Netchurch.NG – The Biblical Significance of Number Nine

There “were” nine planets in the solar system, Which are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Now we have only eight planets as pluto is excluded.After Reading this i am sure Scientists will soon agree again that there are Nine planets

Answer. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) downgraded the status of Pluto to that of a dwarf planet because it did not meet the three criteria the IAU uses to define a full-sized planet. Essentially Pluto meets all the criteria except one—it “has not cleared its neighboring region of other objects.”

In the Bible, the number nine is often seen as symbolizing divine completeness, finality, or judgment. It appears in various contexts that suggest spiritual significance:

1. Fruits of the Holy Spirit: There are nine fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits represent the completeness of the Spirit’s work in a believer.
2. Finality and Judgment: The number nine is associated with finality and divine judgment. Jesus Christ died at the ninth hour of the day (3 PM), marking the completion of His redemptive work on the cross (Matthew 27:46-50). This hour signified the moment of sacrifice, bringing about the final judgment on sin.
3. Day of Atonement: In Leviticus 23:32, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) begins at the evening of the ninth day of the seventh month. This day was one of the holiest days in Israel’s religious calendar, where people sought forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
4. Nine Generations from Adam to Noah: From Adam to Noah, there were nine generations, symbolizing the finality before God’s judgment through the flood (Genesis 5).
5. Nine Beatitudes: Jesus pronounced nine blessings, known as the Beatitudes, in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-11). These blessings can be seen as a picture of divine completeness in God’s promise of spiritual reward.

• The Ninth Hour in Prayer and Miracles:
  • In the New Testament, important events took place during the ninth hour. For instance, Peter and John went to the temple at the ninth hour to pray, and it was at this time that they healed a lame man (Acts 3:1-8).
  • Cornelius, a Roman centurion, received a vision from God at the ninth hour, instructing him to send for Peter, which led to the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10:1-3).
• Jesus’ Crucifixion:
  • As mentioned earlier, Jesus Christ died at the ninth hour (Matthew 27:46-50; Mark 15:34-37; Luke 23:44-46). This marked the end of His earthly life and the completion of His work of atonement for humanity. His death opened the way for reconciliation between God and mankind.
• Nine Lepers Who Did Not Return:
  • In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned to thank Him. The other nine did not return. This account subtly emphasizes the theme of ingratitude among the majority, perhaps symbolizing the spiritual state of Israel and the Gentiles at the time.
• Ninefold Gifts of the Holy Spirit:
  • In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, there are nine spiritual gifts listed that are given by the Holy Spirit: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. These gifts demonstrate God’s power and completeness in equipping the Church for ministry.
• Nine Instances of Resurrection:
  • There are nine recorded instances of resurrection in the Bible (not including the resurrection of Jesus):
    • Three in the Old Testament: The son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24), the son of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:32-37), and a man thrown into Elisha’s tomb (2 Kings 13:20-21).
    • Three performed by Jesus in the New Testament: the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17), Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:49-56), and Lazarus (John 11:1-44).
    • Three performed by the apostles: Tabitha/Dorcas by Peter (Acts 9:36-42), Eutychus by Paul (Acts 20:9-12), and the saints who were resurrected after Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:52-53).
• Nine Choirs of Angels (Christian Tradition):
  • While not directly from the Bible, early Christian tradition classifies angels into nine orders or “choirs,” based on hints from Scripture (Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, Revelation 4). These are: seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, virtues, powers, principalities, archangels, and angels.
• Nine Plagues in Exodus Before the Final Judgment:
  • In the story of the Exodus, there were nine plagues in Egypt before the final and most devastating tenth plague, the death of the firstborn (Exodus 7-11). These plagues demonstrate God’s judgment and power, as He calls for the release of His people from Pharaoh.
• Nine Months of Human Gestation:
  • Though this is not a direct biblical reference, the nine-month period of human pregnancy is a reflection of God’s design in the creation of life. Symbolically, it can represent completeness and the fulfillment of God’s purpose in bringing new life into the world.
• Nine Tribes and Half Inherited the Promised Land:
  • After the Israelites entered the Promised Land, nine and a half tribes received their inheritance west of the Jordan River (Numbers 34:13-29). This was part of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham to give his descendants the land of Canaan.

In summary, the number nine often conveys themes of completion, spiritual fruitfulness, and God’s ultimate judgment or finality.

by cedric

The number nine is used in scripture to establish the man or woman who is complete in the grace of God in the fullness of the power of God. This man has been perfected and prepared to be a vessel of honor before being divinely completed by God.

We see an example of this power this fulfilled in the life of Abraham. God brought him to the point of earthly perfection before asking him to sacrifice his own son. After he reached maturity God changed his name from Abram to Abraham which was his new beginning (number 8). He then endued Abraham with the power to negotiate with him in his decision to destroy Sodom. He actually visited Abraham beforehand to inform him of the intended action. No other man on earth had the spiritual authority to get God to actually bargain with him. This power gave Abraham the ability to intercede on behalf of man according to the right standing given to him in the sight of God.

1) Nine is the result of 6 (man) + 3 (the Godhead)

2) 3+3+3 (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), operating in the (soul, body, and spirit) of man producing (wisdom, grace, and power.

3) 8 (the man who has been renewed by God), +1 (the Spirit of God).

4) 4 (the man built on the foundation of the Godhead), + 5 (the grace of God).

The ninth hour of the day was the hour of prayer for the Hebrews. It is through the medium of prayer that we obtain power with God. The ninth hour was also the time that Jesus gave up the ghost on the cross, after saying, “it is finished,” meaning that God’s plan for the complete redemption of man had been accomplished and man could now walk in the fullness of power with God.

Gifts and Fruits                                                                                                                                                                                         1 Corinthians chapter twelve, verses 8 thru 10 lists the nine Gifts of the Spirit which God uses to edify his church;

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.

Galatians chapter five verses 22 through 23 lists the nine Fruits of the Spirit which actually give us the power to overcome the enemy in our personal lives;

22 But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.