Book Numbers

Numbers in scripture passages sum to books with related passages.

  • Introduction to Book Numbers

    The total of all numbers in a passage of scripture references a book with a related passage. (1,140 words)

  • Book Number Calculator

    Easily convert numbers to a book of the Bible. (176 words)

  • Table of Numeric Cross References

    A table of known number-based cross references. (771 words)

  • Genesis

    2 reports. (83 words)

  • Melchizedek

    Raiders carry off Lot and the inhabitants of Sodom, but Abram gives chase with 318 men and rescues them. On their return Abram encounters an interesting character called Melchizedek. The 318 points to another book with a lengthy discussion about Melchizedek. (389 words)

  • Sodom

    Abraham pleads for mercy for Sodom and Gomorrah in a strange dialogue with Yahvah that is full of numbers. His Nephew Lot barely escapes. The numbers point to another Nephew intervention story. (841 words)

  • Exodus

    3 reports. (83 words)

  • Jacob's 70

    When Jacob went down to Egypt he was 70 in number. How many were part of Israel when they came out of Egypt? The 70th book, Numbers, tells us. (281 words)

  • Moses' 3 Months

    The 3 months Moses spent hidden at home, points to the book of Leviticus. Moses is from the tribe of Levi, but more importantly, the story in Exodus forms a parable for how the levitical system functions. (460 words)

  • Egyptians and Hebrews

    When Moses was grown he killed an Egyptian who was beating an Hebrew and buried him in the sand. The next day Moses intervened between two Hebrews who were quarreling. The numbers point to another pair of quarreling Hebrews and an Egyptian who was also buried in the sand. (944 words)

  • Numbers

    1 report. (83 words)

  • Aaron's Staff

    After a rebellion by Korah and cohorts against the tribe of Levi and the priests in particular, Yahvah gave a sign that he really did choose Levi and Aaron. A staff for each of the tribes was placed in the Tabernacle overnight, and in the morning Aaron's staff had budded and grown almonds while everyone elses remained a normal staff. The math points at another passage about fruitfulness. (442 words)

  • Deuteronomy

    2 reports. (84 words)

  • Crossing Over

    Moses turns the leadership of Israel over to Joshua by saying he will not cross the Jordan. He cites his age, 120, and says Joshua will take Israel into the land. The math, a vocabulary word and a direct quotation all point at the book of Hebrews. (727 words)

  • Yahvah to Sinai

    Before Moses blessed the tribes of Israel he spoke of the way Yahvah came to them at Sinai and gave them a law through Moses. The math points at the book of Exodus, where all this is recorded. (189 words)

  • 1 Samuel

    3 reports. (83 words)

  • Hannah Conceives

    Hannah prayed to have a son who would serve Yahvah all his days. What kind of son was she given? One like Jeremiah. (259 words)

  • Samuel Dedicated

    As promised, Hannah gave her son Samuel into the care of Eli the priest to serve Yahvah at the tabernacle. How did Yahvah see this arrangement? He saw Samuel as a priest himself. (210 words)

  • Samuel Called

    Samuel lay down in the tabernacle, near the lampstand, and that night Yahvah called his name. The number in the story points at a book with another story where the priests laid down to sleep in the tabernacle. (239 words)

  • 1 Kings

    1 report. (83 words)

  • Stealing Naboth's Vineyard

    Jezebel had Naboth murdered so Ahab could take his vineyard. The result was a severe judgment against Ahab and Jezebel's inheritance. The math points at a similar judgment over grapes in the book of Numbers. (379 words)

  • 2 Kings

    1 report. (83 words)

  • Israel's Captivity

    The Assyrian captivity of Israel points at it's own book which also includes the Babylonian captivity of the Jewish remnant. (413 words)

  • Ezekiel

    3 reports. (83 words)

  • 4 Winds

    The 4 winds. What are they? The math tells. (260 words)

  • 1 Stick

    Ezekiel takes two sticks, one for Judah and one for Joseph, and makes them one in his hand. The math explains. (190 words)

  • 1 Shepherd

    Ezekiel prophesies about a time when Israel will have 1 shepherd and live in the land promised to Jacob. (148 words)

  • Isaiah

    2 reports. (83 words)

  • Stealing Land

    Isaiah says woe to those who steal the land of others. The number points at the classic story of this behavior in First Kings. (119 words)

  • Isaiah's Call

    Isaiah's call involves a vision of Yahvah along with seraphim. The question is asked, "Who will go?" Isaiah volunteers, "Here I am, send me." The numbers in the story point at the book of Isaiah. (398 words)

  • Ezra

    1 report. (82 words)

  • Altar Restored

    Ezra mentions the grant from Cyrus to rebuild the temple. The math points at Ezra, of course. (170 words)

  • Zechariah

    2 reports. (83 words)

