Number 7

Meaning of Number 7

Number 7 is the number of perfection, security, safety and rest.

Seven contains the number three of the heavens and soul with the number four of the earth and body.

The Pythagoreans called the number 7 “the Septad”.

The seven colors of the rainbow.

Isaac Newton identified the seven colors of the rainbow as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

There are seven days in a week.

There are seven notes to the diatonic scale.

There are seven letters in the Roman numeral system.

The Seed of Life

Seven circles form the symbol called “The Seed of Life”.

The Seed of Life symbolizes the six days of creation.

The central circle symbolizes the day of rest.

Number 7 in Astrology and the Tarot

Libra is the seventh astrological sign in the Zodiac. (September 22 – October 24)

Number seven is the number of Neptune.

Number seven is lucky for Cancer and Pisces.

In the Tarot, seven is the card of the Chariot.

The Chariot is symbolic of the need to focus.  Reversed it signifies inabilities to see things through.

Number 7 – Fun Facts

• September means “the seventh month” in Latin.

• The British fifty pence (50p) coin is a heptagon (seven sided).

• Nitrogen (N) has the atomic number 7.

• Number 7 is the international country calling code for Russia.

• Lotus Seven was an open top, two-seater sports car.

• The opposite sides of a dice always equal the number seven when added.

Do not say Seven

It is common superstition that saying the word “seven” is bad luck at a craps table. Players refer to the number seven as “it”. Some players may even refer to seven as “the devil”.

It is considered equally bad luck if the stickman gives a player dice with a total of seven face up.

According to an old superstition, breaking a mirror will bring you seven years of bad luck.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Seven is the number of dwarfs in the fairy tale, Snow White.

The seven dwarfs were named:

Bashful – Doc – Dopey – Grumpy – Happy – Sleepy – Sneezy.

The Seventh President

Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States. 1829 – 1837.

Andrew Jackson supported slavery and Indian Removal. Around 45,000 American Indians were relocated.

He owned over a hundred slaves who worked hard on his cotton plantation.

Jackson opposed The Second Bank of the United States. He was the first President to invite the public to the White House in honor of his first inauguration.

Hit by Lightning 7 times

Roy Sullivan (1912 –1983) was hit by lightning seven times and survived all of them. He was a U.S. park ranger in Virginia.

Birthday of Everyone!

The seventh day of the Chinese New Year is known as “All Men’s Day” or the birthday of everyone!

Seven Lucky Gods

In Japan there are Seven Lucky Gods. They have a ship called Takarabune, the Treasure Ship.

They arrive in town every New Year and give gifts to all worthy people.

Children will often receive red envelopes decorated with the Takarabune. Inside they find money gifts.

The names of the Lucky Gods are: Hotei – Jurojin – Fukurokuju – Bishamonten – Benzaiten – Daikokuten – Ebisu

The Festival of Seven Herbs

The Festival of Seven Herbs (Nanakusa no sekku) is celebrated on January 7th of every year. The Japanese eat a seven-herb rice porridge for good health and longevity.

Number 7 and the Hindu Wedding

In Hindu weddings the bride and groom walk around the holy fire seven times during the wedding ceremony. A priest will read mantras as they are walking around the fire. After they have walked around the fire seven times, they take seven steps together. They say a vow for each of the seven steps.

The Red String

Some Kabbalists wear a red string tied around their wrist. Many believe it is an amulet that will protect them against the evil eye.

Others say the red string helps them strengthen their character by remembering the good qualities of the biblical matriarch, Rachel.

Long strands of red string are wrapped seven times around the tomb of Rachel before they are cut to make bracelets.

The tomb of Rachel is close to Bethlehem. Thousands of pilgrims visit the tomb every year. This picture is from 1910.

The Big Dipper/The Plough

The Cherokee peace flag had the seven stars of the Big Dipper as the motif. The stars were red on a white field.

On the Cherokee war flag the colors were the other way around; seven white stars on a red field.

There are seven Cherokee clans.

On the Cherokee flag the seal is surrounded by seven yellow seven-pointed stars. (The black star in the corner represents all those who died on the Trail of Tears.)  

Seven People Beheaded

Seven people have been beheaded privately on Tower Green within the walls of the Tower of London. 

William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings -June 13, 1483

Anne Boleyn,2nd wife of King Henry VIII – May 19, 1536

Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury -May 27, 1541

Catherine Howard,5th wife of King Henry VIII -February 13, 1542

Jane Boleyn, sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn- February13, 1542

Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Day Queen- February 12, 1554

Robert Devereux,2nd Earl of Essex  – November 10, 1601   

     Seven Dials in London

Seven Dials in London is an intersection of seven roads. Today one will find a shopping village at Seven Dials. The picture shows the Seven Dials Sundial Pillar.

Agatha Christie wrote a mystery novel called “The Seven Dials Mystery”.

