What Does the Number 10 Mean in the Bible?

Number 10 Biblical Meaning

In the Bible, 10 signifies responsibility, power, and divine completion. Numerically, the number 10 is seen as a complete or perfect number, and its appearance in the Bible is no different. 10 is the sum of 4 and 6—with 4 representing physical creation and 6 indicating man. Together, these numbers create 10, embodying the Lord’s almighty power and grace. The tenth number of the Hebrew alphabet is yod. It’s believed that the number 10 is in the Bible over 24 times.

Appearances of the Number 10 in the Bible

“God said” is used 10 times in Genesis 1. The number 10 signifies divine completion in Genesis 1 as the powerful phrase “God said” is used 10 times to describe how God created the world. For example, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (Genesis 1:26). Similarly, in Genesis 1, the Lord creates 10 things on the first day of creation, 10 on the sixth day, and 10 on the final day.

There are 10 Commandments. One of the most well known depictions of 10 in the Bible is the appearance of the Commandments in Exodus. On Mount Sinai, Moses receives 10 Commandments or golden rules from the Lord. It is these rules Christians must live by in the name of God. Some theorize that the order of the 10 Commandments holds a more significant meaning. The first 4 are directed toward God (e.g., “You shall have no other gods before Me”), while the other 6 regard human relationships (e.g., “You shall not murder”). This could represent God’s power and divine completion.

10 plagues wash over the Egyptians in Exodus. When the Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrews go and kept them enslaved, God unleashed His power with 10 plagues. The most notable plague was the tenth, which killed every firstborn son in Egypt, including the Pharaoh’s. These 10 Plagues represent God’s judgment and authority over man.

10 days is marked heavily on the Jewish calendar. The number 10 makes many appearances throughout the Jewish calendar, with the most notable occurrences being: A Passover lamb is chosen on the 10th day of the first month. One must repent for 10 days between Rosh Hashanah or Feast of Trumpets.

There are 10 generations between Adam and Noah. Adam was the first son of God in the Garden of Eve, and Noah was a faithful servant to God who built an ark. Ten generations passed between Adam and Noah’s stories when God claimed man was corrupt and decided to destroy all mankind (outside of Noah and his family on the ark). In other words, 10 generations of man lived before The Flood. Similarly, 10 generations passed between Noah and Abraham, a friend and servant of God who was incredibly faithful and loyal.

Jesus speaks of 10 virgins in Matthew. In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus talks to a parable about 10 virgins who symbolize faith and unfaithfulness. Here, the number 10 represents the completeness of God’s judgment. “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise” (Matthew 25:1-2).

There are 10 tribes of Israel. As shown in 1 Kings 12:19-20 and 2 Chronicles 11:1-4, 10 tribes separated from the kingdom of Judah. This signifies the completeness of the Christian faith and God’s desire for unity. “So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David” (1 Kings 12:19-20). “‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing’” (2 Chronicles 11:4).

There are 10 lost books mentioned in the Old Testament. Many theorize that the Bible we read today wasn’t meant to be the final version. The Old Testament refers to books not in the Bible, and scholars refer to these as the “lost books.” These books aren’t necessarily lost but missing or taken out of the Bible’s final publication. These include: The Book of the Wars of the Lord The Book of Jasher The Book of the Acts of Solomon The Book of Nathan the Prophet The Book of Gad the Seer The Prophecy of Ahijah the Shiloite The Visions of Iddo the Seer The Book of Shemaiah the Prophet The Book of Jehu the Son of Hanani The Sayings of Hosai

Tithing and the Number 10

In Hebrew, the word for the number 10 means “wealth.” The Hebrew word for the number 10 is eser, which sounds very similar to the Hebrew word for “wealth,” osher. Because of this connection, many Christians believe the number 10 is associated with tithing or a one-tenth tax of earnings given to the church. In Biblical times, the law required Israelites to give 10% of their goods. As the scripture says: “Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:32). “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year” (Deuteronomy 14:22). “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops” (Proverbs 3:9).

Why is the number 10 important in the Bible?

The number 10 is important because it signifies God’s almighty power. There’s no denying that the number 10 is powerful, and how it’s used in the Bible and what it represents is extremely significant. The number 10 primarily comes with catastrophic and life-altering events. For instance, the 10 plagues of Egypt and the 10 Commandments. These events altered Christians' lives and showcased the Lord's almighty power. Because of this, the number 10 represents God’s strength and effort to execute divine completion.