All Things Seven
Cardinal: SEVEN
Hindu-Arabic: 7
Ordinate: Seventh
Roman: VII
Greek: Zeta
Pythagorean number: the heptad
1+6, 2+5; 3+4
Smallest integer that won't divide 360 degrees
Words of Seven
Roman words
- septem, septimus: septuplets, septuagenarian
- septeni: seven each
Greek words
- hepta: heptagon, heptad
Time Associations:
- September, before July and August added.
- July (after Julius Caesar)
- Sunday (Sun's day) (weeks ending with Sunday)
- Saturday (weeks ending with Saturday)
Science, Technological Associations:
- Nitrogen N periodic number
- Prime number. Only number that cannot divide 360° evenly
- seven colors in Newton’s spectrum: red, organge, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet
Alpha associations: letters g, p, y
Biblical Associations
- Seven as creation. Genesis 2:2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Genesis 2:1 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
- Seven as a number of retribution. Genesis 4:14 But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. Genesis 7:3 Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made."
- Seven as a length of time, seven days, seven months, seven years, multiples of seven, for waiting, for feasts, or as a specific date, seventh day, seventh month, seventh year frequent the Bible. Genesis 8:11 He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him. 2 Chronicles 35:17 The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Esther 1:5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king's palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest, who were in the citadel of Susa. Job 2:13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
- Paroh's Dream: Genesis 41:18 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
"I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows came up–scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up. "In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads sprouted–withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me." Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine. - Seven as offerings and sacrifice are frequent: Numbers 29:36 Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. Job 42:8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has."(seven bulls, rams or lambs mention frequently)
- Seven as cleansing: Numbers 31:19"All of you who have killed anyone or touched anyone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives. On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp." Deuteronomy 15:1 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 15:9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.
- The siege of Jericho: Joshua 6:13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the LORD and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets kept sounding.On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!
- Seven in Samson and Delilah: Judges 16:18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, "Come back once more; he has told me everything." So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19 Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.
- Seven mentioned frequently as son (or daughter):1 Chronicles 3:24 The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah and Anani-seven in all. 5:13 Their relatives, by families, were: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber-seven in all. Job 1:2 He had seven sons and three daughters,
- Zechariah 3:9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.
- Seven as prophecy: Zechariah 4:2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights.
- Seven in Jesus feeding the multitude: Matthew 15:34 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."…Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people…They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
- Seven in morality: Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.Luke 17:4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
- Matthew 22:25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother…The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh…Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"
- Mark 16:9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
- Seven times the trouble is a common theme: Luke 11:24 When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."
Seven in Revelations
- Revelation 1:4 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
- Revelation 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
- Revelation 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
- Revelation 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
- Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
- Revelation 10:3 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."
- Revelation 11:13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
- Revelation 12:3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.
- Revelation 13:2 And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
- Revelation 15:6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
- Revelation 17:9 "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.17:10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while.17:11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
Other Religious Associations:
- The number Seven is recognized by most belief systems as a very powerful spirtual number.
- Seven last statements from the cross
- Seventh Commandment: Thou shalt not commit adultery
- Seven Days of Passover
- Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary
- Seven Joys of the Virgin Mary: the Annunciation, Visitation, nativity of jesus, Epiphany, Finding Jesus in the Temple, Resurrection, and Assumption
- Seven Petitions of Lord's Prayer
- Revelations: seven churches which are in Asia, seven spirits of God; seven golden candlesticks, seven stars in his right hand, seven seals, seven thunders, seven trumpets, seven angels.
- Seven Deadly Sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride
- Seven Days of Creation
- Seven Archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel for sure then maybe Raguel, Zerachiel and Remiel, or perhaps Chamuel, Jophiel, and Zadkiel or perhaps Simiel, Orifiel, and Zachariel or perhaps Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel or when tied to days of week, Michael (Sunday), Gabriel (Monday), Raphael (Tuesday), Uriel (Wednesday), Sealtiel (Thursday), Jhudiel (Friday)and Barachiel (Saturday)
- Seven spirits of God sent forth into the world (Revelations)
- Seven generations between David & the coming of Christ
- Buddhism. Seven chakras: The Muladhara (Mu-la-dha-ra) lower body, the Swadhisthana (Sva-dhis.t.ha-na) reproductive parts, the Manipura (Man.ipu-ra ) navel, the Anahata (Ana-hata) heart, the Vishuddha (Vis'uddha) throat, the Ajna (A-jña-) eyebrow or forehead, and the Sahasrara (Sahasra-ra) top of head
- Buddhism: Pure flowering plants have seven petals (lotus) thus Buddha is often portrayed sitting in a lotus blossom.
- Heptateuch: first seven books of Judeao-Christian scriptures
- Jewish. Minora holds seven candles
- Zoroastrianism. Seven Amschaspands or personifications of righteousness
- Egyptian. Seven spirits
Social & Family Associations:
- Seven features in the face
- Seven notes in the musical scale
- Seven wonders of the ancient world: the Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes, and Lighthouse of Alexandria; Seven wonders of Medieval world: Stonehenge, Colosseum, Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Great Wall of China, Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, Hagia Sophia, Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Seven continents: Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, South America, Antartica
- Seven days a week
- Seven planets (ancients – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Sun and Moon)
Games, sports Associations:
- Seven card stud
- seven spot; opposite sides of die always add up to seven.
