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Dutch I. Unlocking the Mysteries: Why Does the Number 22 Matter in the Bible?
A. Introduction to Biblical Numbers for Christian Readers
Isn’t it amazing how God speaks to us in so many ways? Many of you, wonderful, faith-filled Christians, are curious about what numbers mean in the Bible. And that’s a beautiful thing! It shows you want to go deeper with God and understand His Word more fully. It’s important to know that numbers in the Bible often carry a special, symbolic meaning. They can represent incredible ideas and truths that go way beyond just counting! God, in His amazing wisdom, sometimes uses these numbers like little signposts to help us grasp bigger spiritual lessons.¹ This isn’t about trying to predict the future or looking for secret codes like the Bible is some kind of magic book. No, it’s about recognizing the beautiful patterns and meanings that God Himself has woven into His Word for you and me.
This desire to understand biblical numbers often comes from a heart that truly believes God has carefully and lovingly shaped every single detail of Scripture. It shows you have faith in His complete control and His wonderful design in how He talks to us, His children. When we look at this topic, let’s keep a good, balanced perspective. The numbers themselves don’t have any special spiritual power.¹ Instead, they’re like arrows pointing us to the incredible ideas and truths God wants to share with us. Our goal is to understand these God-given meanings, not to find some mystical power in the numbers themselves. And right from the start, it’s so important to see the difference between exploring the genuine, God-intended symbolism in the Bible and other kinds of number interpretations that aren’t based on His Word. For example, some old philosophies and groups, like the Gnostics, believed numbers had their own secret power or were even like divine beings.² But the early Christian teachers, those wise men we call the Church Fathers, they used numbers in a different way – symbolically, to point us to amazing spiritual truths, which is so different from those mystical views.⁴ Today, we’re going to look at the number 22 with hearts open to what God wants to teach us, seeking to understand the blessings it can bring to your Christian walk.
B. The Special Interest in the Number 22
Out of all the numbers in God’s amazing Word, the number 22 often really grabs people’s attention. You might see it pop up in different parts of the Bible and think, “Wow, I wonder if God has a special message for me in that number?” 6 And you know what? That’s a great question! In this article, we’re going to discover together what the Bible and our rich Christian heritage suggest about this special number, 22. We’ll look at how it connects to powerful biblical ideas like God’s incredible Word, His divine light that shines in the darkness, His perfect order, and yes, even sometimes how it can point to disorder. Our aim, is to uncover those spiritual lessons that can make your understanding richer and your faith stronger. Get ready to be blessed!
II. The Foundation Stone: How Does the Hebrew Alphabet Give Meaning to 22?
A. The 22 Letters: God’s Building Blocks
Did you know that the Hebrew language has a very special place in the Bible? That’s because most of the Old Testament, God’s first great message to us, was originally written in Hebrew. And guess what? The Hebrew alphabet is made up of 22 beautiful letters! 1 Think about that! These letters are like the very building blocks God used to give us His precious written Word. Because God’s first amazing collection of written teachings, the Old Testament, was formed using these 22 letters, the number 22 itself becomes so important for understanding the Bible.¹ The very way God structured the language He chose for this foundational message carries a special meaning, just for you!
B. Completeness of God’s Word and Revelation
Many wonderful Bible scholars and teachers believe that these 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet are a beautiful symbol of the completeness of God’s Word and His amazing revelation to all of us.⁶ Just think – an alphabet has all the letters you need to make any word or share any thought in that language. In the same way, these 22 Hebrew letters represent the full and complete expression of God’s truth given in the Old Testament. This tells us something so powerful: God’s Word is enough for our faith and for our lives! He has given us everything we need to understand His will and His incredible plan right there in His revealed Word.
One source puts it this way, and I love this: “The number 22 literally represents the light of revelation or revelation light. Part of that is there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet… It’s the light of the Word of God”.⁶ Isn’t that powerful? The 22 letters are carrying the light of God’s message directly to you! And another source adds something so practical for your walk with God: “There are 22 Hebrew letters in the alephbet… Overcoming and proper discernment come from the Word of Adonai, which is composed of 2×11 letter in the Holy Language of Hebrew”.⁸ This means that when you dive into God’s complete Word, symbolized by this number 22, it helps you, to overcome challenges and to see truth with brand new clarity. God wants you to walk in victory!
C. The Significance of Tav (ת), the 22nd Letter
Let’s talk about a very special letter, Tav (ת). It’s the twenty-second and the very last letter of the Hebrew alphabet.⁹ And because it’s the last one, it often symbolizes wonderful ideas like completion, a final mark, or a seal – like God putting His stamp of approval on something.¹⁰ The meanings connected to Tav include truth, a sign, and even big concepts like life or death, showing just how important it is as a concluding symbol.⁹ It can also mean a monument or a signal, like a beacon of hope.⁸
And get this, this is so exciting: it’s noted that “The pictogram, or symbol, behind the shape of the letter TAV is a mark or seal. There is some evidence that in its earliest written form, it was more in the shape of an X or a cross”.¹⁰ Wow! Think about that connection. For us as Christians, the cross is the ultimate mark and seal of God’s amazing work of redemption. The idea that the very last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the foundation of the Old Testament scriptures, might have anciently looked like a cross – that can be seen as a beautiful little hint, a foreshadowing from God. It suggests that the completion of God’s written word in the Old Covenant is pointing us toward the ultimate completion and fulfillment found in Jesus Christ and His incredible sacrifice on the cross, which is the seal of our New Covenant. God is always working His plan!
