Reu
...32 (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance 32 (3 Occurrences). Genesis 11:20 Reu lived
thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug. (See NIV)....
Mustered (28 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 20:1 Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there
werethirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and...
Thirty (189 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Genesis 11:20 Reu livedthirty-two years,
and became the father of Serug. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)....
32200 (2 Occurrences)
... 32200 (2 Occurrences). Numbers 1:35 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe
of Manasseh, werethirty-two thousand two hundred. (See NAS NIV)....
Ben (40 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 20:1 Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there
werethirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and...
Eight (81 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). 2 Kings 8:17 He wasthirty-two years
old when he began to reign. He reigned eight years in Jerusalem....
Hadad (38 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 20:1 Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there
werethirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and...
Thirty-three (7 Occurrences)
Thirty-three. Thirty-sixth, Thirty-three.Thirty-two . Multi-Version Concordance...
(WEB BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV). Thirty-sixth, Thirty-three.Thirty-two ....
Ruling (123 Occurrences)
... Tirzah. (BBE). 2 Kings 8:17 He wasthirty-two years old when he became king;
and he was ruling in Jerusalem for eight years. (BBE)....
Resources
What is the significance of thirty pieces of silver? | GotQuestions.orgWas some of Proverbs copied from the Instruction of Amenemope? | GotQuestions.orgWho were Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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