### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word שִׁבְעִים (shibʻîym, `{{H7657}}`) serves primarily as a cardinal number, signifying "seventy." Its etymological root lies in the word שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, `{{H7651}}`), meaning "seven." This derivation is crucial, as the number seven often carries symbolic weight in biblical contexts, representing completion, perfection, or divine fullness. Therefore, seventy, being ten times seven, frequently amplifies this inherent symbolism. While its base definition is purely quantitative, its consistent usage across various biblical narratives and prophecies imbues it with a semantic range that extends beyond mere numerical value, often implying a full measure, a divinely appointed period, or a comprehensive representation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The number seventy appears in significant contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible, often highlighting administrative, generational, or prophetic themes:
* **Administrative and Representative:** Seventy elders accompanied Moses up Mount Sinai ([[Exodus 24:1]], [[Exodus 24:9]]). Later, seventy elders were appointed by God to share in Moses' spirit and assist in governing Israel ([[Numbers 11:16]], [[Numbers 11:24]], [[Numbers 11:25]]). This established a precedent for a representative body, a concept perhaps echoed in the later Sanhedrin.
* **Generational and Familial:** The total number of Jacob's descendants who came to Egypt was seventy ([[Genesis 46:27]]; cf. [[Deuteronomy 10:22]]). This signifies the complete initial family unit from which the nation of Israel grew.
* **Divine Judgment and Prophecy:** The most prominent prophetic use of seventy is found in the prophecies concerning the Babylonian captivity, which was prophesied to last seventy years ([[Jeremiah 25:11]], [[Jeremiah 29:10]]; [[Daniel 9:2]]). This period marked a divinely appointed time of judgment and purification for Israel. Furthermore, Daniel's prophecy of "seventy weeks" (of years) ([[Daniel 9:24]]) points to a divinely determined period leading to the culmination of God's redemptive plan, culminating in the Messiah.
* **Abundance and Completeness:** The seventy palm trees at Elim ([[Exodus 15:27]]) suggest a place of abundant provision. Similarly, the seventy oxen offered at the dedication of the altar ([[Numbers 7:88]]) signify a full and comprehensive offering.
* **Universal Scope:** The "Table of Nations" in Genesis 10 is often understood to list seventy (or seventy-two) nations, representing the totality of humanity descended from Noah ([[Genesis 10:1-32]]). This foundational enumeration of the world's peoples finds a significant echo in the New Testament, where Jesus sends out seventy (or seventy-two) disciples, implying a mission to all nations ([[Luke 10:1]], [[Luke 10:17]]), connecting the scope of redemption to the breadth of humanity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, `{{H7651}}`), "seven," from which שִׁבְעִים (shibʻîym, `{{H7657}}`) is derived. The symbolic weight of seven—representing completion, divine order, and covenant—is directly inherited and often amplified in seventy. Other related concepts include:
* **Numerical Symbolism:** The broader biblical practice of assigning symbolic meaning to numbers, particularly in prophetic and apocalyptic literature.
* **Multiples of Seven:** Numbers like fourteen, twenty-one, forty-nine (the Jubilee year), and four hundred ninety (seventy times seven, as in Jesus' command to forgive "seventy times seven" in [[Matthew 18:22]]) often carry intensified significance.
* **The Number Ten:** As seventy is seven multiplied by ten (עֶשֶׂר, ʻeser, `{{H6235}}`), the concept of ten as representing completeness, divine order, or a full measure also contributes to the significance of seventy.
* **The Nations (Goyim):** The concept of the seventy nations of the world in Genesis 10 is foundational for understanding the universal reach of God's plan.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of שִׁבְעִים (shibʻîym, `{{H7657}}`) is profound and multifaceted:
* **Divine Order and Providence:** The recurring appearance of seventy in contexts of divine appointment (elders), covenant judgment (exile), and redemptive history (Daniel's weeks) underscores God's meticulous ordering of events and people. It speaks to a divine timetable and a sovereign hand guiding history towards His purposes.
* **Completeness and Fullness:** As an amplified multiple of seven, seventy often signifies a full measure, a completed period, or a comprehensive representation. It suggests that a particular phase or group has reached its divinely intended scope or conclusion.
* **Universal Scope of God's Plan:** The connection between the seventy nations of Genesis 10 and the seventy disciples sent out by Jesus in Luke's Gospel strongly suggests a universal dimension to God's redemptive work. The gospel message, originating from Israel, is intended for all peoples, represented by this symbolic number of the world's nations.
* **Covenant Fidelity and Judgment:** The seventy years of Babylonian exile exemplify God's faithfulness to His covenant, even in judgment. This period of discipline served a specific purpose, leading to purification and eventual restoration, demonstrating God's commitment to His people despite their failures. Daniel's "seventy weeks" further emphasize the culmination of God's redemptive plan through the Messiah.
### Summary
The Hebrew word שִׁבְעִים (shibʻîym, `{{H7657}}`), meaning "seventy," transcends a mere numerical value, carrying significant symbolic weight rooted in its derivation from שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, `{{H7651}}`), "seven." Throughout the biblical narrative, seventy consistently appears in contexts that denote divine organization, complete periods of time, and comprehensive representation. From the seventy elders appointed to govern Israel ([[Numbers 11:25]]) and the seventy descendants of Jacob who entered Egypt ([[Genesis 46:27]]), to the seventy years of Babylonian captivity ([[Jeremiah 25:11]]) and Daniel's prophetic "seventy weeks" ([[Daniel 9:24]]), the number signifies a divinely appointed measure or a full complement. Its association with the seventy nations of the world in Genesis 10 and the seventy disciples sent out by Jesus ([[Luke 10:1]]) highlights its theological significance for the universal scope of God's redemptive plan. Thus, שִׁבְעִים embodies concepts of divine completeness, providential ordering, and the comprehensive reach of God's purposes across humanity and history, underscoring His sovereign hand in all things.
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