What the Number 6 Means in the Bible and Why You Should Care

"So God created man in His own image...male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27

What the Number 6 Means in the Bible and Why You Should Care by Steppes of Faith

“So God created man in His own image…Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So, the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:27,31

I have come to believe that God is a math nerd. Every time I read the Bible, I always seem to come across certain numbers like 7, 12, and 3. Have you noticed this? But, then I saw the number 6 and, knowing every word (and number) in the Bible is there for a reason, I got curious about what it could mean.

It turns out the number 6 has a lot of meaning. And, it’s not just historical. It’s also prophetic.

Full Disclaimer

First of all, I need to emphasize that I am not promoting some mystical, “angel number” mumbo jumbo. I’m also not trying to suggest we should scrutinize every number in the Bible. That would be a terrible trap because not every number is meant to be studied, and it could cause us to lose sight of what God is trying to teach us.

I am just making an observation of something I’ve noticed in God’s word. I’m willing to bet you’ve noticed that Jesus was resurrected after three days, there were twelve disciples, and that God is three in one. The number six falls in line with that.

Hopefully I’m making sense here. So if you’re ready, let’s move on.

Man’s Weakness

The number six refers to many things in the Bible, but it’s first mentioned in Genesis 1:31 when God created man on the sixth day.

According to Bible scholars, just as the number 7 typically signifies completion or perfection especially of God, the number 6 is one shy of that, which means it signifies imperfection. More specifically, it refers to the imperfection of man and the sin and weakness he has.

As we all know, Adam went on to eat the forbidden fruit in the garden and broke the connection between heaven and man allowing sin to enter the earth. Man’s weakness is why number 6 is called the “number of man.”

Joshua and Jericho

The sixth chapter of Joshua is where we read that Joshua and the Israelites marched around Jericho once a day for six days with seven priests each carrying a trumpet (remember, seven means perfection). It was on the seventh day that the people were to march around Jericho seven times with the priests blowing the trumpets so the city walls would fall.

Ruins of Jericho after the Israelites marched around its walls seven times.

Ruins of Jericho

God commanded the Israelites to march for six days to prove their imperfect ability to demolish Jericho. But on the seventh day, God destroyed the city so that He alone would receive the glory. Only God is perfect, and only He can perform perfect miracles. It’s not by man’s power, but only by the hand of God.

A Precursor of Rest

God’s fourth commandment tells us to work for six days and rest on the seventh (Exodus 20:8, Exodus 31:12-17). God may have given us this commandment because He knows our weaknesses so well and that we can’t continually work seven days a week. I know I can’t.

God also commanded the Israelites to harvest their land for six years and then let it rest the seventh year. The seventh year is called the Year of Jubilee. God’s command isn’t just pure agricultural genius, it’s also to illustrate God’s power to restore what He has made.

(Fun fact: God also uses the Year of Jubilee as a time of forgiveness of property debts and for giving slaves their freedom. See the story of Jacob here.)

Restored Connection

Another example of God’s restorative power is His bookend to man’s creation on the sixth day and subsequent fall into sin with Jesus’ death on the cross on the sixth day of Passover.

The seventh day of the celebration of Passover was the Sabbath in keeping with the fourth commandment. This meant that all judicial punishments were settled by the sixth day of Passover week. So, Pontius Pilate and Herod both reviewed Jesus on the fifth day and into the early morning hours of the sixth day, then He was nailed to the cross the afternoon of the sixth day.

Just as man was created in six days, Jesus restored the connection between heaven and man on the sixth day of Passover making a way for us to find salvation through His redeeming blood.The most important number 6: Jesus died on the cross to restore the Father's relationship with man.

