The Number 33, Jesus, and Pi

In the Bible, numbers often constitute symbolic or theological significance, serving as more than just quantities. They frequently convey deeper meanings and are used by biblical authors, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, to emphasize particular themes or divine truths. Biblical numerology is the study of the symbolic meaning of numbers in Scripture. It is not to be confused with Hebrew gematria or Greek isopsephy, which involves a process by which numerical values are ascribed to the letters of the Hebrew or Greek alphabet. 

Because the Old Testament, the Tanakh, was written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek, and because those languages did not have separate numbering systems (the letters themselves stand for numbers), every letter has a numeric value. Therefore, every letter, word, and sentence can be quantified by adding up the value of the letter, the word, and the sentence. 

I have written many times about both Biblical numerology and gematria/isopsephy. In this article, we will examine both numerology and gematria/isopsephy regarding the number 33. Before we look at this particular number, let's briefly review some other numbers and their biblical symbolism. Links are provided for more detailed information.

• The number 1 denotes absolute singleness and unity. Three times in Scripture is the phrase "God is one" used (Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:29, and Galatians 3:20). The Trinity can be described mathematically as 1 x 1 x 1 = 1. Three Persons or manifestations, yet one God.

• The number 2 symbolizes division or separateness. Many biblical examples can be used for division or separation between two people or parties. The first one is between God and mankind (Adam and Eve) as told in Genesis 3. However, two can also mean "witness," as in Deuteronomy 19:15, "By the mouth of two or three witnesses, a matter shall be established." This statute is also found in Matthew 18:16, 2 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Timothy 5:19, and Hebrews 10:28.  

• The number 3 represents divine perfection as in the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). The Trinity can also be described mathematically as 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. Three divine Persons or manifestations, in one God. The first occurrence of the number 3 is in Genesis 1 and describes the 3rd day of creation. “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so” (Genesis 1:9). On the 3rd day, the earth was caused to rise up out of the water, symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 3 is the number of resurrection, for it was on the 3rd day that Jesus rose again from the dead (Luke 24:7). See God’s Perfect Number: Part 1 :: By Randy Nettles :: Rapture Ready

• The number 4 represents Creation. In the beginning, there was the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The fourth thing was the creation of the heavens and the earth (and everything in them). It is the number of the world and material completeness.

• The number 5 symbolizes grace. If 3 is the number for the Trinity and 4 is the number for creation, then 5 is the number for redemption or Divine grace. See Biblical Significance of the Number 5: Part I :: By Randy Nettles - Rapture Ready and Biblical Significance of the Number 5: Part II :: By Randy Nettles - Rapture Ready. 

• The number 6 represents man, as he was created on the sixth day. Six days a week were appointed by God for man to labor on the earth. 

• The number 7 represents spiritual perfection or completeness, as seven represents the creation "week" with six days of work and one day of rest. See Seven: God’s Perfect Number and it’s Biblical Significance :: By Randy Nettles - Rapture Ready.

• The number 8 symbolizes new beginnings. The day after the seventh day is the eighth day or the first day of a new week. Many Bible scholars believe there will be six millennia of man on the earth before the millennial reign of Jesus Christ (the seventh millennium from Adam). A new creation of the heavens and the earth will occur after Jesus' 1000-year reign, which will mark the beginning of the eighth millennium. Jesus was resurrected on the eighth day (Sunday) from the start of Holy Week. The symbol for infinity looks like a sideways 8. The number 24 is a product of 8 and 3, or the sum of 8 + 8 + 8. The Greek word Ἰησοῦς (Strong's G2424 - Iésous), or Jesus in English, has an isopsephy of 888.

• The number 9 represents completeness and finality in divine things. Nine is the square of three, and three is the number of Divine perfection, as well as the number peculiar to the Holy Spirit. For example, there are nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. There are nine Beatitudes found in Matthew 5. There are nine gifts of the Spirit according to 1 Corinthians 12:7-10. The number 9 also represents judgment in the Bible. Nine seems to be an especially unlucky number for Israel. See The Number Nine In Scripture and History.