Seven Sisters – Places

Seven Sisters is a district of the London Borough of Haringey, North London. The name is originates from seven elms which were planted in a circle on an area known as Page Green.

The group was known as the Seven Sisters by 1732 Seven Sisters station is a National Rail and London Underground Victoria Line station.

The “Seven Sisters” of Moscow is a group skyscrapers designed in the Stalinist style.

The Seven Sisters is a waterfall made up of seven separate streams in Geirangerfjord, Norway. The tallest one has a free fall that measures 250 meters.

The Seven Bridges of Köningsberg

The city of Königsberg in Germany (now named Kaliningrad in Russia) was on both sides of the Pregel River, which included two large islands which were linked together and the mainland by seven bridges.

The Seven Bridges of Königsberg is a famous historical mathematical problem.

The challenge presented was to find a walk through the city that would cross each bridge completely once and only once.

The islands could not be reached by any route other than the bridges.

Leonhard Euler (1701 -1783) was a Swiss mathematician and physicist. He set out to find a solution.

After taking on the challenge Euler concluded that the problem has no solution. The conclusion by Leonhard Euler in 1735 laid the foundations of graph theory.      

Se7en – movie

Se7en (1995) is the title of an American crime film directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. It stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, R. Lee Ermey and Kevin Spacey.

The murders in the movie correspond to each of the seven deadly sins.

Se7en – South Korean Singer

Se7en is the stage name of South Korean pop singer Choi Dong-Wook (born November 9, 1984). He has won many awards.

Lucky 7 – movie

Lucky 7 (2003) is a TV film starring Patrick Dempsey and Kimberly Williams. It is about a woman whose dying mother predicts she will marry her seventh boyfriend.

Hospital Ship – Lucky 7

USS Hope (AH-7) was a hospital ship (launched 30 August 1943) was nicknamed Lucky 7

The Seven Continents

There are seven continents – Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.

The Tangram

The tangram is a puzzle consisting of seven flat shapes, called tans.

The objective is to form a specific shape (given only a silhouette) using all seven pieces.

There are thousands of different tangram challenges for enthusiasts.

Seven Lucky Crazy Girls

In Las Vegas go seek out the Riviera Hotel and find the bronze statue of the Seven Vegas Showgirls lined up in a row with their derrières showing.

For good luck in this gambling city it has become popular to rub each of their bottoms, which by the way stay shinny from all the rubbing.

The statue is named “No Ifs, Ands, Or…”. It weighs 1,540 pounds and was made by Michael Conine.

The Seven Valleys of the Bahá’i Faith

The Nine-Pointed Star is a symbol of the Bahá’i Faith.

The Seven Valleys, is a book written by the founder, Bahá’uillah (1817-1892). It describes the seven mystic stages of which a seeker must travel towards God. The Bahá’i Faith was founded in Persia.

Bahá’i teaches monotheism and claim to be a fulfillment of all prior religions. Today they have followers around the globe.

The Seven Valleys are:

1. The Valley of Search

2. The Valley of Love

3. The Valley of Knowledge

4. The Valley of Unity

5. The Valley of Contentment

6. The Valley of Wonderment

7 The Valley of Poverty and Absolute Nothingness

Maja died 7 Days after giving birth to Siddhartha

Maya was the birth mother of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. It is told she died of joy seven days after giving birth to Siddhartha and joined the gods.

 Siddhartha was raised by his mother’s sister, Mahapajapati Gotami. Maya immediately went to the Buddhist heaven called Tavatimsa.

 After Gautama received Enlightenment, he went to visit his mother in Tavatimsa. The name “Maya” means love in Sanskrit.

Legend of the Seven Sleepers

Seven men were accused of Christianity around the year 250 when Roman emperor Decius ruled. They took refuge in a cave and fell asleep. 

The emperor saw his chance to get rid of them once and for all and ordered the cave to be sealed.

Many decades later a farmer opened the cave and found the Seven Sleepers.

They woke up believing they had only slept a day.

In 1927 the “Gotto” near Ephesus was excavated.

The ruins of a church was found and on the walls inscriptions dedicated to the Seven Sleepers.

The Seven Sages

The Seven Sages of Ancient Greece were statesmen and philosophers famous for their wisdom. Plato lists these seven in the Protagoras Dialogue.

The Seven Sages of Greece were:

 1. Thales of Miletus

 2. Pittacus of Mytilene

 3. Bias of Priene

 4. Solon

 5. Cleobulus of Lindus

 6. Myson of Chen

 7. Chilon of Sparta

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The Pyramid at Giza is the only one of the ancient Seven Wonders still standing.

 1. Egyptian Pyramid at Giza

 2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

 3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia

 4. Colossus of Rhodes:

Statue of the sun god Helios

 5. Temple of Artimis at Ephesus

 6. Mausoleum at Halicarnass

 7. Lighthouse at Alexandria

The Seven Liberal Arts

The liberal arts were already established in ancient Rome as the appropriate education for a free man. The Seven Liberal Arts as identified by Martianus Capella (5th century) were; grammar, dialectic, rhetoric, geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, and music.