Other Mentions of Six

  • Jesus turns six pots of water into wine at a friend’s wedding (John 2:6).
  • Moses and Joshua went up to Mount Sinai where the glory of the Lord rested on them for six days before God called Moses to enter the cloud’s midst for forty days and nights (Exodus 24:16-18).
  • The gold lampstand for the holy tabernacle had six branches coming off it (Exodus 25:32.) Remember that Jesus said He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5), which means the lampstand represents Jesus and the six branches again represent man and his imperfection.
  • Boaz gave Ruth six ephahs of barley to take home (Ruth 3:15). The original Hebrew doesn’t indicate how much an ephah weighs, but it may have been as much as 200 pounds, far too much for Ruth to carry especially in her shawl. So, it was likely six seahs of barley weighing approximately 60-80 pounds, which was twice what Ruth was normally gleaning.
  • The Levites had six cities of refuge for accused murderers to stay in until they could have their case heard before the congregation in judgment. Three were in Israel and three were in pagan Caanan (Numbers 35:9-15).
  • Seraphim angels have six wings: two for covering the face, two for covering the feet, and two for flying (Isaiah 6:2).
  • Six days after Jesus told the disciples of His second coming, He took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain to witness His transfiguration (Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:2). Matthew doesn’t often mention numbers, so the number 6 here seems to be significant.
  • The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce she would give birth to Jesus when her cousin was already in her sixth month of miraculous pregnancy (Luke 1:26).
  • Jesus was asked six times to show signs that prove He is the Son of God (Matthew 12:38, 16:1, 24:3; Luke 11:16; John 2:18, 6:30. See also Mark 8:11, 13:4).
  • Later, Jesus was found innocent by six different men: Pontius Pilate, Pilate’s wife, King Herod, Judas Iscariot after the devil left him, one of the thieves hanging on a cross next to Jesus, and the Roman centurion guarding Him during the crucifixion (Luke 23:14, 15, 41, 47; Matthew 27:3, 19).

The Number of the Beast

Because the number six can represent imperfection, we have to talk about what is known as the number of the beast—666. The apostle John writes about it in Revelation 13:18.

“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”

Notice there are three sixes. Now, remember that God is three in one, or perhaps 111 for illustrative purposes. Since God is a perfect holy trinity, then Satan—the beast—is perfect unholy evil.

The Bible says 666 is the number of the beast, Satan.

In Revelation 13, God reveals the beast’s power to John as a prophecy, a warning, about the evil destruction the beast will spread. God also warns us to pay attention to the signs of His return when He finally defeats the beast, gathers His children, and establishes His eternal kingdom on earth.

Every Biblical prophecy has proven true so far. There is no reason not to believe this one. So, be watchful.

What’s Most Important

I want to emphasize again that we shouldn’t necessarily be analyzing every single number in the Bible. But, if there is anything we can learn from taking a look at the number 6, perhaps we should notice how it shines a spotlight on man’s weakness while also highlighting God’s power to restore what once was lost.

A main theme of the Bible is not only God’s love but His goal to restore His relationship with His children and reclaim them for eternity. If the number 6 is a sign of that, so be it. But, let’s not lose sight of what’s always most important.

God’s grace is eternal, His love is true, He is forever faithful, and He will stop at nothing to show us.

Your Turn

Is there a Biblical number that always stands out to you? How has it helped you learn more about the Lord? You’re welcome to leave a comment below. I’d love to know what you’ve discovered when you study the Bible.

Further Reading

You can find lots of resources explaining the meanings of different numbers in the Bible including Bible.org. They give a quick review of the more familiar ones like 40 and 12. Check it out here.

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67 Replies to “What the Number 6 Means in the Bible and Why You Should Care”

  1. Regarding the number of a man 666. Just as satan has lack of understanding of who the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is. So does man. If you want living proof of this scripture, look at current events of the political state of mind we are at. “The truth is not the truth”. To comprehend this you must understand satan’s “mo”. Satan is the father of lies. So the number of a man(men, women, children) is incomplete of the true knowledge of God. Man believes, he can do a better job than God. I believe we are witnessing souls being lost by political convictions of a man…the “mark’s of the beast”…January 6th.

  2. Much educating.
    My desire is at least to understand the Bible better than any other book.
    To me understanding every number in the Bible makes me like reading it.
    JESUS IS LORD!!!!!

  3. Am so blessed immeasurably by this wonderful piece…it gives me chills in my body… More of God’s revelation by multiplied in Yhu @Gina.

  4. I would also like to add a response that I saw just now when studying the word of John. In verse 6 it says “Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was the sixth hour.” Then verse 7 goes on to introduce the arrival of the woman at the well. I also believe this was a sign to show the imperfection of man through this woman who arrived. I’m a new believer but just as I read this verse the holy spirit ushered me to do some research into why the hour was even mentioned in the first place. Then I stumbled upon your awesome work. God bless you for your research and may the Holy Spirit continue to open all our eyes to the marvellous and wonderful ways in which God works!

    • Thank you so much for your kind words. I pray the Holy Spirit continues to reveal God’s glory to you every day. God bless!

    • God Bless you, as You mention that you are a new believer, but looking the way you have the understanding, this is a good sign that Holy Spirit is working on you and He will use you in your next time with a great teaching

      May God always be with you

      • Thank you, Patar. I’m not a new believer, but I appreciate you sensing my heart for God. Yes, the Holy Spirit is always working on me. I pray He is with you too. God bless.

