Proverbs 9:1 — Word Study
WLCחָ֭כְמוֹת בָּנְתָ֣ה בֵיתָ֑הּ חָצְבָ֖ה עַמּוּדֶ֣יהָ שִׁבְעָֽה׃
BSAhas builtbânâh■ [established, constructed] her housebayith [dwelling place, temple] she has carved outchâtsab■ [hewn, cut] her sevenshebaʻ pillarsʻammûwd [columns, supports]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| חָ֭כְמוֹת | wisdom | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| בָּנְתָ֣ה | she has built | Verb, Qal, perfect third person feminine singular |
| בֵיתָ֑הּ | house her | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| חָצְבָ֖ה | she has hewn | Verb, Qal, perfect third person feminine singular |
| עַמּוּדֶ֣יהָ | pillars her | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| שִׁבְעָֽה׃ | seven | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars. |
| KJV | Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: |
| ASV | Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars: |
| YLT | Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars — seven. |
| WEB | Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars. |
| BBE | Wisdom has made her house, putting up her seven pillars. |
Where they part company is in the verbs בָּנְתָ֣ה and חָצְבָ֖ה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by a subordinate clause that expands on the action of Wisdom.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectחׇכְמוֹת
verbבָּנָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 9:1
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Call of Wisdomgenerated
Proverbs 9:1 introduces Wisdom as an active agent who builds a house and establishes her pillars, indicating the importance of wisdom in life and decision-making. This passage sets the stage for further exploration of Wisdom's attributes and her role in guiding humanity, as seen in the following verses where she prepares a feast and invites the simple to partake in her offerings.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 16:18 | And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. |
| 2 | 1 Corinthians 3:9–15 | For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. |
| 3 | Ephesians 2:20–22 | built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. |
| 4 | 1 Timothy 3:15 | in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. |
| 5 | Hebrews 3:3–6 | For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חָ֭כְמוֹת, Cha.khe.motgenerated
The term חָכְמוֹת (chakhamot) is the plural form of חָכְמָה (chokmah), meaning wisdom. It encompasses various forms of skill, prudence, and good judgment, particularly in practical and ethical matters. The parsing indicates it is a feminine plural noun, emphasizing the personification of wisdom as a woman.
In this context, wisdom is not merely knowledge but a practical skill applied in daily life, as well as in governance and spiritual matters. The use of the plural form suggests a richness and depth to wisdom, indicating it is multifaceted and comprehensive.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb בָּנְתָ֣ה (banah), she has built, governs the main clause, with another verb חָצְבָ֖ה (chatsab), she has hewn, following it. This structure highlights the actions of Wisdom in constructing her house and establishing her pillars.
The sentence is constructed with a simple subject-verb-object format, where the subject חָ֭כְמוֹת (chakhamot) is emphasized at the beginning, indicating the centrality of Wisdom in this passage.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חָ֭כְמוֹת as σοφία (sophia), which means wisdom. This choice aligns with the broader Greek understanding of wisdom as both philosophical insight and practical skill.
The use of ᾠκοδόμησεν (oikodomēsen) for בָּנְתָ֣ה reflects the same idea of building, reinforcing the notion of wisdom as a foundational element.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 9:1 tells us that Wisdom has built a house and established seven pillars, symbolizing strength and support. This verse highlights the importance of wisdom in life and encourages us to seek it as a guiding principle.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This metaphor indicates that wisdom creates a stable and secure environment for living, suggesting that wise choices lead to strong foundations in life.
The seven pillars represent strength and support, implying that wisdom is well-structured and reliable, providing a solid foundation for life.
You can seek wisdom through study, experience, and reflection, applying it to your decisions and actions to build a strong foundation in your life.
It teaches that wisdom is proactive and constructive, actively building and establishing a place of safety and strength.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek more wisdom?
- How can I ensure that my decisions are built on a foundation of wisdom?
- What are some practical steps I can take to grow in wisdom?
- How can I share the importance of wisdom with others in my community?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Christian writers have commented on this verse, interpreting it as a reference to Christ and the Church, illustrating the connection between wisdom and divine revelation.