- Seven ball pool game
Literary, folk lore, art and music:
- Seven virtues listed in a poem by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius circa 410 CE: chasity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, humilty
- House of Seven Gables
- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
- Seven
- Seven Pillars of Hercules (1967)
- Seven Gates of Thebes, Seven Against Thebes, a classical myth of Adrastus, Amphiaraus, capaneus, Hippomedon, Parthenopaeus, Polynices, & Tydeus
- Seven Sring Lyre
- Fairy Tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- in Greek mythology, the seven daughters of Atlas and of Pleione, the daughter of ceanus. Their names were Electra, Maia, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Sterope, and Merope. According to some versions of the myth, they committed suicide from grief at the fate of their father, Atlas, or at the death of their sisters, the Hyades. Other versions made them the attendants of Artemis, goddess of wildlife and of hunting, who were pursued by the giant hunter Orion, but were rescued by the gods and changed into doves. After their death, or metamorphosis, they were transformed into stars, but are still pursued across the sky by the constellation Orion.
Seven Associations:
- Seventh son of the seventh son has occult power
- Seven principles of man: Atman or divine essence, Buddhi or compassionate spiritual nature, Manas or the mind principle, Kama or the desire principle, Prana or vitality, Linga-sarira or the astral double and Sthula-sarira or the physical body
- Seven seas (ancient) Adriatic Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Irish Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea; also (modern) the North Pacific Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, the South Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Antarctic Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean
- Seven heavens: Jewish mysticism divides heaven into seven levels, from lowest to hightest. First heaven is Shamayim, governed by Archangel Gabriel, is the closest of heavenly realms to the Earth and the abode of Adam and Eve. Second is Raquia controlled by Zachariel and Raphael together. It is believed that Moses, during his visit to Paradise, encountered the angel Nuriel with 50 myriads of angels fashioned out of water and fire. Raquia is the realm where the fallen angels are imprisoned and the planets fastened. Third is Shehaqim, led by Anahel, and the home of the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life; it is where manna, the holy food of angels, is produced. Forth is Machonon, ruled by the Archangel Michael, and contains the heavenly Jerusalem, the Temple, and the Altar. Fifth is Machon, under the administration of Samael, who is either an evil angel or the dark servant of God. Sixth is Zebul, which Zachiel administers. Seventh heaven is Araboth, led by Cassiel. Araboth is the holiest heaven and houses the Throne of Glory attended by the Seven Archangels. Araboth is the realm where God dwells and the home of the Seraphim, Cherubim and Hayyoth. Beneath his throne is the abode of all unborn human souls.
- Seven ages in life of man: infant, school-boy, lover (adolescence), soldier (young adult), justice (adult), pantaloon (old age), and second childhood (dementia)
- Seven gifts of understanding (wisdom, council, power, fortitude, knowledge, righteousness and fear of God)
- Seven metals (ancient) Gold, Copper, Silver, Lead, Tin, Iron,smelted, and Mercury
- Seven Hills of Rome
Prophetic references:
- Seven is the number which governs the rhythms of life. In antiquity there were seven planets which had an influence upon events on earth and which are also linked with the seven days of the week.
- Seven represents the triumph of spirit over matter or the union of three, the triangle or mind & spirit, with four, the square or body or earth. It is a number of perfection.
- The Great Bear pointing to the one fixed star, is a celestial manifestation of the fundamental truth of the number seven.
- Seven is the magic number which rules occult mysteries, magical ceremonies and clairvoyance. It is a scared and mystic number in almost all societies including Hindu, Arab, Egyptian, Greek, Hebrew and Chinese. Seven stands for the mysterious ’God force’ in Nature. It is an indivisible number and therefore compared to God.
- On the Seventh Day God rested and all things rest under the influence of the number seven because they need time to reflect and contemplate. Therefore it is known as a Holy number.
- Because all the previous numbers can be combined to make seven, seven produces the basic numbers that all material calculations are built upon and which man depends upon and through which thought is expressed.
- It represents the last step before completion and is closely associated with man's life span of three score years and ten. The eighth step completes the cycle with death and the unknown.
- The number of religion because man is controlled by seven celestial spirits to whom he should make offerings.
- The number of life because ancients believed human babies born prematurely during the 7th month usually survived.
- Seven’s keywords are fortune, custody, control, occasion, government, judgement, dreams, voices and sounds.
- It was associated with Osiris – his body was kept for seven days before burial reflecting his seven days in the womb of the sky goddess Nut.
- Seven is the number of law because it is the number of the Seven Spirits before the Throne, the makers of Cosmic Law.
Negative connotations:
- Lack of faith
- unworldly
- Incomplete
- Thoughtlessness
Astrological Association: The House of Libra and the planetNeptune.
Tarot divination: The chariot which foretells victory and holds triumph, success, control over the forces of nature – thus triumph over ill health as well as money difficulties or enemies of any sort, including one's own animal passions. Card for those who can achieve greatness but must remain disciplined to do so. Upside down the card means the victor has lost his self control or used unethical means to achieve his desires, victory slipping through his hands, perhaps ill health, restlessness and discontent, villainy or decadence.
Symbols:
- Neptune (Astrology) Neptune is associated with psychic activity, mediumship, dreams, fantasies, illusion, extreme sensitivity, drugged states, alcholholism, refinement and the immaterial world.
- The seven-pointed star
- The seven-branched tree of life
- The seven-branched candelabrum
- The Chakras
- The Ziggurat to Heaven with seven steps
- The triangle above the square
Common usage, slang:
- At sixes and sevens
- Seven year itch
- Seventh inning stretch
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Sources Some information drawn from:
- The Discoverers by Daniel J. Boorstin
- A Complete Guide to the Tarot by Eden Gray
- The Numerology Workbook by Julia Line
- The Dartmouth Number Symbolism in the Middle Ages site offers much info on Christianity.