The meaning of numbers in the Bible is significant because God is a God of detail. When He had the writers of Scripture insert a particular number into Biblical text, it’s because there is a spiritual meaning behind it. But many times, the deeper meaning of the numbers that God uses in the Bible is subject to both study, and sometimes, speculation.
The number fifteen in the Bible is not a common occurrence. Bible scholars believe that fifteen is related to the idea of rest, but others relate the number 15 in the Bible with the multiplication 3 x 5, and believe that the number fifteen signifies triple grace or triple death. The number three in the Bible is related to God Himself.
The Number 15 in the Bible – Old Testament
Here are some significant instances of the number 15 in the Bible.
The Number 15 in the Bible – Genesis Chapter 5
One of the meanings of the number five in the Bible is death. Genesis chapter 5 records the deaths of several people, and it has been referred to as “the death chapter”. Notably in verse 5, it records the death of Adam, the first man. This is what is says, “And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.” But the number fifteen as triple grace is seen in verse 15. Here is Genesis 5:15: “And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared” (KJV). Verse 15 shows God’s grace. In this verse is both life and reproduction. Interestingly the name Mahalaleel means, “Praise of God”.
The Number 15 in the Bible – Noah’s Flood
The flood of Noah was so great that, according to the writer of Genesis, the floodwaters were twenty-two and a half feet above the highest mountain.
“Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.” Genesis 7:20 (KJV)
This instance of Noah’s flood and the number fifteen is an argument for triple death.
The Number 15 in the Bible – Construction of the Tabernacle
The tabernacle was a dwelling place for God among His people, and a place of worship for the whole assembly of Israel. The tabernacle was a tent-like structure that was enclosed by a fence. This fence was composed of linen, which was exactly fifteen cubits high. Fifteen cubits high is approximately 22.5 feet.
“The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three. And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.” Exodus 27:14-15 (KJV)
The tabernacle proper was composed of blue, purple, and scarlet linen curtains attached together with a blue cord.
“And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.” Exodus 26:4 (KJV)
The Number 15 in the Bible – The Passover — Leviticus 23
God instructed Moses about His feast days, including the celebration of the Passover. The fourteenth day of the first month was the anniversary of Passover. This commemorated the time when the people of Israel where still in the land of Egypt, God instructed the people to kill a lamb and put its blood on their door, and all those who did so lived — the death angel passed over the house. But for those who did not obey the word of the Lord, their first born died. The next day, the whole Israelite nation left Egypt in such haste that in so doing, they did not have time for their bread to rise. Therefore, they had to eat unleavened bread.
“And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.” Numbers 33:3 (KJV)
To commemorate the Lord’s Passover on the fifteenth day of the first Hebrew month was the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The number fifteen in this instance can be interpreted as triple grace for the nation of Israel since they were finally leaving the land of Egypt.
When Israel remembered and celebrated the Passover, the first day of this seven-day celebration was a day of rest.
The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was also a day of rest, and during this celebration, God commanded specific offerings. Once the children of Israel would settle in the Promised Land, God wanted both a grain offering and a burnt offering. Moses recorded the prescribed grain offering in Leviticus 23:10-13:
10 “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
11 “And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
12 “And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.” (KJV)
God also gave the command for a burnt offering, specifically a male lamb, not a young goat or a young bull. These sacrificial animals were appropriate for other sacrifices but not for Passover. This particular sacrifice both commemorated the original lamb while it looked forward to Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God Who would take away the sin of the world.
The “meat” offering mentioned in verse 13 was actually a type of grain offering, in this instance, flour. Also, God commanded a drink offering. In this instance, He required a quarter of a hin of wine, which is approximately 5 ¼ cups.
The Number 15 in the Bible – The Feast of Tabernacles in the Old Testament
The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the Old Testament practices. This particular feast was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the seventh month and lasted for seven days. The first day was similar to a sabbath day as God ordered there was no work to be done that day. But on each of the seven days of the feast God expected a burnt offering. This Feast of Tabernacles was timed after the harvest, according to Leviticus 23:38, “when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land.” Read more about the Feast of Tabernacles in Leviticus 23:34-39.
It was during the Feast of Tabernacles that King Solomon officially dedicated the temple of God. This ceremony involved the whole nation of Israel as they all joyfully celebrated the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant from the tabernacle into the temple. This move signified a rest for the presence of God.
2 “And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
1“Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
3 “And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
4 “And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.
5 “And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.” 1 Kings 8:1-5 (KJV)
The Number 15 in the Bible – Feast of Tabernacles — Future Millennial Reign
The Old Testament Feast of Tabernacles will be reestablished during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, according to Zechariah 14:16. “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” (KJV)
This concept of future prophecy is repeated in Ezekiel 45:25. “In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil.” (KJV)
The Number 15 in the Bible – Numbers Chapter 15
In considering the number 15 in the Bible, Numbers chapter 15 records commands of the Lord by the hand of Moses to the whole congregation of the children of Israel with specific instructions to them after they came into the Promised Land. The Promised Land was a type of rest, a place where the nation of Israel could settle.