• The number 10 signifies the perfection of Divine order, as it begins an altogether new series of numbers. It implies that nothing is wanting, that the number and order are perfect, and that the whole cycle is complete. "Entire cycles are complete with the number 10: Noah completed the antediluvian age in the 10th generation. Abraham was the 20th (2 x 10) from Adam. The 10 Commandments contain all that is necessary for the law to be complete. The Lord’s Prayer is completed in 10 clauses. The 10 plagues were representative of the complete circle of God’s judgments on Egypt. The tithes of 10% represent the whole of what was due from man to God, as marking and recognizing God’s claim on the whole.” {1}

• The number 11 marks disorder, disorganization, imperfection, and disintegration. It is one extra from 10 and one shy of 12. Two chapters that represent this disorder are found in Genesis 11 (Tower of Babel incident) and 1 Kings 11:11 (where God tells Solomon he will tear the kingdom from him and give it to one of his subordinates because of his disobedience). The Antichrist comes after the 10 kings of the end times. He is the 11th King. 

•  The number 12 signifies the perfection of rule or government. “It is found as a multiple in all that has to do with rule. The sun which rules the day; and the moon and stars which govern the night, do so by their passage through the 12 signs of the Zodiac which completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 x 30) degrees or divisions, and thus govern the year (there are 12 months in a normal year for most calendars). Twelve is the product of 3 (the perfectly Divine and heavenly number) and 4 (the earthly, the number of what is material and organic).” {2}  Twelve also represents God's chosen people, the Jews, as there were 12 sons of Israel and 12 Jewish disciples of Jesus. In Revelation 21, 12 is the dominant number concerning the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven. See God’s Perfect Number: Part 2 :: By Randy Nettles :: Rapture Ready.

• The number 13 represents rebellion, apostasy, corruption, and revolution. The first mention of the number thirteen is found in Genesis 14:4, "Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled." The Antichrist and false prophet are prophesied about in Revelation 13.

• The number 14, being a multiple of seven, partakes of its significance, and being double that number implies a double measure of spiritual perfection. Matthew compresses his genealogy into three sets of 14 generations. See Jesus' Family Tree. 14 is the gematria of David’s name in Hebrew. The number 14 is a well-known number throughout Israel’s religion and history. The Feast of the LORD, known as Passover, occurred on the 14th day of the first month of Nisan, according to Leviticus 23:5. Most Bible students are aware of the significance of this Feast and how Jesus fulfilled it (as the Lamb of God) with his death on this day. On the seven days of the Feast of the Lord, known as Tabernacles, the Jews were to offer 14 lambs without blemish as a sacrifice to the Lord.

• The number 15 has two divisors (besides 1 and 15), which are 3 and 5. So, 15 partakes of the significance of those two numbers. The Hebrew word, "יָהּ" (or Strong's H3050: Yah) has a gematria of 15. Yah is a contracted form of יְהוָה (YHWH), the tetragrammaton, which is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible.

• The number 16 partakes of the significance of 8 and 2 (as 8 x 2 = 16) and 4 (as 4 x 4 = 16).

• The number 17 is the 7th prime number. Likewise, the number 17 partakes of and intensifies the significance of the number 7, which represents spiritual perfection. 17 is the sum of two of God’s perfect numbers, 7 and 10. 17 is also 7 + 7 + 3, whereas three is another of God’s perfect numbers. Jesus was resurrected on Nisan 17 (in AD 33), three days after Passover. Thus, the number 17 represents resurrection, victory, and overcoming the enemy, as in death and the grave. See The Spiritual Significance of Numbers 17 and 153.

• The number 18 partakes of the significance of 9 and 2 (as 9 x 2 = 18).

• The number 19 is associated with judgment. It is a combination of 10 (ordinal perfection) and 9 (judgment). It is the gematria of Eve and Job. See Judgment and the Number 19.