There were seven recognized Liberal Arts in the medieval European Universities. The first three were called “the trivium” and the last four were called “the quadrivium”.

1. Grammar

2. Rhetoric

3. Logic

4. Arithmetic

5. Astronomy

6. Music

7. Geometry  

The Seven Hills of Rome:

Aventine Hill – Caelian Hill – Capitoline Hill – Esquiline Hill

Palatine Hill – Quirinal Hill – Viminal Hill

Chinese Ghost Month

The entire seventh month of the lunar calendar is considered the Ghost month.

During this month the gates of hell are opened.

The ghosts are free to wander among the living.

The ghosts are in need of good food and good entertainment.

It is told that these ghosts are the ancestors of those families that have forgotten to pay tribute to them after they died.

Family members take care to burn joss money to the dead.
This money is only valid in hell.

They may also burn paper houses, furniture and so on, as it is believed that the afterlife is comparable to the world of the living.

On the 15th day of the Chinese Ghost month feasts are held for the hungry, roaming ghosts. Food offerings are made to please the hungry ghosts.

This is also done to prevent a lonely, miserable ghost invading one’s home and thus bringing bad luck.

At concerts the best seats are reserved for the ghosts. Music will be very loud as the ghosts appreciate high volume.

Fifteen days after the festival, the ghosts will hopefully find their way back to the underworld.

The Seventh day on the Seventh Month

The seventh day of this seventh month is quite different. It is the day for lovers, much like Valentine’s Day in the West.
 

Chinese Love Story

One story goes (there are several versions of the story) that the Jade Emperor had a beautiful daughter. The Jade Emperor is the highest of gods.

His daughter owned a magic robe which allowed her to travel to Earth.

Once while bathing in a stream, a cowherd stole her magic robe. Without the magic robe, she could not return to her father.

The cowherd took the princess back to his home. They fell in love and got married.

The Jade Emperor was furious. One day the princess found the magic robe her husband had hidden. She put on the robe and went to visit her father.

The Jade Emperor immediately asked all the rivers to flow across the sky (the Milky Way), making it impossible for the princess to return to her husband.

After a while the Jade Emperor did soften and decided to permit the young lovers meet on the bridge over the river on the seventh day of the seventh month every year.

This is a special day for lovers, celebrated in many countries in Asia.

Number 7 in Christianity

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Seven gifts as defined by Saint Thomas Aquinas. The first four gifts deal with the intellect. The last three gifts deal with the will towards God.

1. Wisdom – The ability to see God at work in our lives.

2. Understanding – The ability to comprehend how to live as followers of Jesus.

3. Counsel – The ability to use right judgment, to know the difference between right and wrong.

4. Fortitude – The gift of courage. To overcome fear and take risks as a follower of Jesus.

5. Knowledge – The ability to understand the meaning of God’s Revelation.

6. Piety – The gift of reverence, to have deep respect for God and the Church.

7. Fear of the Lord – The fear of separating oneself from God.

“The Annunciation” 1434 Painter: Jan van Eyck.

The Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit descend on the Virgin Mary on seven rays of light from the upper window.

National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

The Seven Sacraments

There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church set by the Council of Trent (1545-63).

1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Eucharist
4. Penance
5. Anointing of the sick
6. Holy Orders
7. Matrimony

      The Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins were the teaching of early Christians to educate their followers. The list was used by among others, Pope Gregory and of Dante in his work “The Divine Comedy”

Lust – Gluttony – Greed – Sloth – Wrath – Envy – Pride

Number 7 in the Bible

Seven is mentioned countless times in the Bible.

Cain is protected “Then the Lord said to him: Not so! If anyone slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold”. Genesis 4:15

Elisha aids the dead boy back to life.

The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. 2 Kings 4:35

Ruth is worth more than seven sons. Ruth 4:15

Na’aman, the leper, dipped himself seven times in the Jordan and was cleansed. 2 King 5:14

After Moses fled from Egypt, he stayed in the land of Midian. The priest of Midian had seven daughters. He gave Moses his daughter Zipporah.

“I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt.” Exodus 23:15

The seventh Day

“And on the seventh day God finished his work. -and he rested on the seventh day. So God blessed the seventh day” Genesis 2: 2-4

“The Lord has given you the Sabbath therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days; remain every man in your place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day” Exodus 16:29-30

Noah – Animals – Birds – Seven Days

“Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals..” Genesis 7:2

“and seven pairs of birds of the air..” Genesis 7:3

“For in seven days I will send rain upon the earth..” Genesis 7:4 

“He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; and the dove came back in the evening, and lo, in her mouth a freshly plucked olive leaf” Genesis 8:10-11

“Then he waited another seven days, and sent forth the dove; and she did not return to him anymore.” Genesis 8:12

The taking of Jericho

Seven priests with seven trumpets walked around the city walls seven times on the seventh day.