  • Jerusalem Measured

    A man measuring the width and breadth of Jerusalem is told of a multitude of people who will live there. Then he's told Yahvah will be in the middle of it. The number in the story points at the census counts of Israel and the camp arrangement with Yahvah in the middle. (299 words)

  • Lampstand Dream

    Zechariah has a dream about a lampstand that points at another who also had a vision about a lampstand while he was asleep. (886 words)

  • Jonah

    2 reports. (83 words)

  • Jonah's Lot

    Jonah flees to Tarshish when Yahvah tells him to go preach to the Ninevites. The storm at sea is so severe the mariners cast lots to determine who is at fault, the answer being Jonah. The math points at another story where the individual at fault is discovered using lots. (748 words)

  • Jonah Preaches

    Jonah finally goes to Nineveh and preaches against it. The people listen and repent and Yahvah relents from the calamity he had planned. (175 words)

  • Haggai

    1 report. (83 words)

  • Ceiled Houses

    Haggai tells the inhabitants of Jerusalem that their plight is linked to their lack of attention on god's house. The numbers point at David's desire to build Yahvah a house. (242 words)

  • Psalms

    1 report. (83 words)

  • Yahvah's Courts

    Better a day in Yahvah's courts than a 1000 elsewhere, points at the temple of Solomon. (174 words)

  • 1 Chronicles

    1 report. (84 words)

  • Levites Carry the Ark

    After a costly reminder, David gathered the Levites to carry the ark of the contract into the city of David. The number of Levites that came references the law Yahvah gave Moses about the ark always being carried by Levites. (250 words)

  • 2 Chronicles

    1 report. (84 words)

  • Hezekiah's Siege

    The king of Assyria lays siege to Jerusalem, but Yahvah sends an angel to slay the Assyrian soldiers and deliver the city. The numbers point at a more detailed account of the same events in Second Kings. (182 words)

  • John

    8 reports. (82 words)

  • Wedding at Cana

    Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding in Cana. He says this is not his wedding, which means it is related to his wedding. The numbers point to another prominent wedding story in the Bible. (351 words)

  • 3 Day Temple

    Jesus says he can raise a destroyed temple in 3 days. The Jews balk at the idea, but the math points to something different than the physical temple the Jews were focused on. (417 words)

  • Samaritan Woman

    Jesus met a woman at a well in Samaria and explained worship is not a matter of being in Jerusalem or Samaria, but spirit and truth. The numbers point at the book explaining Samaritans and demonstrating why Jesus would say the ancient capitals don't matter any longer for worship. (477 words)

  • Philip's 5000

    Jesus asked Philip if he had any ideas how to feed the crowd that was coming their way, a crowd that turned out to be 5000 men (probably not counting women or children that may have been present). The answer, of course, was to multiply the bread, an answer that worked in Elisha's day as well, albeit on a smaller scale. (232 words)

  • Father Abraham

    Jesus and the Jews discuss their origins. The Jews argue they are sons of Abraham, but Jesus asks why they do not behave like Abraham if they are his descendants. The math points to a similar case made by Paul in the book of Galatians. (251 words)

  • Lazarus Raised

    The math given in the story of Jesus raising Lazarus to life is profound because it points at itself. What's behind this self-reference? (490 words)

  • Crown of Thorns

    A crown of thorns was pressed on Jesus' head, a purple robe placed on his back, and he was mocked as the King of the Jews. Ironically, the math points to the promise of a perpetual kingship, a promise of which Jesus is the heir and fulfillment. (259 words)

  • The Robe

    The soldiers who crucified Jesus divided his clothes between the four of them and cast lots to see who would get his robe. The story maps the arrangement of the Israelite camp in the wilderness. (301 words)

  • Matthew

    4 reports. (83 words)

  • Herod Kills Boys

    In an attempt to knock off Jesus, Herod killed all the boys in the town of Bethlehem who were 2 years and younger. The age of the boys points to the book of Exodus where another king is found killing all the male Hebrew babies. (457 words)

  • Apostles Sent

    Jesus called 12 apostles and sent them out to preach and heal and deliver. In a sense it's a rehearsal for the Great Commission given at the end of Matthew. That might explain why the numbers point at the book of Matthew. (275 words)

  • Transfiguration

    Remember the time Jesus took Peter, Jacob and John to the top of a mountain and his clothes turned white and Moses and Elijah appeared with him and a voice spoke from the cloud? The count from that story points to the book of Ezekiel where a similarly strange encounter occurred. (669 words)

  • Parable of the Workers

    The parable of the workers, a parable about working in Jesus' mission field, points at the book of Matthew itself. (202 words)

  • Mark

    1 report. (82 words)

  • Apostles Called

    Jesus called 12 men to himself on a mountain and designated them to spend time with him and tell what they learned to others. The math points at another story where an individual had an encounter on a mountain and was told to tell Israel what he was shown. (568 words)

  • Luke

    6 reports. (82 words)