Some of the highlights of Numbers 15 include the commands of the Lord specifically about sacrificial offerings as part of worship to Him. With the particular sacrificial animals and for the specific sacrifices, God commanded to bring both flour and oil. Although it is not specifically stated here in offering this worship to God, the people most likely used their finest flour, and when God commanded one fourth of a hin of oil to be included, this was the best oil they had.
God had the same standards, required the same type of sacrifices, for both native-born Israelites well as the non-Israelites, the “stranger,” who wanted to worship and would be accepted by the God of Israel. These sacrifices would be a “sweet savour,” a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
God showed grace, despite requiting a sacrifice for unintentional sin in this chapter. Here are the commands of the Lord to deal with unintentional sin as recorded in Numbers 15:24-29.
24 “Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
25 “And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance:
26 “And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.
27 “And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
28 “And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
29 “Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.” (KJV)
Also, in this chapter, there are some commandments of the Lord regarding their clothing. Specially, He tells His people to both attach fringes on the corners of their garments in Numbers 15:38. “Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:” (KJV)
The color blue was to be a daily reminder that, despite the fact they were humans dwelling on Earth, they belonged to the God of heaven since blue represented heaven.
The Number 15 in the Bible – 14th and 15th Day of the Month Adar
In the Book of Esther, Haman had devised a day of slaughter for all of the Jews on the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the last month of the year. But God turned his wicked intentions back on him, and on those days He gave deliverance and rest to His people.
“And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.” Esther 9:20-22 (KJV)
This celebration on the fifteenth day was one remembering God’s triple grace on His people.
The Number 15 in the Bible – The Hosea and Gomer
Hosea was a prophet of God who was commanded by God to marry a harlot. Hosea obeyed, and married a woman named Gomer. True to her profession and behavior, she was unfaithful to her husband. But God used this unfaithful wife and her loving husband as a sign of His love to the whole community of Israel. God told Hosea to buy back his wayward wife and Hosea did so for exactly fifteen pieces of silver and barley.
“Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley.” Hosea 3:1-2 (KJV)
The number in this instance shows beautiful forgiveness, even triple grace for this wayward wife.
The Number 15 in the Bible – King Hezekiah
When King Hezekiah realized he was dying, he pleaded with God to spare his life. This was the Lord’s word to him through the prophet Isaiah, as recorded in 2 Kings 20:6a. “And I will add unto thy days fifteen years” (KJV)
The Number 15 in the Bible – New Testament
There are only four specific mentions of the number fifteen in the New Testament. Here are the verses with an explanation of the context.
The Number 15 in the Bible – Date of John the Baptist’s Ministry
Luke gives the date of the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry – the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar.
“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” Luke 3:1-2 (KJV)
The ministry of John the Baptist immediately preceded the ministry of Jesus Christ. According to God’s plan, He had John the Baptist start his ministry in this specific year which showed God’s grace by publicly introducing first the forerunner John the Baptist and then His Son Jesus Christ.
The Number 15 in the Bible – Bethany and Jerusalem
The distance between Bethany, the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, and the city of Jerusalem was fifteen furlongs, which is approximately two miles.
“Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off” John 11:18 (KJV)
The context of this verse is when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus heard that His friend Lazarus was sick, He didn’t budge. Soon Lazarus died. Yet Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life was only about two miles away. But death turned into grace, even triple grace after Jesus traveled the fifteen furlongs and raised Lazarus from the dead. It was a far greater miracle for Jesus to raise the dead man than for Him to merely heal the sick Lazarus!
The Number 15 in the Bible – Safe Anchor Depth
“And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.” Acts 27:28 (KJV)
Fifteen fathoms is approximately ninety feet. It was at this depth that the sailors in the ship with the Apostle Paul felt it was safe enough to anchor the ship. In more shallow water, they could have been slammed against the rocks and the ship would have had enough damage to sink. The fifteen fathoms showed triple grace to both the actual ship and more importantly to all those individuals in the ship.
The Number 15 in the Bible – Paul and Peter
The Apostle Paul visited with the Apostle Peter for fifteen days, according to Galatians 1:18. “Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.” (KJV)
The fifteen days when Paul and Peter stayed together was not a long period of time. But this span of time was God’s grace to both of these special men of His as they enjoyed fellowship about their common Savior and Friend.
Number 15 in the Bible – Acts Chapter 5
The death and grace duo is seen also in the fifth book of the New Testament – the Book of Acts, chapter 5. This chapter records the death of the man Ananias in verse 5: “And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.” (KJV). Then exactly five verses later, in verse 10, his wife dies – Acts 5:10 “Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.” (KJV)
Both Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied to God and suffered the consequences. God was justifiably angry with them and could not use liars in His service. But His grace still showed because these believers, despite their lying, died on the same day, neither had to mourn the other. They both were taken together, albeit prematurely, to heaven.
Then despite fearful recording this severe consequences of these two deceitful servants, God shows His grace later in the chapter. In verse 15, the Bible records and incident of God’s grace when He used the mere shadow of Peter to heal many who were sick. Acts 5:15 “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.” (KJV)
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