Joshua chapter 6

The Seven Nations

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you,

the Hittites, the Gir´gashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Per´izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb´usites, seven nations greater and mightier than yourselves,..” Deuteronomy 7:1

Consecration of the Priest

Aaron was the brother of Moses. Aaron became the first High Priest of the Israelites. Aaron and his sons became the first priests in a consecration that lasted seven days.

“and you shall not go out from the door of the tent for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for it will take seven days to ordain you.”  Leviticus 8:33

Miriam Isolated for Seven Days

Miriam was the sister of Aaron and Moses. Aaron and Miriam complained that Moses had a Cushite wife.

They also questioned his exclusive authority.

For this God punished Miriam.

She turned “white as snow” and had to live in seclusion outside the camp for seven days. Numbers chapter 12.

Seven Years for Love

Jacob had just arrived at his uncle Laban’s home. By the well he met his cousin, Rachel.

He fell in love with her and asked his uncle for her hand in marriage. His uncle agreed to let Jacob marry Rachel after he had worked seven years in his duty.

“Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Genesis 29:18

When the seven years were up, Laban deceived Jacob. Jacob found he had been tricked into marrying Leah, the older sister of Rachel.

Laban then agreed to let Jacob have Rachel for his second wife, if he worked another seven years for his uncle. Jacob ended up being married to both Leah and Rachel.

Jacob bowed 

Jacob returned to Canaan to meet with his twin brother, Esau. He was worried that Esau was angry. Jacob bowed to the ground seven times in front of Esau.

As it turned out, Esau did not bear any grudges against his brother. Their reunion was happy and emotional. Genesis, chapter 33.

Seventh Year

“For six years you shall sow your land, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat.” Exodus 23:10

The Dream

Of course there is also the well-known story of Pharaohs dream about the seven fat cows and seven thin cows.

The seven thin cows ate up the seven fat cows.

He also dreamt of the seven full and good ears growing on one stalk and the seven thin ears which swallowed up the seven good ears.

Josef interpreted the dreams and told of the seven good years to be followed by seven years of famine.  Genesis chapter 41

Seven Days to Solve the Riddle

Samson was the man with enormous strength. He once killed a lion with his bare hands. He later found bees and honey in carcass of the lion.

Samson made a wager with the Philistines during a feast.

If they could solve a riddle in seven days he would give them 30 linen garments and 30 festal garments, if not they had to give him 30 linen and 30 festal garments.

“Samson and the lion” Altarpiece in Klosterneuberg, Austria.

They realized they were not able to solve the riddle and threatened his wife to tell the answer, if not they would burn her and her father’s house.

Samson’s wife begged Samson to share the secret with her.

She wept before him the seven days the feast lasted; and on the seventh day he told her. She passed the answer on to the Philistines.

The riddle was “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.” Judges 14:14

 Seven Locks of Hair

The Philistines yearned to find out how Samson got his strength. They offered to pay Dililah eleven hundred pieces of silver for the secret to Samson’s strength. She was Samson’s lover.

Dililah learned his strength came from his seven locks of long uncut hair.

When Samson was asleep on her lap she called for a man to shave off the seven locks of hair. Samson immediately lost all his strength. Judges chapter 13 -16

 Demons

 “-and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out..” Luke 8:2

Forgive 70 X 7 Times

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven:” Matthew 18:21-22 

Number 7 in The Book of Revalation

• Seven Stars and Seven Golden Lamp Stands

“The word of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands” Revelation 2:1

• Seven Spirits of God

“The word of him who has the seven spirits of God and seven stars”. Revelation 3:1

• Seventh Angel   Mystery of God fulfilled

“The trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God, as he announced to his servants the prophets, should be fulfilled.” Revelation 10:7

“The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a great voice came from out of the temple, from the throne saying “It is done!”. Revelation 16:17

 Seven Last Plagues

“Then came one of the seven angels who had seven bowls full of the seven lasts plagues..” Revelation 21:9

The Seven Thunders

“And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” Revelation 10:4

The 7 Seals

– The Lamb Breaks the Seven Seals

 “And I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals” Revelation 5:1

The first seal	a white horse and its rider with a bow appear. He is given a crown. He went out conquering and to conquer.	Revelation 6:1-2
The second seal	a red horse and its rider appear. He is given a great sword. He takes peace from the earth so that men should slay one another.	Revelation 6:3
The third seal	A rider on a black horse appears. He had a balance in his hand and he brings famine. Oil and wine are not harmed.	Revelation 6:5-6
The fourth seal	A pale horse appears and its rider’s name was Death and Hades followed him. They were given the power over a fourth of the earth.	Revelation 6:7-8
The fifth seal	The souls of those who had been slain for the word of God cry out for vengeance.	Revelation 6:12-17
The sixth seal	There was a great earthquake. 144 000 are sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel. A great multitude of people from every nation come to worship God.	Revelation 6:12-17 and Revelation 7:1-17
The seventh seal	there was silence in heaven for half an hour. Seven angels are then given trumpets and a new series of seven starts with the blowing of the seven trumpets.	Revelation 8:1-6