• The number 20 is double the number 10 and signifies its concentrated meaning. Abrahams was the 20th generation from Adam. Being one shy of 21 (7 x 3), it also signifies expectancy. It is often associated with "waiting" in Scripture. 

• 40 is the number for probation, trial or testing, and chastisement. Moses lived to be 120 and died just prior to the Israelites entering the Promised Land. His life, according to Scripture, was divided into three equal parts of 40. He spent 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in Midian, and 40 years in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan. This division of Moses’ life by three reminds us that 6000 years of life on Earth can be divided into three cycles of 2000 years or 40 Jubilees (40 x 50 = 2000). There were approximately 40 Jubilees from Adam to the birth of Abraham, 40 Jubilees from Abraham to the death of Christ, and I believe there will be 40 Jubilees from Christ’s death to the Second Advent.

• In the Bible, the number 50 represents “return” with a sense of glory. Every 50 years was the Jubilee (or was supposed to be), in which all possessions returned to their original owners, from slaves to property, and all debts were erased. 50 = 10 x 5, with 10 being the number for ordinal perfection and 5 being the number for grace.

• Multiples of seven: The number 7 plays the most significant role in the Bible's numerical symbolism. Some multiples of the number 7 should also be mentioned to provide a comprehensive view of this symbolism: 14 (2 x 7), 42 (6 x 7), 49 (7 x 7), 70 (7 x 10), 77 (7 x 11), 490 (7 x 7 x 10), 1960 (7 x 7 x 10 x 4), 3430 (7 x 7 x 10 x 7), and 7000 (7 x 10 x 10 x 10). The product number exhibits significance in an intensified form. See Multiples of Seven: God's Perfect Number. 

  
  

THE NUMBER 33 AND JESUS

Many Bible teachers believe 1, 3, 7, 10, and 12 are God's perfect numbers, according to their prevalent and meaningful use in Scripture. When you add the five of them together, the sum is 33. When you multiply them together, the product is 2520. This number represents the seven days of the Creation Week. Each day, the Earth revolved 360 degrees for a total of 2520 (360 x 7) degrees in the course of a week. The smallest number that can be evenly divided by all the numbers 1-10 is 2520.  Many theologians believe the seven-year Tribulation will be 2520 days in duration. 

If you add God's perfect number 7 to 26 (the Hebrew gematria for Yahweh or LORD), the sum is 33. The number 3 represents divine perfection in the Bible. The double-digit 33 numerically represents Jesus' divine perfection as the second Person of the Trinity, the Son. As the Son of man, Jesus is represented by the number 66. The number for "man" (the Hebrew transliteration is Strong's H120: adam) is 6. 1 Corinthians 15:45 calls Jesus the "last Adam." Verse 47 calls Jesus the "second man." Thus, 66 (33 x 2) represents Jesus, the second man, the Son of man. If you add them together, the sum is 99, which is the Greek isopsephy of ἀμήν or "Amen" (meaning "truly" or "so be it"). Incidentally, the 33rd time the word "LORD" (or "Yahweh") is mentioned is in Genesis 6:6. 

You might say, What about the number 11 and its negative symbolism of division and disorder as being one of the factors of 33 (3 x 11)? Jesus himself said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household" (Matthew 10:32-36). 

The Hebrew word (transliteration) for God is Elohim. Elohim is mentioned 33 times in the creation story from Genesis 1:1 to 2:2. Genesis 2:2 is also the 33rd verse of the Bible. "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done" (Genesis 2:2).  The seventh day is the sabbath day of rest. Three times in the N.T. (Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, and Luke 6:5) mention that the Son of man is the Lord of the Sabbath. So, in the 33rd verse of the Bible, and the 33rd mention of God (Elohim), the pre-incarnate Jesus (the Son of man), the Word, rested on the 7th day, the Sabbath, to set an example for mankind.

