If you’ve ever wondered “What does the number 11 mean in the Bible?” you are not alone. Numbers in the Bible have spiritual significance. When the Holy Spirit inspired men to write the sacred Scriptures, the numbers included in the Bible verses are not only accurate for the specific, written biblical narrative, but they also have a deeper meaning. The study of understanding the biblical significance of numbers used in God’s Word is called “biblical numerology.” Having a deeper understanding of the biblical significance of a number helps to better appreciate God’s Word and aids in spiritual growth.
Specifically, the meaning of the number 11 in the Bible has the idea of confusion and/or chaos. The idea of chaos and confusion, associated both directly and indirectly with the number eleven, is found throughout the Bible, in the Old Testament, and also the New. But in all of the instances of confusion and chaos, God’s presence is over all creation, despite its sinful actions.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — Jude to Genesis
The New Testament alludes to a chaotic person and an event very early in creation. It is significant that Jude mentions in verse 11 (the Book of Jude has only one chapter) “the way of Cain.”
“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” (KJV)
Cain was the first child to be born, and he was also the first murderer. This is recorded in Genesis 4:8. “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” (KJV)
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — The Corrupt Earth
In the Old Testament Book of Genesis, a mere 1656 years after the original orderliness of creation, the condition of the Earth severely deteriorated to that of disorder. Although the number 11 is not specifically mentioned within the verse, Genesis 6:11 is indictive of the meaning of the number 11. “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” (KJV) The words “corrupt” and “violence” have the idea of chaos and confusion. Therefore, God had to destroy His corrupted creation.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible — Tower of Babel
Years after the flood, and five chapters later, the Holy Spirit had another recorded account of mass, worldwide confusion, because of divine intervention because of men wanting to be like God. This event, recorded in Genesis chapter 11, is known as “The Tower of Babel.”
The confusion of tongues, and the disaster of the tower of Babel, is recorded in Genesis chapter 11. Although the number 11 does not appear in the biblical narrative, the interesting thing is the word “Babel” means “confusion.”
“And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” Genesis 11:5-9 (KJV)
The Tower of Babel resulted in the confusion of languages. However, God caused this event to distribute the people of the world all throughout the Earth.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — The Descendants of Jacob and Esau
Jacob and Esau were twin brothers, sons of Isaac and grandsons of Abraham. God had promised Abraham to make of him a great nation through Isaac. But Jacob and Esau were unique individuals with very different priorities. Jacob desperately wanted the blessing of God, but Esau did not appear to care about spiritual things.
Both men had notable offspring. The Bible records Esau had 11 dukes, or chiefs. “And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.” Genesis 36:40-43 (KJV)
There is not much known about these 11 dukes of Edom, but the Bible records their existence, including their names, for a reason. If nothing else, it is to show that He kept His word to Abraham, and He gave both Esau and his descendants blessings of power and authority.
Jacob, who craved the blessing of God, had 12 sons, each son eventually became the head of the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — The Dreams of Joseph
One of Jacob’s 12 sons, long before the nation of Israel existed, had two fascinating, but prophetic, dreams in which the number 11 is prominent. Joseph dreamed in those two different dreams that his 11 brothers, 10 of which were older than him, worshipped him. Obviously, this idea was not happily accepted by his brothers. But years later, all 11 of Joseph’s brothers gave him this honor. They worshipped him unknowingly, and in their state of confusion, they did not realize the ruler of Egypt was their own brother!
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — 11 Days Journey
When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt with the goal of entering the Promised Land, it would have taken them only 11 days to reach their destination. Moses reminded the people when he addressed them in the eleventh month after 40 years of wandering the wilderness. The Holy Spirit had this fact recorded in holy and eternal writ. Mount Horeb, in this instance of Scripture, is simply called “Horeb,” and is another name for Mount Sinai.
“These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab (There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.) And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them” Deuteronomy 1:1-3 (KJV)
Because of their lack of faith in God to take them into this land in less than two weeks’ journey, the people suffered the anger of the Lord when God punished the people of Israel by having them wander for 40 years in the wilderness. The 11 days’ time span revealed in the Book of Deuteronomy seem to be a foreshadow of the frustrating experiences in the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — The Curtains of the Tabernacle
The Tabernacle was the Old Testament worship facility used by sinful men to worship their God. God gave Moses specific instructions concerning the construction of this special meeting place, which was part of the daily life of the people of ancient Israel before the Temple of Solomon was built. This was an actual structure, yet, to the New Testament reader, the construction of this ancient tent, according to divine order, was full of symbolic meanings. It is surprising that in four different verses, God instructed Moses to make exactly 11 curtains, since the Biblical significance of the number 11 usually is negative — chaos and confusion.
“And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make. The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.” Exodus 26:7-8 (KJV)
“And he made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them. The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.” Exodus 36:14-15 (KJV)
Everything about the tabernacle was orderly and precise, including the instructions concerning the “eleven curtains.” The Tabernacle, and its furnishings, all pointed to Jesus Christ.
Just like the actual tabernacle was a mysterious structure to those outside of the congregation of Isarel, so, too, is Jesus Christ, a promise of eternal life and a sanctuary to those who believe in Him.
But to those who have rejected Him, He is confusion and chaos. This dual nature of the coming of Christ Jesus was foretold by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah 8:14. “And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (KJV)
The Apostle Paul referred to the dual nature of the Savior in 1 Corinthians 1:23. “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” (KJV)
Later in the New Testament, when he wrote about Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter referred to Isaiah’s Biblical prophecy in his epistle, which by his time had been fulfilled.