Seven Angels sound Seven Trumpets

“Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God and seven trumpets were given to them”. Revelation 8:2

The first angel blew his trumpet,	and hail and fire followed. A third of the earth was burnt up; and a third of the trees and grass was burnt up.	Revelation 8:7
The second angel blew his trumpet,..	and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.	Revelation 8:9
The third angel blew his trumpet	and a great star fell from heaven. The name of the star is Wormwood.A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died of the water, because it was made bitter.	Revelation 8:10
The fourth angel blew his trumpet,	and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light was darkened; a third of the day was kept from shining.	Revelation 8:12
The fifth angel blew his trumpet,	… then from the smoke came locusts on the earth; they were told not to harm the grass or any green growth, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God upon his foreheads; They were allowed to torture them for five months.	Revelation 9:1-12
The sixth angel blew his trumpet;	the four angels who were bound at the great river of Euphrates are released. An army of 200 million men kill a third of mankind. The seven thunders are sounded. John eats a little scroll, tasting sweet in the mouth, but bitter in the stomach. Two witnesses have the power to prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. They will then be killed and their bodies will lie in the street for three and a half days. Then they will come back to life.	Revelation 11:1-14
The seventh angel blew his trumpet	and the Ark of the Covenant was seen in God’s temple in heaven.  A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars appears. She is with child. Satan is thrown down to earth. The beast of the sea arrives.The beast of the earth appears. This second beast forces people to worship the first beast. 144,000 people with his Father’s Name on their forehead are seen by John on Mount Zion.	Revelation 11:15-19 and Revelation 12:1-17and Revelation 13:1-18 and Revelation 14:1-5

 Seven Bowls of Wrath –  Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

 “and out of the temple came seven angels with the seven plagues” Revelation 16:6

The first angel poured his bowl	on the earth, and fowl and evil sores came upon the men who bore the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.	Revelation 16:2
The second angel poured his bowl	into the sea, and it became like the blood of the dead man, and every living thing died that was in the sea.	Revelation 16:3
The third angel poured his bowl	into the rivers and fountains of water, and they became blood.	Revelation 16:4
The fourth angel poured his bowl	on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch men with fire.	Revelation 16:8
The fifth angel poured his bowl	on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was in darkness.	Revelation 16:10
The sixth angel poured his bowl	on the great river of Euphrates, and its water was dried up.	Revelation 16:12
The seventh angel poured his bowl	into the air… there were flashes of lightning, peals of thunder, a great earthquake such had never been seen since men were on the earth… The great city was split into three parts … and great hailstorms…	Revelation 16:17-21

 The Whore of Babylon

“I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.

The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and bedecked with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication; and on her forehead was written a name of mystery:

“Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earth’s abominations.” 

And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of saints and the blood of martyrs of Jesus.”

Revelation 17: 3-6

• “This calls for a mind of wisdom: the seven heads are seven hills on which the woman is seated; there are also seven kings…” Revelation 17: 9

Number 7 in Judaism

Menorah

The Seven-branched Candelabrum

The Menorah has been a symbol for Judaism for about 3000 years.

Exodus 25:31-40 explains to the last detail how the Menorah is to be made.

“And you shall make a lamp stand of pure gold…..and there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lamp stand out of one side of it and three branches of the lamp stand out of the other side of it;……..”

It was used in the ancient Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

The Seven-branched Menorah is a reminder of the words written in Isaiah 42:6, “….to be a light to all nations,…”

It is also said that the Menorah is a symbol of the burning bush seen by Moses. Many say it also is a symbol of the seven days of creation.

It is now the emblem of Israel.

The Seven Days of Sukkot              

The sukkot is known as the “Festival of the Booths”.

This holiday is a reminder of the days wondering through the desert after the escape from the slavery in Egypt.

“You shall live in booths seven days in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt:

I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 23:42-43

Sukkot is a harvest festival and also a joyous festival. For this holiday, the Jews will build a Sukkah, a kind of temporary hut. Jews will eat their meals in the Sukkah when possible.

Jews may follow a custom of inviting seven symbolic biblical Ushpizin (guests) to their Sukkah. The seven symbolic Ushpizin are: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David.

Some Jews also extend the invitation to seven female biblical figures: Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, Miriam, Abigail, and Ester.

It is also customary to invite guests to dine in the Sukkah and visit the Sukkah of friends. The special Four Species are also an important part of the Sukkot festival.