God's name is first introduced in Genesis 2:4, "This is the account of heaven and earth when they were created, at the time when Yahweh Elohim made earth and heaven" (NOG version). In the KJV Old Testament, the word LORD (all the letters are capitalized) is used as the name of the one true God. This is the English KJV translation of the Hebrew word YHWH or Yahweh. Twenty times, from Genesis 2:4-Genesis 3:23, the words LORD God (Yahweh Elohim) are used. After this verse, in Genesis 4:1, just the word "LORD" (Yahweh) is used twenty-one times until "LORD God" is used again.

As I mentioned before, the 33rd time the Hebrew word "יְהֹוָה" (Yahweh or LORD) is mentioned is in Genesis 6:6, when God said, "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." This was during the time of Noah, when sin was great upon the earth, and God decided to destroy the earth and its inhabitants with a flood. The LORD/Yahweh (the Word, the pre-incarnate Son of man), who made Adam/man (on the 6th day), chose to destroy man, but would preserve man through Noah's lineage. In the distant future (from the great flood), Yahweh would become the Son of man (66), so he could save man from sin, death, and the grave. The Son of man is our kinsman redeemer.

The English word "Lord" or "LORD" (translated from all its different Hebrew and Greek forms) is mentioned 7,888 times in the 66 Books of the Bible (KJV). The number 7,888 is a concatenation of 7 (God's perfect number ) and 888 (the isopsephy of Jesus). The word LORD (Yahweh in Hebrew) is mentioned 32 times in the Book of Job and once as Lord (Adonay in Hebrew) for a total of 33 times. "LORD" is also mentioned 33 times in the Book of Joel. The word "God" (theos in Greek) is mentioned 33 times in the Books of Galatians and Ephesians. 

In Revelation 3:14, John is writing a letter (that's from Christ) to the 7th Church, Laodicea, in which He is condemning them for their apathetic faith and works. John is relaying this message in which he describes Jesus Christ with three names. “These things say the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” The words in bold are three descriptive names for Christ and have, in their Greek words, an isopsephy of 6633.  6633 = 33 x 201 (or 3 x 67). 67 is the 19th prime number. 19 (9 x 10) is the number for perfect judgment, which is exactly what the Church of Laodicea will face if they don’t repent. Also 6633 = 9 (or 3 x 3) x 737.  737 is the concatenation of 73 and 37. The Hebrew word for "wisdom" is "חָכְמָה" (or chokhmah) and has a standard gematria of 73. The ordinal gematria for this Hebrew word is 37.

Matthew 1 gives the condensed (telescoped) genealogy of Jesus. “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). Jesus was a descendant of King David, the 33rd generation from Adam. David was described by Samuel the prophet as “a man after the LORD’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). David reigned over Judah for 7 years and over all 12 tribes of Israel from Jerusalem for 33 years. He died at 70 (37 + 33). The Hebrew word for "son of David" is בֶּן־דָּוִ֛ד, and has a gematria of 66.

Many Bible scholars believe Jesus was crucified at the age of 33 in the year 33 AD. He was resurrected on the Feast of Firstfruits (Nisan 17, 33 AD) on the third day from his crucifixion death. Jesus Christ is the firstfruits of the dead. “But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). The word “firstfruits” is mentioned 33 times in the Bible (NKJV and ESV). It would be mentioned 33 times in the KJV except that the word "first ripe" is used instead of "first fruits" in Hosea 9:10. 

Jesus will one day return to begin His millennial kingdom, for He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The “kingdom of heaven” is mentioned 33 times in the Book of Matthew (KJV). The “kingdom of God” (or kingdom of God's) is mentioned 33 times in the Book of Luke (KJV) and 70 (7 x 10) times in the New Testament (KJV). Ephesians 5:5 calls it the Kingdom of Christ and of God. The English word "God" is "אלהא" in Hebrew, which has a gematria of 37. I believe 33 (Jesus) + 4 (creation) = 37. So, the Kingdom of Christ (33) + God (37) = 70. Also, the six Greek words, τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ Θεοῦ for "the kingdom of Christ and of God" have an isopsephy of 3552 or 4 x 888. The Greek word, Ἰησοῦς (or iēsous), is translated into English as Jesus and has an isopsephy of 888.

