Number 10

The Meaning of Number 10

Number 10 symbolizes the completion of a cycle.

It is the number of heaven and the world and universal creation.

Ten is the very first number that needs a separate part.

Number ten was the holiest of numbers according to the Pythagoreans. They took their oaths by number ten.

The first letter in the Greek word “deca” (ten) is formed like a triangle.

Pythagoreans used their sacred symbol of the tetraktys when swearing an oath.

It was common to use pebbles. The pebbles were arranged in a perfect triangle:

1+2+3+4 (=10), called the tetraktys.

The Greek word for pebbles, kalkuli, is the source of our word “calculate”.

Bowling pins are arranged in the same shape as the tetraktys: 1+2+3+4=10

The Tarot 10 Card

In the Tarot ten is the card of the Wheel of Fortune.

The Wheel symbolizes the beginning of a new cycle.

It may also indicate receiving an unexpected fortune.

Reversed it is bad luck and change for the worse.

Random Fun Facts about Number 10

• Capricorn is the tenth astrological sign in the Zodiac.(December 21st – January 20th)

• Ten is the highest score possible in Olympic competitions.

• The top rim of the basketball goal is always 10 feet above the Court.

• Neon has the atomic number 10.

• Interstate 10 is a coast to coast highway in the United States. It goes from Florida to California.

• The length of your hand (if adult) is 1/10 of your total height.

• Virginia became the 10th state of the United States. (June 25, 1788)

• Number 10 Downing Street is the residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, often referred to as “Number 10”.

The Tenth President

John Tyler was the tenth president of the United States. 1841- 1845. John Taylor was Vice President under President Harrison.

Harrison died after 32 days and Taylor became the 10th President.

He owned slaves all his life.  He was the first President to marry during his term in office. Taylor had 15 children.

He renamed his plantation “Sherwood Forest” because he felt like he was outlawed by the Whig Party.

10 Letters on the Snellen Chart

There are ten letters on the Snellen Chart. The Snellen Chart was created by ophthalmologist Hermann Snellen (Dutch) in 1862. The ten letters are:

C – D – E – F – L – N – O – P – T – Z

French Revolution Calendar

The Ten Hour Clock – The Ten-Day Week

In “French Revolution Calendar” every month was divided into three ten-day weeks.

The tenth day was the day for rest.

The extra five days needed for a full year, were added at the end of each year.

The weeks were called “decades”.

Each day was divided into ten hours, each hour into 100 decimal minutes and each minute into 100 decimal seconds.

After 12 years of ten-day weeks, Napoleon put a stop to the “French Revolution Calendar” in 1806.

Richter Scale Measure in Tenfold

The Richter scale is measured in tenfold increase of energy. The Richter scale measures the strength of earthquakes. It is named after Charles Richter who developed the scale.

Using this scale an earthquake with 7 points is ten times more powerful than an earthquake with 6 points.

An earthquake with colossal 10 points on the Richter scale has never been recorded. Earthquakes at 6 and above are considered to be serious and can cause a lot of damage.

Hildegard of Bingen

– the tenth child and the tithe

Hildegard (1098- 1179) an abbess from Germany was a Christian mystic and visionary.

She was the tenth child. Her parents offered her as tithe (giving one tenth) to the church when she was eight years old. It was quite common to give the tenth child to the church.

Hildegard experienced many visions. She wrote books, poetry, music and songs. Hildegard was engaged in theology, science and healing.

It is well know that she had faith in medicinal herbs and healing crystal stones. Hildegard also wrote about women’s sexuality, as one of the first to do so.

The 10 Year Journey of Odysseus

In Greek Mythology he is named Odysseus. In Roman Mythology he is named Ulysses.

The War of Troy lasted ten years. Odysseus was a great hero in this war. After the fall of Troy, Odysseus started his journey back to Ithaca and his wife, Penelope.

He spent ten years on this journey back home. Odysseus and his men endured many hardships and adventures during those ten years. When Odysseus arrived home, he was the only survivor.

The dramatic story of Odysseus’ ten year journey home can be read in the Greek epic poems, Odyssey, by Homer.

Sonnet 10 By William Shakespeare

Number 10 in the Bible

Laban, the father-in-law and uncle of Jacob changed Jacob’s wages ten times. “yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times..” Genesis 31:7

Jesus healed ten lepers. Of the ten only one returned to give thanks to Jesus. The one who return was a Samaritan. Luke 17:12-19

The Ten Plagues of Egypt

The Israelite people were slaves in Egypt. God called upon Moses to go to Pharaoh and request he set free the people of Israel.

Moses and his brother, Aaron, approached Pharaoh and demanded he set the Israelite slaves free.

When the Pharaoh refused to do so, God imposed ten plagues upon Egypt.

It was not until the tenth and final plague that the Pharaoh finally let the people of Israel go.

“The Seventh Plague” 1823 Painter: John Martin. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The stories of the plagues of Egypt are told by Jews, Christians and Muslims, though they have different versions in parts of the story.