On the seventh day of the Sukkot, there is a procession that will make seven circuits around the Bimah (platform where the Torah is read).  The seventh day of Sukkot is called “Hosanah Rabbah” (the Great Hoshanah).

The Simchat Torah

The Rejoicing of the Torah – The Seven Hakafot

Immediately after the Sukkot is the festival of the Simchat Torah.

Simchat Torah is the day when the last part of Deuteronomy is read, followed by the first chapter of Genesis. This signifies the cycle of the Torah. It has neither beginning nor end.

The Torah rolls are paraded around the sanctuary in the synagogue seven times.

This is called the hakafot.

This festival includes lots of dancing and singing.

Often the congregation will continue dancing with the Torah out on the streets making it an extremely joyous festival.

This is a genuine happy celebration. The children enjoy plenty of candy. Many will enjoy lots of good wine.

The Simchat Torah is absolutely party time!

The Jewish Wedding  

Many Jews refer to a wedding as a simchah, which means a joyous event.

A Jewish wedding may take place anywhere. It is required that the couple stands under a chuppah, a wedding canopy. It is a symbol of their new home.

The groom is led to the chuppah by two men, often his father and father-in-law.

Likewise the bride is led to the chuppah by two women, most often by her mother and mother-in-law.

The bride is led seven times around the groom. This may symbolize the seven days of creation and that the couple will also create new life.

The bride and groom drink from the wine and the groom places the ring on the bride’s finger as he says: 

  “You are hereby sanctified to me with this ring according to the Laws of Moses and Israel.”

In the second part of the ceremony the Seven Blessings are recited. The ceremony concludes with the breaking of the glass, as a reminder of the destruction of the temple.

Finally the entire congregation shouts “Maz’l tov”, meaning “Congratulations” or “May you enjoy a good fortune”.

Shavuot

Seven Weeks

Shavuot is celebrated to commemorate Moses receiving the Torah, with the list of the Ten Commandments, on Mount Sinai. This happened seven weeks after they had departed from Egypt.

Many may choose to stay awake all night studying the Torah starting Shavuot Eve.

During Shavuot many will eat cheese cake and other dairy foods as the Jews in the desert were not yet sure about all the laws concerning the preparation of meat products.

Shavuot is also a Harvest festival. At the time of the Temple, Jews would bring offerings of the first harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Farmers would bring the Seven Species written about in Deuteronomy 8:8; wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. These are the Seven Species the land of Israel is blessed with. The Israelites would also offer two loaves of bread from the wheat harvest. 

During Shavuot the Book of Ruth is read at the morning service.

The synagogue may traditionally be decorated with plenty of flowers. Shavuot is a joyous festival.

Sitting Shivah

Shivah is a period of mourning. Shivah means “seven”, this refers to the first seven days of mourning.

Mourners who sit Shivah are the seven closest relatives of the deceased: father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister and spouse.

Before or at the funeral ceremony the mourners perform “Keriah”, They rend (tear) a garment as a symbol of separation. It should be a garment worn over the heart, for example a shirt or blouse.

This has roots in Genesis 37:34; when Jacob was misled to believe his son Josef had been killed by wild animals he rent his garments.

Many Jews may wear a torn, black ribbon pin. The torn garment or the torn black ribbon is worn throughout the Shivah.

The mourners sit Shivah in the home of the deceased or the home of the mourners. They go directly to the home after the funeral. A large candle burns during the Shivah. During the Shiva friends and neighbors bring food so that the mourners do not have to prepare meals for themselves.

The first meal is called “The meal of recovery”. The mourners do not leave the house during Shivah, except for Sabbath. Public mourning is forbidden on Sabbath, but it still counts as one of the seven days.

There are some rules and restrictions during Shivah. Some of them are:

The mourner should sit on a low stool or on the floor.

All mirrors should be covered during Shivah.

The mourner must not wear leather shoes.

The mourner must not wash or iron clothes, nor wear new clothes.

The mourner must not shave, cut their hair, nor cut their nails.

The mourner must not cook nor prepare food using heat.

The mourner must not study the Torah, except for the Book of Lamentations and the book of Job.

The mourner must abstain from sex.

The mourner should not do business except for emergencies.

The Shivah ends on the afternoon of the seventh day after the funeral. The mourners leave the Shivah house for a walk together with friends and family.

After the Shivah, the next period of mourning begins. It is called the shloshim and lasts for thirty days after the burial.

Number 7 in Islam

There are seven verses in the first sura (chapter)  in the Qur’an.

During the rituals of Hajj, the pilgramage to Mecca, pilgrims walk around the Kaaba seven times.

The Kaaba is the most sacred site of Islam. Muslims believe it was rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael.  

Pilgrims also walk/run between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah seven times. This is a reminder of Hagar (the mother of Ishmael) when she desperately ran between the two hills in search for water to save her dying son.

An angel appeared and as the angel hit the ground water from a well came to sight, thus saving the lives of mother and child.