“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” 1 Peter 2:6-8 (KJV)
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — Numbers Chapter 11
During the 40 years wandering in the wilderness of both the children of Israel and the mixed multitude who came with them, Egyptians who accompanied the children of Israel out of Egypt complained about the sparseness of the food in the wilderness. Chapter 11 of the Book of Numbers records their complaining to Moses, along with Moses’ extreme frustration about them and the anger of the Lord. God’s grace is also seen in this chapter when Moses complained that the task God had given him was to much for him. This was God’s answer to Moses:
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.” Numbers 11:16-17 (KJV)
God had given Moses the spirit of God, and it was enough for Moses to do the job God had asked him to do. In this chapter wrought with chaos, frustration, and confusion, God took of His Spirit and distributed it to 70 other men. What Moses had, by God’s grace, was a great gift.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — Deliah’s Betrayal of Samson
The infamous love affair, and resulting betrayal of Samson, netted Deliah eleven hundred pieces of silver from each one of the Philistine lords. This was a great sum of money, and the thought of the reward was enough to convince her to betray her lover.
“And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.” Judges 16:5 (KJV)
It is not known, but very interesting when considering the special significance of the number 11, why each one of these rich and powerful men agreed to reward her with exactly eleven hundred silver coins, rather than 1,000 or 1,200 hundred.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — Kings Jehoiakim and Zedekiah
Two kings mentioned in the Bible who both reigned 11 years were half-brothers, both sons of godly King Josiah, and both were of the last kings of the Kingdom of Judah.
They were Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. But unlike their father, and despite the godly advice of the prophet Jeremiah, especially during the reign of King Zedekiah, both of these kings were evil, and their reigns were characterized by chaos and confusion.
Jehoiakim
Jehoiakim reigned for 11 years. While he was in power, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Judah and took control of Jerusalem. Jehoiakim then aligned himself with Nebuchadnezzar and continued his reign as a vassal king. He was an evil king since he allowed idolatry to flourish in Judah.
“And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.
And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaohnechoh.
Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.” 2 Kings 23:34-37 (KJV)
After Jehoiakim died, his son, King Jehoiachin, reigned for only three months, after which he surrendered to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (2 Kings 24:8-12).
Zedekiah
After Jehoiachin’s surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, king over those whom he allowed to remain in Judah. Here is how the Bible describes Zedekiah’s reign:
“And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.” 2 Kings 24:17-19 (KJV)
Zedekiah was the last king of Judah, and also a vassal of the King of Babylon. He was the king when the Temple of Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonian army in 586 B.C., and the rest of the people of Judah were carried into exile to Babylon.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — The 11th Hour
Jesus taught about the eleventh hour in a parable recorded in Matthew chapter 20. The summary of this parable is that a man hired people to work for him for a penny a day, which was a day’s wage at the time of Jesus. All throughout the day he hired workers, even at the last hour of the workday, the eleventh hour. Then he paid them all the same wage — one penny. Even those who only worked for a single hour still received a full day’s pay, as recorded in Matthew 20:9. “And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.” (KJV)
The meaning of this parable is both deep and many faceted, showing the goodness of the householder in giving even those who only worked for a single hour a full day’s pay. It is a parable illustrating God’s wonderful grace to His servants.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — The Root of All Evil
Money is not the root of all evil, but the love of money is. The verse that says so and is associated with the number 11 is 1 Timothy 6:10. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (KJV).
The first part of this verse, “For the love of money is the root of all evil,” is composed of exactly 11 words.” The phrase “love of money” contains 11 letters. This may or may not be a coincidence related to the number 11 in the Bible.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — The Eleven
Four times in the New Testament, after Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and then killed himself, the apostles are called “the eleven” instead of “the twelve.” The 11 apostles knew that there had to be a replacement for Judas, and in their desire to fill his office, they prayed, cast lots, and then picked a godly man named Matthias to be the twelfth apostle. Luke recorded this event in Acts 1:26. “And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (KJV)
However, Matthias was not God’s choice. God chose the Apostle Paul to replace Judas after Paul’s dramatic spiritual awakening and rebirth. Paul identified himself as an apostle in most of his letters, giving God the credit for his position. Here is one of his statements in Galatians 1:1. “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” (KJV)
When the Apostle John saw the New Jerusalem, he saw its 12 foundations had on them written the names of the 12 apostles. “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:14 (KJV)
Most Bible scholars believe that the name of Paul, not Matthias, will appear in this eternal memorial.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — Satan
If a number can be considered an “angel number,” perhaps the number 11 could be considered as such. According to the English language alphabet, the letters that compose the name of the most infamous angel is Satan. Adding the numbers of his name as they appear in the alphabet is 19+1+20+1+14=55. The master number, 55, regarding Satan is 11 times 5. The number five is symbolic of the meaning of death. With Satan, it is five times that of chaos and confusion. The work of Satan is alluded to in these verses.
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV). If and where confusion exists, this verse assures the reader that it is not God who has caused the confusion. If God did not cause it, then the author of the confusion is Satan.
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” James 3:16 (KJV). This verse tells the effects of Satan’s work.
What Does the Number 11 Mean in the Bible? — Conclusion
The number 11 has negative connotations, but despite that, God’s plan and His power overcomes all the negatively associated with this and all other numbers. With God’s intervention, even the number 11 is a number of order.
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