The Hebrew word "אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה" is translated into English as "I AM" and has a gematria of 21 (3 x 7). God told Moses, "And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you" (Exodus 3:14). The mirror value for 21 is 12. The number 12 signifies the perfection of rule or government (and Israel). 21 + 12 = 33. Jesus Christ is the King of the Jews and King of kings. 

The other word for God in Hebrew is "El" (Strong's: H410), which is singular. "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God (El) Almighty, but by my name the LORD (YHWH) was I not known to them" (Exodus 6:3 - JUB). The Hebrew word for "by the name God" (or "as God") is בְּאֵ֣ל or bə·’êl and has a gematria of 33. The Hebrew word for "Almighty" has a gematria of 314 or 157 x 2. 157 is the 37th prime number.  

Many scientists, physicists, and scholars view 137 as "the God number." See 137 – The Number of God in Scripture and Science. Regarding the number 137, it is the 33rd prime number. Although 7 is the dominant number in the Book of Revelation, mentioned (as seven and seventh) 58 times, the number 3 is mentioned quite often as well. Jesus represents the number 3 in many aspects (see God’s Perfect Number: Part 1 : By Randy Nettles: Rapture Ready), even though He is most often mentioned as the number 2 deity – the Son (or the Word). “Three” is used 11 times, and “third” is used 22 times in the Book of Revelation – for a total of 33 times. The Book of Revelation is about the revelation of Jesus Christ concerning the end times. Interestingly, the words “in Christ” are used 77 times in the New Testament (KJV). "In Christ Jesus" is mentioned 40 times in the New Testament. 40 + 33 = 77.  

“The Lamb of God,” a name for Jesus, is only mentioned twice in the Bible (John 1:29,36). These four words in Greek (ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ) have an isopsephy of 1685 or 337 (the concatenation of 33 and 37) x 5. Of course, 5 is the number for grace. However, the word, ἀρνίον (or Strong's G721-arnion), is translated into English as "lamb" and has an isopsephy of 281. 281 is the 60th (6 x 10) prime number. The English word "Lamb" (capitalized in the KJV, indicating Divinity) is mentioned 26 times in the Book of Revelation. Of course, we know 26 is the gematria for Yahweh. John wrote both the Book of John and Revelation.

John 20:31 says, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." The isopsephy of the four Greek words "Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς" (Jesus is the Christ) is 3003 or 33 x 91 (7 x 13). 91 is the gematria of the two Hebrew words "אֲדֹנָי יְהֹוָה" (Adonay Yahweh) or “Lord GOD.” So, 33 and 91 would symbolically/numerically mean "Jesus, Lord GOD."

The famous verse of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life," has an isopsephy of 14660 in the Textus Receptus texts (such as Scrivener's Textus Receptus 1894). 14660 = 733 (the concatenation of 73 and 33) x 20 (or 2 x 2 x 5). The Hebrew word "חָכְמָה" is translated as "wisdom" and has a standard gematria value of 73.

In John 14:6, Jesus told Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The isopsephy of these words (in Greek) in this verse is 5841 (or 33 x 177). 177 = 3 x 59. The number 59 is the 17th prime number. 17 is a number for resurrection. Also, the Hebrew word "לֶאֱס֣וֹף" ("to gather" in English) has a gematria of 177. 

JESUS, 33, and PI 

In my last article, I AM, the Great Mathematician - Part II, I explained how to find the approximate value of Pi from Genesis 1:1. Take the total letters (28) x the product of the Hebrew gematria letters and divide that amount by the total words (7) x the product of the gematria words. The result is a near approximation of Pi or 3.14159...(not counting a bunch of zeroes).

