What Does the Number 5 Mean in the Bible?

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Uncover the biblical symbols of this powerful holy number

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: January 6, 2024 Fact Checked

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Number 5 Biblical Meaning

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Appearances of Number 5

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Why is 5 important?

In the Bible, numbers are more than just numbers; they represent a higher, holy power. The number 5 is a prime example of this used to describe God’s grace and kind nature toward humanity. From the Leviticus offerings to the separation of the Pentateuch, God’s holy word is consistently followed by the number 5. In this article, we’ll explain why the number 5 is biblically important from a Christian and literary standpoint.

Things You Should Know

The number 5 symbolizes God’s grace, kindness, and mercy toward humankind, as it’s often associated with prayers and devotion in Hebrew.
The number 5 comes up the most when God’s grace is shown, such as the Leviticus offerings and building of the Tabernacle.
In the Bible, God’s Law or Pentateuch is divided into 5 books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Section 1 of 3:

Number 5 Biblical Meaning

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In the Bible, the number 5 represents God’s grace. This number is powerful in scripture because it symbolizes God’s kindness and good favor of humankind, as it’s associated with prayers and faith in Hebrew.^{[1]
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Research source} 5 represents grace in Christianity, and when multiplied by itself (5 x 5), you get 25 or “grace upon grace” (John 1:16).^{[2]
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Research source} This makes the number 5 one of the Bible's most symbolic and meaningful numbers.
- In Hebrew, the number 5 relates to the fifth letter of the alphabet: Hei, He, or Heh. This letter means “to look” or “to behold.”^{[3]
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- The number 5 is used over 300 times in the Bible.

Section 2 of 3:

Appearances of the Number 5 in the Bible

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God instructed the Israelites to bring Him 5 offerings. In Leviticus, there are 5 offerings that sum up God’s sacrificial work and mercy to humankind. The offerings are as follows:^{[4]
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- The Burnt Offering: An animal is sacrificed on an altar and is burned (except for the skin) to represent God’s will. (Leviticus 1; 8:18-21; 16:24)
- The Meal Offering: A handful of flour and oil is burned while priests eat the rest to offer God gratitude. (Leviticus 2)
- The Peace Offering: The blood, fat, and kidneys of the sacrificed animal are put on the altar, as God and man can feed on the same offering. (Leviticus 3; 7:11-34)
- The Sin Offering: The buttock of the animal is burned outside of Israel to represent humankind’s sins. (Leviticus 4; 16:3-22)
- The Trespass Offering: A person who unintentionally violated the Lord is sacrificed where the animal was burned. (Leviticus 5:14-19; 6:1-7)
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God used the number 5 when building the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle is a temporary, portable temple the Israelites made for God to dwell. God gave specific instructions on how the Tabernacle would be built, including specific measurements and structures.^{[5]
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- The holy anointing oil used on the furniture had 5 ingredients: pure myrrh, sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, and cassia blended with olive oil.^{[6]
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- 5 curtains, bars, and pillars (Exodus 26:3, 26-27, 37).^{[7]
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- A wood altar that was 5 cubits long and 5 cubits wide (Exodus 27:1).^{[8]
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The Book of Psalms is divided into 5 sections. The sections are as follows:^{[9]
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- Section 1 (Psalms 1 to 41) includes the Passover, Israel’s beginning, and the start of God’s salvation.
- Section 2 (Psalms 42 to 72) refers to Israel's unification and the church's creation.
- Section 3 (Psalms 73 to 89) highlights the destruction of God’s Temple and Jerusalem.
- Section 4 (Psalms 90 to 106) celebrates Jesus’s reign and the Israelites's gathering.
- Section 5 (Psalms 107 to 150) alludes to Judah being delivered again.
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God’s Law has 5 books. In the Bible, God’s Law or holy rules are divided into 5 books or sections: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. This is also known as the Pentateuch.^{[10]
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- Moses, the leader of the Israelites and a Hebrew prophet, is believed to have written these first 5 books.^{[11]
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In Ephesians 4:11-13, the Lord asks Christians to fill 5 roles to make up the church, also known as the five-fold ministry: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.^{[12]
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Gifted to Moses and the Israelites, the Ten Commandments are the set of biblical principles believers in Christ must follow. In other words, they’re the rules of Christianity.^{[13]
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Research source} The Commandments can be split into 2 sections of 5, dividing guidelines for worshiping the Lord with personal values.
In Matthew 14:13-21, Jesus feeds 5,000 men, women, and children with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. By giving thanks to God over the food, Jesus is able to show the people that God’s love for them is abundant and creates a miracle.^{[14]
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Section 3 of 3:

Why is the number 5 important in the Bible?

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The number 5 is one of the most commonly used numbers in the Bible, and that’s no mistake. Every number or symbolic placement of 5 was put in the scripture by God intentionally. This in itself is enough to justify the number 5’s importance in faith. Even so, every time the number 5 is used in scripture, it proves God’s mercy and grace.