The well was given the name Zam Zam. The water from the Zam Zam well is sacred to the Muslims. Now a day’s pilgrims may walk between the two hills in air-conditioned tunnels.

Pilgrims are also required to throw seven pebbles at each of the three walls representing the Devil. The “Stoning of the Devil” is performed at Mina, just outside of Mecca.

In the Qur’an chapter 18 we can read about the Seven Sleepers as told by Muhammad. God had sent the angel Gabriel to reveal the story of the Seven Sleepers to Muhammad. The name of chapter 18 is “The Cave”.

The Night Journey and the Seven Heavens

The Dome of the Rock. The Muslim Shrine built over the Temple Rock in Jerusalem.

It is said that this is also the very same site that the Temple of Solomon and Herod’s Temple once was.

It is told that Muhammad one night flew on the winged steed, named Buraq, from Mecca to Jerusalem.

He was accompanied by the Archangel Gabriel. 

He landed on the Temple Mount. His journey continued from the Temple Rock through the Seven Heavens until he met Allah. He met earlier profits in each of the Heavens.

Muhammad met with Allah and asked about the number of times each believer is to pray every day. The number five was agreed on. Muhammad returned safely to Mecca the very same night.

Heaven	Prophet
First	Adam
Second	Yahya (John the Baptist)
Third	Yusuf (Josef)
Fourth	Akhnukh (Enoch)
Fifth	Harun (Aaron)
Sixth	Musa (Moses)
Seventh	Ibrahim (Abraham)

The Seven Heavens in Islam:

“The Night Journey of Muhammad” 1514  Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

The Seven Gates of Hell

Jahannam is the Koranic word for hell. The unbelievers, the followers of Iblis (the devil) and the jinns will be driven to Jahannam, which is a place of fire that keeps burning at all times.

Jahannam has seven gates which are open at all times. (Qur’an – Sura 15:44). Hell also has seven layers and sinners are sent to different layers according to their sins.

Aqiqa

Aqiqa is a Muslim custom in honor of a new born child. When the new born child is seven days old, the hair is shaved off and the child is given a name. Immediately after the child has received a name, sheep are slaughtered.

Two sheep (or goats) are sacrificed if the baby is a boy and one sheep if the baby is a girl.

This is a feast day. It is encouraged that some of the meat (a third) is given to the needy. Not all Muslims celebrate Aqiqa. 

Seven Laws of Noah

The Seven Laws of Noah are also called the Noahide Laws.

According to the Talmud, these laws were given to Noah by God as binding laws for all mankind.

As every person on earth is a child of Noah, these laws apply to all of mankind, not only the Jews. This according to the Noahide movement.

It is said that any non-Jew who follows these laws is assured a place in the world to come.

Six of these laws were given first to Adam in the Garden of Eden.

The seventh law “eating flesh from a living animal” was added after the Flood of Noah.

There is a growing movement of non-Jews who have accepted these Laws of Noah and have chosen to live their lives according to them.

The movement is called the B’nei Noach, Children of Noah.

The rainbow is the modern symbol of the Noahide Movement.

This is in remembrance of the rainbow that appeared after the Great Flood of the Bible.

1. You shall have no other idols before God

2. You shall not blaspheme God’s name

3. You shall not murder.

4. You shall not steal.

5. You shall not commit incest or adultery, nor male homosexual intercourse.

6. You shall establish courts of justice.

7. You shall not eat the flesh cut from a living animal.

 (This also implies: Do not eat or drink blood)

Number 7 in Nowruz

Nowruz is the Iranian New Year celebration. This festivity has been celebrated since ancient times and occurs in late March. Nowruz is celebrated in many counties.

The Seven S’s of the Nowruz

There are quite a few traditions associated with Nowruz.

One of the customs is to set the table with the Seven S’s.

The Seven S’s (called the “Haft Sin” in Persian) are the seven items each staring with the letter S in the Persian alphabet. 

Haft means seven and Sin is S.

The picture is of the White House Haft Sin Table prepared by Laura Bush in 2008.

The items of the Haft Sin table are:

Sabzeh	wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish	symbol of rebirth
Samanu	a sweet pudding	symbol of affluence
Senjed	the dried fruit	symbol of love
Sir	garlic	symbol of medicine
Sib	apples	symbol of beauty and health
Somaq	sumac berries	symbol of the sunrise
Serkeh	vinegar	symbol of age and patience

If one of the Sin is missing it may be exchanged with another Sin for example sonbol – the hyacinth flower – symbol of spring and the sekkeh – coins – symbol of prosperity

The Seven Fruits – Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, they prepare Haft Mewa (meaning Seven Fruits) instead of Haft Sin.

Haft Mewa is a fruit salad made from seven different dried fruits, served in the fruit syrup.