The Ten Plagues:

Blood	Exodus 7:14-25 The water of the river Nile turned into blood, killing all fish and water life.
Frogs	Exodus 8:1-8  Invasion of frogs absolutely everywhere.
Gnats	Exodus 8:16-19 Gnats covering man and beast.
Wild animals or flies	Exodus 8:20-30 Swarms of flies or wild animals harming people and wild stock.
Disease on live stock	Exodus 9:1-7 All of the cattle of Egyptians died, but of the people of Israel not one died.
Boils	Exodus 9:8-12 Boils breaking out on man and beast through the land of Egypt.
Hail storms	Exodus 9:13-35 There was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail.
Locusts	Exodus 10:1-20 Locusts covered the face of the land, so that no one could see the land.
Darkness	Exodus 10:21-29 Thick darkness filled the land of Egypt for three days. People could not see one another, nor did any rise from his place.At that time the Egyptian believed in the sun god, Ra.This plague seems to demonstrate the power of the God of the Israelites.
Death	Exodus chapter 11 and 12 The Angle of Death killed the first-born in every family of Egypt.God told Moses that the Israelites would be spared if they marked their doorpost with blood from a lamb.The Angle of Death passed every home marked with lamb’s blood on the doorpost, sparing all of the Israelite first-borns.

The Ten Commandments

After the Israelites escaped from slavery in Egypt, they started their long journey through the wilderness. Their goal was Canaan, the Promised Land.

When they reached Mount Sinai, Moses went up on the mountain. While on the Mount Sinai, Moses received the Ten Commandments and other laws from God.

The Christian Bible, The Torah, and the Quran all refer to Moses. Moses and all the laws he received are of great significance to the Jews.

The Muslims believe Moses to be a profit.

The Ten Commandments given to Moses are important in the Christian faith.

“Moses and God” 1868 João Zeferino da Costa

I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make yourself an idol.

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of God.

Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

Honor your father and mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not steal.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.  You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his workers, or his cattle, or anything that is your neighbor’s
The Lord made a covenant to Abraham promising to give his descendants ten nations:

The land of the Ken’ites, the Ken’izzites, the Kad’monites, the Hettites, the Per’izzites, the Reph’aim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Gir’gashites and the Jeb’usites. Genesis 15:19

The Parable of the Ten Maidens (Virgins)

” Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

But at midnight there was a cry, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out and meet him.”

Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.”

But the wise replied, “Perhaps there will not be enough for us and you; go rather to the dealer and buy for yourselves.”

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.

Afterwards the other maidens came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.”

Watch therefore, for you do not know neither the day nor the hour.”  Matthew 25:1-13

Parable of the Ten Pounds

“A nobleman went into a far country to receive kingly power and the return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds and said to them, “Trade these till I come.”

When he returned, having received kingly power, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.

The first came before him, saying, “Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.”

And he said to him, “Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.”

And the second came, saying, “Lord, your pound has made five pounds.” And he said to him, “And you are to be over five cities.”

Then another came to him saying, “Lord, here is your pound, which I kept and laid away in a napkin; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.”

He said to him, “I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow?

Why did you not put the money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?

And he said to those who stood by, “Take the pound from him, and give it to him who has the ten pounds.”

And they said to him, “Lord, he has ten pounds!”

“I tell you, that everyone who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Luke 19:12-26

Number 10 in Hinduism

The Ten Avatars of Vishnu

Hinduism teaches that the god Vishnu will be reincarnated ten times.

Vishnu has been reincarnated nine times.

The final and tenth time is yet to come.

Kalki is expected to be arriving riding on a white horse at the end of Kali Yuga.

Kalki will destroy all evil and a new age will begin called “Satya Yurga”. Kali Yuga is the time period we are in now.

The Ten Gurus in Sikhism

Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539) in North India.

Sikhs believe the word of God has come through the Ten Gurus.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion. They believe in one God.

Sikhs also believe in karma and reincarnation.

They do not teach asceticism as a means to reach salvation.

Meditation is an important part of the Sikh faith.

Sikhs believe in equality of all humans. They do not accept discrimination on the basis of sex, creed or caste.

The final of the Ten Gurus was Gobind Singh.

After his death the sacred scriptures called “The Guru Granth Sahib” is considered the final Guru.