Christ, he means, the wisdom and power of God the Father, hath builded His house, i.e., His nature in the flesh derived from the Virgin, even as he (John) hath said beforetime, "The Word became flesh,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 9 →
Moreover the Holy Spirit by Solomon shows before the type of the Lord's sacrifice, making mention of the immolated victim, and of the bread and wine, and, moreover, of the altar and of the apostles, and says,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 9 →
We say, therefore, that when he said in his previous discourse that wisdom built a house for itself, he is speaking enigmatically about the formation of the Lord’s flesh.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 9 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 9:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWisdom hath builded her house,.... Or "Wisdoms": of which see Proverbs 1:20; Christ, the Wisdom of God, is meant, in whom and from whom all wisdom is. Various are the opinions concerning this house built by him.
Read John Gill on Proverbs 9 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: Proverbs 9:1-18.-Wisdom's preparations of her house and her banquet for the quests whom she invites by her maidens (Proverbs 9:1-3).
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 9 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleCHAPTER 9 Wisdom’ s call to her people unto blessed communion and fellowship with herself, set out under a similitude of making a feast, . Her preparation, , and invitation, . She dehorteth from evil company, . Her counsel concerning reproof and instruction, . A description of the fear of God, , with the benefits thereof, ,12. The nature of a foolish woman, . Her invitation, , and arguments to insnare the simple, . The miserable state of them that are deceived by her, . Hath builded her house, for the reception and entertainment of her guests, as appears from the following passages. This house is opposed to the harlot’ s house, mentioned ; and it is to be understood, either, 1. Of the…
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 9 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:Ver. 1. Wisdom.] Heb., Wisdoms, in the plural; and this, either honoris causa, for honour’ s sake, or else by an ellipsis, as if the whole of it were "wisdom of wisdoms," as "the song of songs," for a most excellent song. Junius renders it, Summa sapientia. Highest wisdom. Hath builded her house.] That is, The Church. She hath hewn out her seven pillars] Pillars, and polished pillars. Anything is good enough to make up a mud wall; but the Church’ s pillars are of marble, and those not rough, but hewn; her safety is accompanied with beauty.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 9 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersIX. (o). Fifteenth Discourse: the Invitations of Wisdom and Folly (Proverbs 9). (1) Wisdom hath builded her house—i.e., in preparation for the feast to which she is about to invite her guests. It is not an unusual custom in the Old Testament to describe intimate communion with God, and the refreshment which the soul of man thereby receives, under the figure of a festival. Thus in Exodus 24:11, when the elders of Israel were admitted to the vision of the Almighty, they “did eat and drink.” The same idea occurs frequently in the prophets also (as Isaiah 25:6; Isaiah 65:13; Zephaniah 1:7-8); and is brought out in the New Testament with great fulness in the parables of the great supper (Luke…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 9 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleCHAPTER IX Wisdom builds her house, makes her provision for a great feast, calls her guests, and exhorts them to partake of her entertainment, 14. Different admonitions relative to the acquisition of wisdom, 7-12. The character and conduct of a bad woman, 13-18. NOTES ON CHAP. IX. The same Wisdom speaks here who spoke in the preceding chapter. There she represented herself as manifest in all the works of God in the natural world; all being constructed according to counsels proceeding from an infinite understanding. Here, she represents herself as the great potentate, who was to rule all that she had constructed; and having an immense family to provide for, had made an abundant provision…
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 9 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1. seven pillars] “Pillars form an important feature in Oriental architecture, partly perhaps as a reminiscence of the tent with its supporting poles, and partly also from the use of flat roofs, in consequence of which the chambers were either narrower, or divided into portions by columns.” Smith’s Dict. of Bible, Art. Pillar. Here, however, it is better to suppose that the great banquet-hall is open all along the front, so as it were to invite entrance, the roof being supported by a row (‘seven’ is the usual symbol of completeness) of stately pillars. The magnificent hall in which the lords of the Philistines sat and watched Samson making sport in the court-yard outside, while on its flat…
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 9 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleA parable full of beauty, and interesting in its parallelism to the parables of our Lord Matthew 22:3-4; Luke 14:16. Seven pillars - The number is chosen as indicating completeness and perfection.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 9 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.
Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out its seven pillars.
Tyndale line
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Wisedome hath built her house, and hewen out her seuen pillars.
Strictly literal
Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars — seven.
Wisdom has built her house, || She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
Wisdom hath built her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Wisdom has built her own house; she has carved seven pillars out of rocks.