I also wrote about how Pi and its symbol embody the concept of infinity and the eternal nature of the universe. The Pi symbol, represented by the Greek letter π, is widely recognized for its mathematical significance as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter (The diameter is twice the radius or double the length from any point on the circle to its center. The circumference is the distance around a circle.) "The circle, which Pi intimately relates to, has long been a symbol of completeness, eternity, and the cyclic nature of existence.  Have you ever heard the term "the circle of life?

Another aspect of Pi’s spiritual significance lies in its irrational nature. Pi is an infinite, non-repeating decimal, which means that its digits go on forever without any discernible pattern. This property has led many to see Pi as a gateway to the infinite and the transcendent. Some believe that the presence of Pi in geometry is evidence of divine intelligence that designed the universe according to mathematical principles. Others see it as a symbol of the interconnectedness of all things and the underlying unity of creation." {3} 

The first 33 digits of pi, counting from the right side (the infinite side) of the decimal: 3.141592653589793238462643383279502.

The first time the number 33 appears in pi is in the 24th and 25th digits (from the right side of the decimal). 24 = 8 + 8 + 8. Jesus' (rather his name in Greek) isopsephy is 888.  25 = 5 x 5. The number 5 represents grace. The sum of the first 23 digits (before you come to 33) is 112.  26 (the gematria for LORD or Yahweh) + 86 (the gematria for God/Elohim) = 112. So, the first 23 digits of pi (sum of 112) = LORD God (or Yahweh Elohim). The next two digits of pi (33) = Jesus or bə·’êl, which means "by the name of God" (or "as God"). So, within the first 25 digits of pi, at the point of "grace x grace," the words "Yahweh Elohim Jesus" are represented. "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:16-17).

However, if you want to go strictly by gematria, let's examine digits 21 (3 x 7) through 33 in pi. The 21st, 22nd, and 23rd digits are 2, 6, 4. The Hebrew word, יֹרְדִ֖ים (yō·rə·ḏîm - a form of Strong's H3381), or "came down" in English, has a gematria of 264. So, within the 21st-23rd digits of pi, it (numerically) reads "came down." 

The next two digits in pi (the 24th and 25th) are 3, 3. The Hebrew word, בְּאֵ֣ל (bə·’êl - a form of Strong's H410), or "as God" in English, has a gematria of 33. So, within the 21st-25th digits of pi, it (numerically) reads "(He) came down as God."

The next three digits (the 26th, 27th, and 28th) are 8, 3, 2. The Hebrew word, תִּוָּ֣שֵׁע֔וּן (tiw·wā·šê·‘ūn - a form of Strong's H3467), or "you shall be saved" in English, has a gematria of 832. So, within the 21st-28th digits of pi, it (numerically) reads, "(He) came down as God, you shall be saved."

The next two digits (29th, 30th) are 7, 9. The Hebrew word, וְנִֽחְיֶה֙ (wə-niḥ-yeh - a form of Strong's H2421), or "that we may live" in English, has a gematria of 79. So, within the 21st-30th digits of pi, it (numerically) reads, "He came down as God, you shall be saved, that we may live."

The next three digits (31st, 32nd, 33rd) are 5, 0, 2 (33rd digit). The Hebrew word, מַלְכוּת֑וֹ (mal-ḵū-ṯōw - a form of H4438), or "his kingdom" in English, has a gematria of 502. So, within the 21st-33rd digits of pi, it (numerically) reads, "יֹרְדִ֖ים בְּאֵ֣ל תִּוָּ֣שֵׁע֔וּן וְנִֽחְיֶה֙ מַלְכוּת֑וֹ" in Hebrew, and "(He) came down as God, you shall be saved, that we may live (in) his kingdom" in English. Even the infinite number of pi declares that 33 is the number that represents Jesus and His saving grace for mankind.

PSALM 33

The subheading of Psalm 33 (in the NKJV) is called "The Sovereignty of the LORD in Creation and History." Psalm 33 is used in both Jewish and Christian liturgies. It has been set to music, for it was written by David as a song of praise to the LORD.