The seven dried fruits are:

Raisin – Senjed – Pistachio – Hazelnut – Prune – Walnut – Almond

Number 7 in Mythology

The 7 Pleiads 

Greek myth

The seven sisters were the daughters of the titan Atlas and the sea-nymph Pleione.

The seven sisters were also known as “The Pleiads”.

Their names were:

Maia

Electra

Taygate

Alcyone

Calaeno

Sterope

Merope

The hunter, Orion, was continually pursuing the sisters.

Atlas had been forced to support the celestial globe for all eternity and was therefore unable to defend his daughters.

Zeus, the leader god, took pity on the seven sisters and transformed them into stars.

Orion was later also transformed into a constellation of stars and ended up not so far from the seven sisters.

It is said Orion continues his pursuit of the Pleiads.

Dao Look Gai – Thai Mythology

In Thailand the Pleiads are known as “Dao Look Gai”, the chick stars.

There was an old couple who lived in the forest by the hill. They were very poor. There most precious possession was a hen and her seven chickens.

One day a monk came by. They invited him to stay the night. As monks do not eat from midday to until daybreak, they offered him nothing but water that evening. They knew the monk needed to eat in the morning.

The couple agreed they had to serve the monk the best meal they could afford. That meant killing the mother hen.

The mother hen heard the couple talking and gathered her chicks to inform them that she would soon be gone. She made them promise to look after each other and love each other.

The next morning the man killed the mother hen. The seven chicks watched as he was roasting their mother over an open fire.

The seven chicks were so devastated that they all jumped into the fire to be with their mother. The seven chicks were then reborn as stars and can be seen as the cluster of seven stars in the sky.

If a baby is born when the moon passes Dao Look Gai it is considered to be very auspicious. The child will have lots of good luck.

Number 7 in Mythology: The 7 Hesperides

In one version of Greek myth, Atlas was also the father of the Seven Hesperides (daughters of the Evening Star). 

They guarded the tree with the golden apples. Gaia had given the tree to Hera (the queen goddess) when she married Zeus (the chief god).

The garden with the tree of the golden apples was located close by the place where Atlas carried the celestial globe on his shoulders.

In the version of the myth proclaiming Atlas as the father, the seven are given the names:

Ægle

Arethusa

Erythea

Hestia

Hespera

Herperusa

Hespereia

In other versions there are only three Hesperides.

See number 3.

Apollo and the Number 7 in Mythology

The number seven is the sacred number of Apollo. He was one of the most important Greek gods.

Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto and the twin brother of Artemis (Diana in Roman myth). Apollo was known as the leader of the Nine Muses.

He was also the god who could spread plague with his arrows, but could also cure illness. Apollo was associated with prophecy and the Oracle of Delphi.

It is told he was born on the seventh day of the seventh month.

Odysseus and Calypso

The Greek hero, Odysseus had many encounters and adventures on his long journey home from Troy. Towards the end of his journey Odysseus is shipwrecked and also the sole survivor. He managed to cling on to some floating beams.

Seven days later he drifted ashore onto the island of Ogygia.

The island of Ogygia was the home of the beautiful nymph named Calypso. She fell madly in love with Odysseus and promised him immortality and eternal youth if he promised to commit to her for life.

Calypso kept Odysseus hostage on the island for seven years.

Odysseus was feeling more and more desperate and only wanted to return home to his wife, Penelope.

The gods finally took pity on Odysseus and sent Hermes (the messenger god) to order Calypso to let Odysseus go.

Seven against Thebes

Oedipus, king of Thebes was found guilty of incest and murder.

He was forced to step down from the throne.

When his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices turned against him, Oedipus put a curse on them.

The two brothers agreed to take turns ruling Thebes every other year. After the first year Eteocles refused to step down from the throne.

Polynices raised an army led by seven commanders to take Thebes by force.

These are the Seven against Thebes:  Amphiaraus –Eteoclus –  Capaneus –  Hippomedon – Parthenopeus – Tydeus – Polynices

Polynices was one of the seven commanders. After much fighting, it was decided that the two brothers should meet each other in a single combat.

In that last fight Polynices and Eteocles killed each other.

The curse of Oedipus was fulfilled

Isis and the Scorpions

– Egyptian Mythology

Isis was the sister and wife of Osiris. Their evil brother murdered Osiris.

Seth then gave Isis seven scorpions.

These seven scorpions promised to protect Isis and her unborn son.

Isis came to a village and asked for shelter in a home belonging to a very wealthy woman. The woman did not recognize Isis and slammed the door in her face.

Isis then found a poor peasant woman who welcomed her into her home and gave her shelter.

The seven scorpions were furious at the wealthy woman and decided to take revenge.

One of the scorpions crept into the home of the rich woman and stung her son. The mother screamed for help as her boy was dying, but no one would help her. Isis took pity on the woman.

The goddess said a magic spell and neutralized the poison. The child immediately recovered.

The wealthy woman was extremely grateful. She donated all her belongings to Isis and the poor peasant woman.