Discover in this article what the number 10 means in the Bible.
In general, the number 10 does not only have a meaning in the Bible but also in other religions. The number 10 is one of the numbers that has a deep and most significant meaning in the Bible. That is, it carries a very deep symbolism that, in turn, reflects order, responsibility and the totality of heavenly law. Throughout the Holy Scriptures, the number 10 appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, including the Old Testament and the New Testament, and each of these appearances carries with it an important lesson for each era. Therefore, in this short article, we will explore the meaning of the number 10 in the Bible and see how it relates to God’s plan for everyone in the world.
The Number 10 as a Symbol of Completion
In the Bible, the number 10 is associated with the idea of completeness or totality. In other words, this can be seen in several examples throughout the Old Testament. God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on the mountain, which represent the entirety of God’s moral law given to His servant Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17). Consequently, these commandments that God gave to Moses cover all aspects of human life, including the relationship with God and also the relationship with other people. The commandment symbolizes a complete and perfect law that enlightens the practitioner of this law.
In the New Testament, there is an evident example of the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). The number of virgins is 10, where the number 10 represents the totality and perfection of the Church. The Bible mentions that they are all pure, so why does it divide the number into 5 foolish and 5 wise? The issue of the total number of virgins being 10 is not based on a moral issue but rather on a question of purity of spirit, the means by which salvation comes from God and is not based on human effort.
You can analyze the text in which Jesus says: “God seeks true worshipers, who worship in “spirit and in truth” (spirit speaks of virginity, the means by which Jesus saved man) now (in truth speaks of man’s moral issues towards God).
In any case, the number 10 symbolizes that the Church must be prepared for the second and final coming of Christ. The number 10, in this context of virgins, seeks to emphasize the responsibility and readiness of each person and brings a powerful message to the saved and points out that it is necessary to have true conduct before God.
The Number 10 as a Symbol of Responsibility
The number 10 is related to the responsibility of each believer. One example of this is found in the practice of giving tithes to God. Believers are called to give, or rather return, 10% of their earnings to the Lord. This is seen as an act of obedience and brings recognition that everything they have comes from God (Leviticus 27:30). Tithing is not just a means by which man is grateful to God, but a means by which they rid themselves of Mammon (money) and show that their Lord is God and give up this lordship. It is a constant reminder that each Jew or Gentile is responsible before God for how they manage their resources.
Furthermore, the Bible mentions in the parable of the Ten Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) that the number 10 is used to teach about the individual responsibility of each person. Remember that each servant described in the parable was judged based on what he did with what was entrusted to him, and the number 10 in the text of the parable appears as a measure of faithfulness and diligence. People who used their talents responsibly were rewarded double, on the other hand, those who did not fulfill their responsibilities according to the talent that was used were condemned (not condemned to hell but to another type of condemnation).
The Number 10 and Divine Order
Divine order is associated with the number 10 in the Bible. For example, in the Genesis creation account, God said, “Let there be” (to create something out of nothing) 10 times, showing divine order in the formation of the entire universe (both heaven and earth). This pattern of speech at the beginning of the book underscores God’s authority and power to establish and maintain order in the cosmos (heaven and earth).
Another example of divine order we can see is evidenced in the 10 plagues that were visited upon Egypt (Exodus 7-12). These plagues that God sent were an ordained judgment to demonstrate His power over Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods.
Pharaoh was made like a mallet in God’s hands, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and then softened it.
The number 10 here represents the 10 gods of ancient Egypt who were slaughtered by God and the 10 represents the totality of divine judgment, showing that Jehovah had a pre-established and ordained plan to free His people from slavery in Egypt (sin).
The Number 10 in the Book of Revelation
In the Book of Revelation, the number 10 appears again as a symbol of judgment and completion. In Revelation 2:10, the Church of Smyrna is warned that it will face 10 days of tribulation and torment from Satan, symbolizing a period in which some believers will go through testing and suffering before receiving the crown of life.
Remember the 5 foolish virgins mentioned in Matthew 6:21, so it could be these believers in Smyrna. There are many who claim to be (Jewish) believers and are not.
To help you understand a little about the church in Smyrna, the Christians there suffered greatly for not worshipping Caesar. This is because the city of Smyrna, one of the most splendid of the seven cities, developed emperor worship. According to stories, the leader of the church in Smyrna, Polycarp, was martyred for refusing to call Caesar “Lord.”