Psalm 33:6-9 reiterates God's work in the Creation account of Genesis 1. "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap: he lays up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." (KJV - Psalm 33:6-9). The breath of his mouth is synonymous with the word of the LORD: together they represent, "and God said" in the first chapter of Genesis. The LORD (Yahweh) in this verse refers to the second Person of the Trinity, the Word, as mentioned in John 1:1-5,14. Five times in the N.T. is the word "Word" (capitalized in the KJV, as indicating Divinity) mentioned, four times in John 1 and once in Revelation 19:13 (as the "Word of God").

Ten times in Genesis 1, the words "And God said" are used in connection with God speaking the heavens, the earth, and the earth's inhabitants into existence. The Hebrew words "וַיֹּ֥אמֶר" (way·yō·mer) and "אֱלֹהִ֖ים" (Elohim), or "And God said" (in English), have a gematria of 343 or 7 x 7 x 7 (perfect!). The three leading nouns in Genesis 1:1 (the Hebrew words for God, Heaven, Earth) have a numeric value of 777 (7 x 3 x 37). Also, the Hebrew words "בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם" translated into English as "in the firmament of the heavens" (Genesis 1:14, 15, 17) have a gematria of 777. 

Of course, the Psalmist (David, the author of Psalm 33) had no idea of a personal Word (the second Person of the Trinity). However, through progressive revelation of God's word, we know from John 1:1-5 and verse 17 that the "Word" (Λόγοςis in Greek) is the second Person of the Trinity, the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. Λόγος, in the Greek isopsephy system, transliterates to logos and has an isopsephy of 373 (the concatenation of 37 and 73). The English translation is "word." The English term "word of the LORD" is mentioned 258 times in the KJV Bible. 258 = 86 (gematria for God/Elohim) x 3. The phrase "word of God" is mentioned 49 (7 x 7) times in the KJV Bible.

The seven Hebrew words in Isaiah 9:6 are five names for the Son of God (Jesus Christ). They are Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The Hebrew gematria for these five names equals 1492 or 4 x 373. Four is the number for creation, and 373 (the concatenation of 37 and 73) is the Greek isopsephy for “Word,” the name of the second Person of the Trinity (John 1:1-18). 373 is the 74th prime number. 74 = 37 + 37. 

Psalm 33:6, "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth," is the 14,373rd verse in the KJV Bible. How ironic! 14,373 is the concatenation of 14 (7 x 2) and 373 (Greek isopsephy of Word). This verse consists of 8 Hebrew words and 30 (3 x 10) letters and has a gematria of 1551 (or 33 x 47). 47 is the 15th (3 x 5) prime number. The first two Hebrew words of this verse are בִּדְבַ֣ר (bid-bar), translated as "By the word," and  יְ֭הוָה, translated as LORD (or Yahweh). The gematria sum of these two Hebrew words is 234 (or 26 x 3 x 3). 26 is the gematria for Yahweh. 

As the "second witness" in Psalm 33, Psalm 33:4 also mentions "the word of the LORD." "For the word of the LORD is right, and all his works are done in truth." This verse consists of 7 Hebrew words and 26 letters and has a gematria of 1353 (or 33 x 41). 41 is the 13th prime number. There are 13 mentions of "LORD" (or Yahweh) in Psalm 33.

CHAPTERS IN THE BIBLE AND THEIR NUMERIC SYMBOLISMS

The modern chapter and verse divisions weren't included in the Bible until the mid-1500s. However, have you ever noticed how some chapters' contents appear to be a perfect match for the symbolism of that chapter number? This wasn't designed by men, but, I believe, by the providence of God in some instances. For example, Genesis 1 recounts the story of one God in creation. Matthew 3 (verses 16-17) mentions the Trinity (the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. 

2 Samuel 7 records God's conversation with David regarding his house (lineage) and kingdom ruling Israel forever. "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever" (2 Samuel 7:16). A descendant of David, Jesus, will eventually rule over Israel (and the entire world) forever. His kingdom will be perfect and complete. The second Ten Commandments were written by God in Deuteronomy 10. Genesis 11 tells the story of the division, disorder, and disobedience at the Tower of Babel.