From the Latin
Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.
Simplified
Wisdom has built her house; she has prepared its seven pillars.
Wisdom has made her house, putting up her seven pillars.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
חָ֭כְמוֹת is consistent in both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint, where five of the six words match, indicating a strong agreement in the core message of the verse.
חָ֭כְמוֹת בָּנְתָ֣ה בֵיתָ֑הּ חָצְבָ֖ה עַמּוּדֶ֣יהָ שִׁבְעָֽה׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 9:1
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
חָכְמָה (chokmah) means wisdom and encompasses various forms of skill, including in war and administration, as well as shrewdness and ethical prudence. It is built from the root word for wisdom, חָכַם (chakam). The term appears in contexts related to both practical and religious matters.
חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom
skill in war
wisdom, in administration
shrewdness, wisdom
wisdom, prudence in religious affairs
wisdom, ethical and religious
base
H2451 חָכְמָה wisdom . skill in war
. wisdom, in administration
. shrewdness, wisdom
. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs
. wisdom, ethical and religious
2451 chokmah khok-maw'
from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):--skilful, wisdom,
wisely, wit.
see HEBREW for 02449
חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) — wisdom.
1) wisdom
1a) skill (in war)
1b) wisdom (in administration)
1c) shrewdness, wisdom
1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)
1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)
HNcfpa — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
wiz'-dum:
1. Linguistic
2. History
3. Religious Basis
4. Ideals
5. Teaching of Christ
6. Remainder of the New Testament
(1) James
(2) Paul
7. Hypostasis
LITERATURE
1. Linguistic:
In the Revised Version (British and American) the noun "wisdom" and its corresponding adjective and verb ("be wise," "act wisely," etc.) represent a variety of Hebrew words: bin (binah, and in the English Revised Version tebunah), sakhal (sekhel, sekhel), lebh (and in the English Revised Version labhabh), tushiyah (and in the English Revised Version Te`em, `ormah, piqqach. None of these, however, is of very frequent occurrence and by far the most common group is the verb chakham, with the adjective chakham, and the nouns chokhmah, chokhmoth, with something over 300 occurrences in the Old Testament (of which rather more than half are in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes). Cokhmah, accordingly, may be treated as the Hebrew…
The Hebrew word בָּנָה (banah) means "to build" and encompasses various forms such as rebuilding, establishing, and making permanent. It can refer to physical construction, like building a house or family, as well as metaphorical uses, such as the establishment of restored exiles. The entries indicate that it can also imply being built up, particularly in the context of a childless wife becoming a mother.
בָּנָה 373 vb. build
Qal build
Niph.
be built
be rebuilt
(fig.) of restored exiles, = established
established, made permanent
base
H1129 בָּנָה build .build
.. . be built
. be rebuilt
. . (fig.) of restored exiles, = established
. established, made permanent
1129 banah baw-naw'
a primitive root; to build (literally and
figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make,
repair, set (up), X surely.
בָּנָה (ba.nah) — to build.
1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to build, rebuild
1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be built
1b2) to be rebuilt
1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.)
1b4) established (made permanent)
1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine)
Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singularHVqp3fs
The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
base
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
house
place
receptacle
of house as containing a family
household, family (592 t.)
house, including household affairs
lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
מִבַּיִת
adv. on the inside
prep. within
base
H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house
1004 bayith bah'-yith
probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest
variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,
daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as
would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),
inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,
temple, web, + within(-out).
see HEBREW for 01129
בֵּית (bet) — place.
nm
place, origin, between
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.
: home/temple/building
nm
1) house
1a) house, dwelling habitation
1b) shelter or abode of animals
1c) human bodies (fig.)
1d) of Sheol
1e) of abode of light and darkness
1f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
5a) those belonging to the same household
5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
adv
9) on the inside
prep
10) within
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fs
The Hebrew word חָצַב (chatsab) means to hew, cut, or carve materials like wood and stone. It encompasses various actions such as digging, dividing, and engraving. The word appears in different forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, indicating various nuances of cutting and shaping. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[חָצַב] חָצֵב vb. hew, hew out, cleave
Qal
hew out, (dig)
hew stone
appar. hew wood
metaph. hew in pieces
Niph. be cut, hewn, graven (words on rock)
Pu. fig., hewn out of rock
Hiph. hew in pieces
base
H2672 [חָצַב] חָצֵב hew, hew out, cleave
2672 chatsab khaw-tsab'
or chatseb {khaw-tsabe'}; a primitive root ; to cut or carve
(wood), stone or other material); by implication, to hew,
split, square, quarry, engrave:--cut, dig, divide, grave, hew
(out, -er), made, mason.