  • Father's House

    When Jesus was age 12 he stayed behind in Jerusalem while his family traveled home thinking Jesus was in their company. When they finally found him he was sitting in the temple and referred to it as his father's house. The numbers points at another who was found in the house. (265 words)

  • Jesus' Genealogy

    Of the many names given in Jesus' genealogy through his father, the math highlights a few special ones. (196 words)

  • Nazareth Synagogue

    A prophet is without honor in his hometown, just as Elijah and Elisha learned in the books of First and Second Kings. (209 words)

  • Blood of Abel

    Jesus spoke about the prophets that were slain from Abel to Zechariah. The math points at Abel. (156 words)

  • The Wise Steward

    The math in this familiar story turns the traditional understanding on it's head and explains why Jesus would regard the steward's practices as model behavior. (585 words)

  • Man From the Dead

    Jesus tells a story about a rich man who wants a dead man to rise to life and warn his brothers about what awaits them if they do not change. Who might the dead man be in the story? The math tells. (340 words)

  • Acts

    6 reports. (83 words)

  • Jesus Begins

    The "first book written about Jesus" passage, at the beginning of Acts, includes a number pointing at John, the first gospel. (693 words)

  • Coming in the Clouds

    The disciples watched Jesus leave the planet shrouded in a cloud. A couple angels appeared to them and said Jesus would return in the same manor he left. The number in the passage points to the definitive story in the Bible for Jesus' return. (527 words)

  • Pentecost

    The outpouring of the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost is the archetype for similar events later in Acts. It also kicks off the rest of the Acts narrative generally. So it's little surprise that the numbers in the story point at the book of Acts. (379 words)

  • Lame Man Healed

    Peter and John heal a man lame in his feet in the name of Jesus. The math points at Mephibosheth. (211 words)

  • Preaching Resurrection

    After healing the lame man Peter spoke about the resurrection of Jesus to a crowd of about 5000. The number points at Paul's single longest exposition of the subject. (131 words)

  • Shipwreck

    Paul's shipwreck in the Mediterranean points numerically at Jonah's storm at sea. (190 words)

  • Philippians

    1 report. (84 words)

  • Jesus' Cross

    In reminding the Philippians how to be neighborly Paul refers to the cross of Jesus. The numbers point at a community of people living together in a camp shaped like a cross. (336 words)

  • 1 Corinthians

    3 reports. (84 words)

  • One Accord

    Paul exhorted the Corinthians not to divide over their preferences for preachers. The math explains why. (503 words)

  • Five Words

    Paul says in an assembly he would rather use 5 words with understanding than 10,000 in another language. The math points at Daniel interpreting a 5 word message in a forgotten language. (485 words)

  • Prophesying

    Paul says to let 2 or 3 prophets speak in turn, each discerned in turn, and if necessary, paused by other prophets. The math points at the collusion of Ahab's 400 false prophets as an example of what Paul wants to avoid. (298 words)

  • Galatians

    1 report. (83 words)

  • Abraham's Sons

    Abraham's two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, are described as symbols for those born of flesh and those born of promise. The numbers point at a book with two generations that exemplify the pattern. (466 words)

  • Jacob

    1 report. (82 words)

  • Elijah's Drought

    According to Jacob, the drought in Elijah's time lasted 3 years and 6 months and was remedied a certain way. In book 9 another drought had a similar remedy. (894 words)

  • 1 Timothy

    4 reports. (83 words)

  • Kings

    Paul tells Timothy to pray for kings in order that he may lead a quite and peaceable life and men may return to the truth. The example pointed at by the numbers is that of Israel crying to Yahvah about pharaoh and the way they were delivered in answer to their prayers. (408 words)

  • Elders and Deacons

    Elders and Deacons are like Aaron and his sons. The numbers explain. (409 words)

  • Widows

    Paul tells Timothy how to select a widow worthy of support. The numbers point at a couple widows, one worthy, one not. (526 words)

  • Rebuking Elders

    Paul gives Timothy the skinny on elders, quoting from Deuteronomy and providing numbers that point at Deuteronomy while saying only rebuke an elder if there are two or more witnesses. (256 words)

  • 2 Corinthians

    1 report. (84 words)

  • Paul's Sufferings

    Paul describes the many things he suffered during his ministry. The numbers point at the classic book about suffering. (356 words)

  • Revelation

    3 reports. (84 words)

  • New Jerusalem

    John sees the New Jerusalem descend, hears a voice from the skies and gives a number pointing at the same events recorded in scripture from a time when they happened before. (222 words)

  • New Jerusalem Measured

    A man with a golden reed measures the New Jerusalem. The numbers point at the count of people in the book of Numbers, same as another story about measuring Jerusalem. (234 words)

  • Tree of Life

    The tree of life yields 12 kinds of crops. The number points at a similar description of the tree in Ezekiel. (163 words)