Dictation of the “Guru Granth Sahib” (the sacred scriptures) by Guru Arjan to Bhai Gurdas.  Unknown artist. 19th Century

The Ten Sikh Gurus:

Nanak1469 -1539	The founder of Sikhism. He composed 974 hymns.He was a pioneer of a castless social order.
Angad  1504 – 1552	He was chosen by Nanak.Angad composed the Gurmukhi, the script used for the Punjabi language, as well as 62 hymns.
Amar Das1479 – 1574	He became Guru at the age of 73.He introduced the Sikh rituals for birth and death.His most famous hymn is Amand Sahib.
Ram Das1534 – 1581	He founded Amritsar, the most sacred city for Sikhs.His marriage hymn is used in Sikh weddings.
Arjan1563 – 1606	He was the son of Guru Ram Das. He built the Golden Temple.He was the first Sikh martyr. He was tortured and killed for refusing to convert to Islam.He wrote 2,216 hymnes, which was the largest contribution to “Guru Granth Sahib”.
Hargobind  1595 – 1644	He was the son of Guru Arjan. Hargobind’s three wives bore him six children.He taught that the Guru had to be a military leader as well as a spiritual leader.He trained soldiers and built a fortress in Amritsar.
Har Rai1630 – 1661	He was the grandson of Guru Hargobind.
Har Krishan  1656 – 1664	He was the son of Guru Har Rai. He became Guru only 5 years old. He died at the age of 8.  He died of smallpox.His last words were “Baba Bakala”. The next Guru would be from the villiage of Bakala
Tegh Bahadur1621 – 1675	Tegh Bahadur means “hero of the sword”. He was the son of Guru Hargobind.He founded the Sikh center of Amandpur. He was also a poet and composed over 50 hymns. He was tortured and beheaded in Dehli by Muslims.
Gobind Singh1666 – 1708	He was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur.He initiated the Five K’s .The Dasam Granth is a collection of poems written by Gobind Singh

Number 10 in Kabbalah

Kabbalah means “to receive”.

Kabbalists seek to receive the knowledge of God.

Kabbalah is linked to Judaism. Some might describe Kabbalah as “Jewish mysticism”.

Kabbalists believe in reincarnation.

Kabbalists believe there are ten fundamental forces, ten sefirot.

These ten sefirot flow from God to His Creation. God continues to create by combining the ten sefirot.

The Ten Sefirot – Tree of Life

The ten sefirot are in the soul of every individual. Humans use sefirot (the ten forces) in different manners and combinations.

Kabbalists teach that the sefirot is one way of communicating with God.

In some charts of The Tree of Life, there are eleven sefirot.

This is because the Keter (Crown) and the Da’at (Knowledge) are interchangeable.

When counting only ten are counted, either the Keter or the Da’at is left out.

The right line is masculine. The left line is feminine.

The first three sefirot deal with the mind. The next three deal with emotion.

The third group of three deals with what is acted upon.

The final sefirah is the manifestation.

The last seven sefirot correspond to the days of the week.

Yesod is associated with Friday, this may be a great time for married couples to spend some time alone!

Every sefirah has both positive and negative aspects.

Each of the ten is also divided into ten sefirot within the sefirah.

Kabbalists study The Tree of Life, sefirot, which certainly is quite more complex than meets the eye here.

Name and Meaning of each of the 10 Sefirah in Kabbalah

Keter (Crown)

Keter is the only sefirah that does not have a body part linked to it.

Keter is the divine will and holds all the other sefirot in it. Keter comes to the soul from above.

The name of God corresponding to Keter is: Ehved (“I shall be”)

Da’at (Knowledge)

Body part: lower brain

Da’at is interchangeable with Keter.

Da’at is the knowledge of God.

Chochma (Wisdom)

Body part: Brain

This is a mental activity, the intellect, the ability to grasp things intuitively.

King Solomon is connected to Chachma.

The name of God corresponding to Chochma is Yah.

Bina (Understanding)

Body part: heart

The ability of logical analysis. Leah is connected to Bina.

The name of God corresponding to Bina is Elohim.

Chesed (Love)

Body part: right hand

The first emotional sefirah. Chesed is love and generosity. Chesed is abundance.

Abraham is connected to Chesed.

The name of God corresponding to Chesed is El.

Din/Gevurah (Concentration)

Body part: left hand

In Din one will find fear and hate. Also to be found here is justice and control.

Isaac is connected to Din.

The name of God connected to Din is Elohim.

Tiferet (Harmony)

Body part: torso

This is harmony and truth. Tiferet is also a symbol of the Torah.

Jacob, known as Israel, is connected to Tiferet.

The most sacred name of God, YHVH, is also connected to Tiferet.

Necach (Victory)

Body part: right leg

The urge to conquer, get things done. This can be in balance or get out of control.

 Moses is connected to Necach.

The name of God corresponding to Necach is YHVH Tzvaot (the Lord of Hosts).

Hod (Glory)

Body part: left leg

This is persistence. This is splendor. Aaron, the brother of Moses, is connected to Hod.

The name of God corresponding to Hod is Elohim Tzvaot (God of Hosts).

Yesod (Connection)

Body part: sex organ

The ability to establish relationships. The ability to make connections.

Josef is connected to Yesod.

The name of God corresponding to Yesod is El Shaddai (The Almighty God).

Malchut (Sovereignty, Kingdom)

Body part: speech

Malchut is a completion of all the sefirot that come above it.

It receives all the resources from the other sefirot. The day of the week connected to Malchut is the Sabbath.

King David is connected to Malchut.

The name of God corresponding to Malchut is Shechina (Devine Presence).