חָצַב (cha.tsav) — to hew.
1) to dig, cleave, divide, hew, make, cut out, dig out, cut down, quarry, hewer, mason
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hew out, dig
1a2) to hew
1a2a) stone
1a2b) wood
1a3) to hew in pieces (metaph.)
1a4) to divide, cleave
1b) (Niphal) to be cut, be hewn, be engraved
1c) (Hiphil) to hew into pieces, cut up into pieces
1d) (Pual) to be cut from, be hewn from
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singularHVqp3fs
עַמּוּד (ammuwd) means 'pillar' or 'column,' referring to a vertical support structure. It can denote both a physical pillar and a platform. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to stand.' The entries consistently emphasize its architectural connotation, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.
עַמּוּד, עַמֻּד 110 n.m. pillar, column
base
H5982 עַמּוּד, עַמֻּד pillar, column
5982 `ammuwd am-mood'
or ammud {am-mood'}; from 5975; a column (as standing); also
a stand, i.e. platform:--X apiece, pillar.
see HEBREW for 05975
עַמּוּד (am.mud) — pillar.
1) pillar, column
1a) pillar
1b) column, upright
1c) column (of smoke)
עַמּוּד (am.mud) — (Hall of) Pillars.
Combined with u.lam (אוּלָם "Hall" H0197)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3fs
שֶׁ֫בַע (sheba`) means 'seven' and is a cardinal number. It can also imply 'seven times' or refer to a week. The term appears in various contexts, including combinations like 17 or 700. Its Aramaic equivalent is שִׁבְעָה (shiv.ah), also meaning 'seven'.
שֶׁ֫בַע, שִׁבְעָה 394 n.m. et f. seven
base
H7651 שֶׁ֫בַע, שִׁבְעָה seven
7651 sheba` sheh'-bah
or (masculine) shibrah {shib-aw'}; from 7650; a primitive
cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also
(adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by
extension, an indefinite number:--(+ by) seven(-fold),-s,
(-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare 7658.
see HEBREW for 07650
see HEBREW for 07658
שֶׁ֫בַע (she.va) — seven.
1) seven (cardinal number)
1a) as ordinal number
1b) in combination-17, 700 etc
Aramaic equivalent: shiv.ah (שִׁבְעָה "seven" H7655)
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
sev'-'-n (shebha`; hepta).
See NUMBER.
Seven
This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen. 2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. “Jacob’s seven years’ service to Laban; Pharaoh’s seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days’ siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number” (see Lev. 25:4;
The frequent recurrence of certain numbers in the sacred literature of the Hebrews is obvious to the most superficial reader, but seven so far surpasses the rest, both in the frequency with which it recurs and in the importance of the objects with which it is associated, that it may fairly be termed the representative symbolic number. The influence of the number seven was not restricted to the Hebrews; it prevailed among the Persians, ancient Indians, Greeks and Romans. The peculiarity of the Hebrew view consists in the special dignity of the seventh, and not simply in that of seen. The Sabbath being the seventh day suggested the adoption of seven as the coefficient, so to say, for their appointment of all sacred periods; and we thus find the 7th month ushered in by the Feast of Trumpets, and signalized by the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Great Day of Atonement; 7…
As from the beginning this was the number of days in the week, so it often has in Scripture a sort of emphasis attached to it, and is very generally used as a round or perfect number. Clean beasts were taken into the ark by sevens, Ge 7:1-24. The years of plenty and famine in Egypt were marked by sevens, Ge 41:1-57. With the Jews, not only was there a seventh day Sabbath, but every seventh year was a Sabbath, and after every seven times seven years came a jubilee. Their great feasts of unleavened bread and of tabernacles were observed for seven days; the number of animals in many of their sacrifices was limited to seven. The golden candlestick had seven branches. Seven priests with seven trumpets went around the walls of Jericho seven days, and seven times on the seventh day. In…