        • Hi Gina,
          My name is Gina too . Just go through your research… Very helpful. It’s amazing all the study you did. May the Holy Spirit continue to use you each and every day

  5. Very helpful. Would also appreciate how the order of GOD’S feasts factor . Also see a strong link in the 6th commandment & man’s adulterous nature . Thank you & Blessings.

  6. I had a dream last night where my grandfather was soooo happy to see me and pick me up over his shoulder, we were both laughing and happy…(he passed away last year and I miss him alot).

    We entered the house and he disappeared.

    My mom and her sister (I don’t get along with either as they wish bad open me). I had to write a letter to my other aunt (whom I love alot) to ask her what’s happening. She told me that my grandfather as 6 weeks to live and there is nott doctor’s can do.

    I was heart broken when I woke up.

  7. Had a very unusual experience today I’m a born again believer so I know this was the Lord showing me something. I went to turn my turn my time sheet in inmy building which is suite 323 on the TOP FLOOR . I’m talking on my phone to a friend that was my only reference to what happened . I get off the elevator which looks darker than normal and I see the numbers on a suite in front of me which is not how my floor is set up I tell her this is weird tge number is saying numbers that start with 6 . I keep walking get to where my office should be the name on the door is not correct all these guys turn and look so I turn and walk away as I’m telling my friend. I get back on the elevator saying I know I pushed 3 so I look just like I already know there’s the top floor number 3. I proceed to my office put timesheet in the slot. I pass the window look out even though I know there’s 3 floors to see if I’m crazy. I’m of course seeing the flat top of the building which is the 3 floor I tell my friend she says get out of that building you could have went on a secret floor. I told her there’s 3 floors like there has always been and I’m looking at tee top of the build there’s no other floor above it. Thank you I think received insight one of tge post refers to being in control trying to handle things on my own Guess he was showing if I have to I can take the impossible and make it possible now you see I’m well capable.

    • I can’t say for sure what God was trying to show you, or even if it was God at all. Your experience sounds rather unsettling and (dare I say) weird. I can’t see that God was in that, but I am very glad you’re okay. Surely God was protecting you from spiritual enemies. But I can’t help but wonder how that all happened and if it will happen again.

  8. I have been wondering about this topic of late and was thinking of searching the internet to increase my knowledge. Thank God that I visited your website otherwise I wouldn’t have come across such a nicely-written article. Once I liked this particular post, I was going through few other posts as well. I simply loved them! Kudos to the writers who work hard to write these.

  9. First and foremost God bless you and I thank you for your wonderful observation and your knowledge and wisdom on the number factors of the Bible. I too have noticed significant signatures of Gods thumbprint on various scriptures. That’s a lot of God’s most powerful scriptures have the same numbers each book. The signature of representations or referring, such as three for confirmation and seven for completion and eight for new beginning. Here is one example John 3:16 for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son! 3 confirmation 8+8=16,
    8 new beginning and 2 unity.
    Eighth to the second power is 16.
    So as you so wonderful to put it in the restoring of unity!!!

  10. For some reason I was looking at the calendar and saw today 10/20/2020 was the 294th day of the year with 72 days remaining. I calculated the numbers to see if today was a 8; my number. I discovered it was a 6. I looked for the day of 8 and realized all days are 6. WOW. I googled the number 6 and read your article. It got me to thinking that everyday is a day to renew, recreate ourselves. God gives us every day to be reborn. What are your thoughts? Did you know everyday is a 6?

    • I’m afraid I don’t pay much attention to numerology, so I’m not quite sure how you know if it’s an “8 day” or “6 day” or any other number. I agree with you, though, that every morning God allows us to wake up and get out of bed is an opportunity to be about the Father’s business and seek His righteousness. It’s my belief that seeking the Lord is far more important than counting numbers so we are not led astray by false teaching. I appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by!

    • The Bible isn’t explicit in explaining why they took only six steps before making an offering. We might assume that King David stopped the ark bearers after six steps in recognition of man’s sin, which they then made the offering as a means of atonement. One thing we do know, though, is that the offering was only made after the first six steps, not every six steps. Hope that helps.

      • Absolutely profound. Thank you Gina for the deep insights and revelatory knowledge. I woke up this morning with deep yearning to enquire about the number 6 and the month of June which is my birth month. In addition for the past 5 years I always see this number 704 almost every week. Don’t know the reason or significance.