What does the number 22 mean in the bible

by | Aug 22, 2023 | Theology | 0 comments

The number 22 is not as common as other numbers in the Bible but it is still an important number. Even though it is not explicitly used, there are lots of symbolism in its appearance in several instances in the scriptures. For instance, Jesus quoted from 22 books of the Old Testament and the Hebrew alphabet is composed of 22 alphabets. 
There are two ways of looking at it. If you look at 22 as a double of 11, then 22 will represent evil, darkness, and confusion. That’s because 11 represents disorder and chaos. However, we can also extrapolate from various Biblical references that 22 stands of light (or God’s word.)

22 is a double of 11

22 is a double of eleven so we can extrapolate its symbolism from 11. Number 11 is used a lot in the Bible – approximately  43 times. The number 11 denotes chaos, judgment, and disorder. The perfect illustration of this is found in Genesis 11 where men gather with a goal of building a tower that would reach heaven. God confuses their tongue and what ensues is confusion and disorder. Even in modern English, “tower of Babel” is often used as a metaphor for confusion and disorder. 

As such, the number 22, which is a double of eleven can signify a higher degree of chaos, confusion, and disorder. The word evil is often used to encapsulate all these and that is why 22 is often used to denote evil. Jeroboam I, who became the first king of Israel after the kingdom split in two, was king for a total of 22 years.  Jeroboam’s ways did not please the Lord because he led the nation into idolatry as well as doing all manner of sins. Here is what God said of his reign;

You have done more evil things than everyone before you. You made other gods, metal idols, for yourself. You made me furious and turned your back to me. 1 Kings 14:9

Interstingly, King Ahab, who is considered one of the worst kings of Israel, also reigned for a total of 22 years. Apart from killing Naboth to steal his vineyard, the king also married Jezebel who brought foreign gods to Israel. Under King Ahab’s watch, Israel sank so deep into idolatry that the prophets of Yahweh had to go into hiding because they feared for their lives (1 Kings 18,19,20). Consequently, King Amon began his reign when he was 22 years of age and he is also described as an evil king. Even though he reigned for only 2 years, scripture says that the king continued in the evil ways of his father by worshiping idols and doing other kinds of evil deeds (2 Kings 21:19-24)

From these examples, we can infer that the number 22 symbolizes evil – which is also a condensed way of saying chaos, disorder, and confusion. 

A symbol of light


Even though 22 may symbolize disorder and chaos, the same number may also symbolize light in other contexts. The word light does not just denote the light of the sun but it is used as a metaphor for God’s word. The Psalmist says the entrance of God’s word not only brings light (Psalms 119:130) but it is also light (119:105).

The Hebrew alphabet comprises 22 letters. Since these letters were used to compose the word of God, we can infer that the number 22 represents the light of God’s word. 

The word light appears 264 times in the scriptures. If we divide this number by 12 (which signifies God’s divine authority), we get 22 – a number that denotes light. In Numbers 3:39, the number of Levites is recorded as 22,000.  This was a symbol of their role in lighting the Tabernacle as we can see from the verse below:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron, and say to him, ‘When you arrange the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’” And Aaron did so; he arranged the lamps to face toward the front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses.

The connection of light and priesthood is also seen in 1 Peter 2:9 which illustrates the priesthood of all believers under the new covenant but also says that we were called out of darkness into his marvelous light. 

The word light is used 22 times in the Gospel of John. The 22nd appearance of the word light in this book is when Jesus says,

“I have come as a light into the world . . .” (John 12:46).

The church is therefore called to walk in the light of God (John 3:21) for that is the only way they can truly be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14 – 15).

Another illustration of how 22 symbolizes light can be seen during Jesus’ death on the cross. At around 3 PM, Jesus quoted Psalms 22:1 by saying “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” (Mark 15:34). After this, Jesus died and there was darkness for 3 hours. The darkness that covered the area for 3 hours symbolized the significance of the statement Jesus had made – God, who is light, had forsaken him. This was important because Jesus had to die on the cross in order to save humanity from eternal damnation. 

The book of Revelation, which is the last book of the Bible, is a book where John foretells the things that are to come. It is called revelation because it “reveals.” By definition, the word reveals means “bring to light.” As a testament to this, the book has a total of 22 chapters to symbolize the light of God’s word that was revealed to John the Revelator. 

Conclusion

To sum it up, the number 22 can be termed as a symbol of light or darkness depending on the context. But for the most part, it represents light which always trumps darkness. In the words of scripture, God is light and in him, there is no darkness at all. 

Did you like Ronies Post?
Support us to help us spread Gospel!

All suport goes to provide job opportunities at Walking Cross Roads for Christians in Developing contries! Learn More About us>

About: Ronie

Ronnie Amaya has been actively involved in ministry since his high school and university days where he served as a Christian union leader. After graduation, he worked as an itinerary minister preaching in Schools, Universities, Street Evangelizations, and Churches. In 2018, he led a team in planting a new church in Nairobi, Kenya where he is currently serving as the lead pastor.
<a href="https://walkingcrossroads.com/author/ronie/" target="_self">Ronie</a>

Ronie

Ronnie Amaya has been actively involved in ministry since his high school and university days where he served as a Christian union leader. After graduation, he worked as an itinerary minister preaching in Schools, Universities, Street Evangelizations, and Churches. In 2018, he led a team in planting a new church in Nairobi, Kenya where he is currently serving as the lead pastor.

Recent Posts

Our Mission

  1. Foster better understanding and unity among Christians of different denominations.
  2. Aid Christians in their spiritual growth by answering their questions.
  3. Spread Christian values by offering solutions rooted in Christian principles for common worldly problems.
  4. Provide job opportunities for Christians in developing countries

Support Our Mission

Related Posts

Bible Verses About Light

Bible Verses About Light

The concept of light in the Bible carries profound significance, representing transformation, guidance, God’s presence, victory over darkness, and the responsibility of spreading God’s light.

Bible Verses About Home

Bible Verses About Home

The Bible says quite a lot about the home – both directly and indirectly. The lessons about the home from the Bible cut across society and are invaluable for both believers and non-believers.

Bible Verses About Teamwork

Bible Verses About Teamwork

The Bible has quite a lot to say on teamwork. By and large, God expects every Christian to respect their colleagues and their work because ultimately, every work we do is a service to God.