Abraham and his family entered the Promised Land in chapter 12 of Genesis. "And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him" (Genesis 12:7). This was the beginning of the Jewish kingdom in the Promised Land. Daniel 12 and Revelation 12 are chapters concerning the Jewish people at the time of Jacob's trouble. Revelation 13 is a prophecy concerning the evil rebellion by the unholy trinity - Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet during the end times. The judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah's sins and subsequent destruction occurred in Genesis 19. The Word's judgment against the Antichrist, false prophet, and their evil forces is mentioned in Revelation 19.

These are just a few examples of how, in some instances, a chapter's contents match the symbolism of that chapter number.

Psalm 33 is another example of this phenomenon. This chapter is about the LORD (the Word) and His work at creation, and His dealings with mankind. Psalm 33 KJV - Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: - Bible Gateway 

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD: he is our help and our shield" (Psalm 33:18-20). The Hebrew word for "wait" is חִכְּתָ֣ה and has a gematria of 433. The Hebrew word for "our help" is עֶזְרֵ֖נוּ and has a gematria of 333. 

For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee" (Psalm 33:21-22). Indeed, these verses in Psalm 33 are referring to Jesus Christ.

JESUS' SECOND ADVENT

Jesus was crucified in 33 AD (IMO). He will return to the earth (second advent) at the end of Daniel's 70th "seven" (the Greek word for "seven" is "ἑπτά" or Strong's G2033 "hepta"), perhaps in 2033. The reason many Bible teachers believe this is because of the combined prophecies of Hosea 6:2-3, Psalm 90:4, and 2 Peter 3:8. 

Hosea prophesied about the LORD and the end times in chapter 6, "After two days he will revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." (Hosea 6:2-3). 

The LORD's time is much different from ours because He is eternal. Scripture says a thousand years for man is like a day for the LORD. ""For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night" (Psalm 90:4). "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). These two scriptural witnesses (1 O.T. and 1 N.T.) testify to this truth. 

If the "two days" of Hosea 6:2 are "two days for the LORD," then that would mean "as" two thousand years. The word for "will revive" in Hebrew is יְחַיֵּ֖נוּ (or yə·ḥay·yê·nū) and has a gematria of 84 (or 7 x 12). The original Hebrew verb is "chayah" and means "to live, to be alive, or to restore to life." I believe this "restoring to life" is referring to the Jewish Old Testament saints that will occur at the beginning of Christ's Millennial Kingdom, according to Daniel, "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life" (Daniel 12:2), and Isaiah, "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead" (Isaiah 26:19).

After the second Millennium, or the LORD's "two days," and at the beginning of the third day, will be the time of the O.T. saints' conversion and restoration. The "two days" timeframe began at the end of Jesus' first advent in the spring of 33 AD (when Jesus died, rose from the grave, and ascended to heaven). Thus, "after two days" and "in the third day" would be after the spring of 2033 AD (perhaps in the fall Feasts of the LORD). After two days, the LORD Jesus will return to the earth (second advent) and begin His millennial kingdom. Shortly afterwards, He will revive and raise up the Jewish O.T. Saints (as well as the Tribulation saints), and they shall live in his sight.

Hosea 6:2 has a gematria of 1398 (or 6 x 233) (or 3 x 466).  Hosea 6:3, "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth," has a gematria of 3684. Ironically, 3684 is the same gematria for Daniel 7:13, "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him."

The sum of Hosea 6:2-3 has a gematria of 5082 or 33 x 77 x 2 (or 66 x 77).  

Jesus is the incarnate Word, the Son of God, and His number is 33.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Randy Nettles

rgeanie55@gmail.com

Endnotes:

{1} Number in Scripture by E.W. Bullinger, pg. 243 – Kregel Classics

{2} Number is Scripture by E.W. Bullinger, pg. 253 – Kregel Classics

{3} Pi symbol spiritual meaning