The number 111 has not been directly referenced in the Scriptures. However, 111 is composed of three ones and this can be pretty significant. Additionally, there are scores of verses in the Bible where the number 111 appears as a sequence e.g. 1:11 or 11:1. The sequence 11:11 may also be interpreted the same. In modern-day numerology, the number is often interpreted to mean taking chances or things. But the Bible might have a different view on the number.
So, what is the meaning of 111 in the Bible?
The number 1 is used to represent God. Moses made it clear in the commandments that the God of Israel is one. The doctrine of the trinity also confirms this where each person in the trinity is equal (is one) and they dwell in perfect unity. 111, therefore, showcases the unity of the Godhead.
Origin of 111 in the Bible
There are two possible sources of the meaning of 111 in the Bible:
- The Hebrew calendar
- The role of God the Son in the godhead
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar has several repeating patterns which Hebrew scholars believe are significant. The first day of the Hebrew civil year was on Tishri 1 (commemorated by the feast of trumpets or Rosh Hashanah) in year 1 (1111).
The first Hebrew Year started on a new moon that was declared on October 6 at 11:11 p.m. This was in the year 3761 on the Julian calendar. It was also year 1 in the Biblical 19-year lunar cycle and the year had 355 days.
From this context, the number 111 can therefore be interpreted to signify new opportunities, new seasons, or new things.
The Trinity
The number 1 is often referred to as the number of God. This is because God is one. However, God exists in three persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three persons are equal and are therefore all represented by the number 1 which makes 111 for the trinity. As such, the number 111 can symbolize the presence of divinity.
The Symbolism of Number 1 in the Bible
Number 1 in the Bible symbolizes unity and uniqueness. It reminds us of the uniqueness of God’s creation as well as the unity of the Trinity. The verse “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4) is an excellent illustration of this truth. But there are loads of other examples of this in scripture.
The number 1 is closely tied to divinity in the scriptures. For instance, the Bible opens in Genesis 1:1 by declaring God as the sole creator of the universe. Many years later, Jesus said;
I and the father are one (John 10:30). This not only demonstrated the unity of the trinity but also serves to show the importance of the number 1 in relation to divinity. 1 speaks of unity and the three persons of the trinity are in perfect unison to form 1 Godhead.
The Book of Psalms is the only book that has chapter 111. This is a chapter of praise where the Psalmist praises God for his great works. This ties in well with the Genesis 1:1 which is also talking about God’s creation. But the last verse of Psalms chapter 111 almost seems misplaced – it is a verse about getting wisdom from God. The psalmist must have understood that the creator of the universe was full of wisdom. As Proverbs would later record, the world was founded by wisdom, and the heavens were established by understanding (Proverbs 3:19). This is the wisdom that The last verse of Psalms 111 was alluding to. It is a wisdom, as the verse records, that stems from the fear of the Lord.
The presence of the divine, which is represented by the number 111 also inspires the fear of God. One cannot stand in the presence of God without being in awe of him. And as demonstrated in Psalms, focusing on his wondrous works is a sure way of developing a heart of worship and praise. And it is in such an environment that wisdom is born. So, we can safely infer that the number 111 not only represents divinity but also represents God’s wisdom.
The number 111 can also be a representation of the role of God the Son in the Trinity. In Revelation 1:11, Jesus reveals himself to John as the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega. He appears with a message to the churches which affirms his authority as the true head of the church.
Lastly, the significance of 111 can be also seen in the kingdom of David and how it was impacted by sin. In 2 Samuel 3:4, David is on his deathbed when Adonijah, one of his sons, tries to take over the throne forcefully against his dad’s wishes. Prophet Nathan warns Bathsheba (King Solomon’s mother) of the plot in the following verse:
Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns and David our Lord does not know? (1 Kings 1:11)
The paradox is, while 1 Kings 1:11 is an affirmation of Solomon’s right to sit on the throne, a different scripture that uses the same digits of 11:11 tears kingship from Solomon’s hands. Check it out:
And the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this (idolatry) has been done by you, and since you have not kept My covenant and My statutes…I will surely tear the kingdom from you.” (1 Kings 11:11).
From these portions of scripture, we can infer that the number 111 signifies change or more specifically, a change in leadership.
Conclusion
So, in summary, the number 111 can be used to signify a number of things. For starters, the number 1 denotes unity used to denote the divinity while 111 can be seen as a representation of the three persons of the trinity. The number 111 can therefore signify the presence of God. However, it can also signify change as we saw from the example of David and Solomon.