D. Acrostic Psalms and Literary Structures
There’s a beautiful and clear example of just how important the Hebrew alphabet is, and therefore how major the number 22 can be, right in Psalm 119. This is the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the entire Bible! And it’s structured as what’s called an acrostic poem. It has 22 sections, and each section is dedicated to one of the 22 Hebrew letters, all in alphabetical order. And here’s the amazing part: all eight verses in each of these 22 sections begin with that section’s special Hebrew letter.¹
This very careful and wonderful structure, using all 22 letters of the alphabet, stands like a literary monument. It powerfully shows us how complete, how comprehensive, and how all-encompassing God’s law and His Word truly are. It’s also noted that “The word ‘commandment’ appears 22 times in the Psalm”.¹ This just makes that link even stronger between the number 22 and the perfection and fullness of God’s instructions and His divine revelation. This incredible psalm uses the entire alphabet to explore the breadth and depth of God’s law, showing how it’s relevant to every single part of your life. God’s Word is for you, in every situation!
III. Illuminating Truths: What Are the Key Symbolic Meanings of 22?
The number 22 in the Bible is just packed with meaning! Sometimes it even holds ideas that seem different from each other that just shows the depth of God’s truth. When you understand these symbols, it can help you see how God shares His character and His amazing plans. Having these varied meanings isn’t a mistake; no, it mirrors a deep spiritual truth: God’s Word and His mighty plan cover the whole range of our lives and spiritual experiences – from brokenness all the way to restoration, and from darkness into His wonderful light. God is so good!
A. Is 22 a Symbol of Divine Light and Revelation?
Yes, absolutely! “Light” and “revelation” are very strong and positive meanings tied to the number 22 in God’s Word.¹ This amazing connection comes from several important scriptural truths. As we’ve talked about, those 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet are seen as the foundation of God’s written Word, carrying the “light of the Word of God”.⁶ God’s truth, shared through these letters, shines a light on the path for every believer. You don’t have to walk in darkness when you have His Word!
The Book of Revelation, the very last book of the Bible, has 22 chapters.¹ And the name “Revelation” itself means an “unveiling” or a “disclosure.” These 22 chapters pull back the curtain on God’s ultimate plans, the victory of Jesus Christ, and the setting up of His eternal kingdom. What a powerful source of divine light on future events and spiritual realities! One source says it so clearly: “A fourth number 22 meaning in the Bible is light. God’s revelation is also referred to as God’s light”.¹
And maybe one of the most amazing connections is found in the Gospel of John. The word “light” (in Greek, it’s phos) is used exactly 22 times in this Gospel. And the twenty-second and final time John uses this word is a direct quote from Jesus Christ Himself in John 8:12: “Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness will have the light of life’”.¹ What a powerful declaration on that 22nd time! It firmly links the number 22 to Jesus as the ultimate source of spiritual light and truth. This beautiful progression takes the idea of revelation from the written Word (those 22 Hebrew letters) to the Living Word, Jesus Christ, who is the perfect embodiment of that divine light. Jesus is your light!
B. Can 22 Represent Disorder or God’s Judgment?
While 22 is often linked to wonderful, positive things, sometimes it can point to ideas of disorder, chaos, or even God’s judgment.¹ This meaning often comes up because 22 is double the number 11. In some ways of looking at Bible numbers, the number 11 is connected to disorder, things being incomplete, or even rebellion. For example, Genesis chapter 11 tells the story of the Tower of Babel – that was an act of human pride, rebelling against God, and it led to confusion, people being scattered, and the disorder of different languages.¹ So, 22, being 11 doubled, can mean an even stronger or more intense state of disorder.
Also, the number 2 itself can sometimes represent division, opposition, or two contrasting things (like good versus evil, or light versus darkness).¹ When this idea of two sides or division is doubled in the number 22, it can also point to greater disagreement or a feeling of being unsettled. One source explains it like this: “The first possible number 22 meaning is chaotic disorder… The number 22 is a multiple of 11, which also means disorder. Double it, and the meaning is amplified”.¹
But here’s the good news! Although It might not always be a direct symbol of judgment itself, this idea of disorder is often what happens because of sin and rebellion against God’s perfect order. And that, in turn, makes God’s righteous judgment necessary. Think about the 22 chapters of the Book of Revelation. Although they end with God’s glorious new creation, they also describe in detail God’s final judgments on a world that’s disordered and rebellious.¹ An interesting example from the Old Testament is in Leviticus 22:22, which lists different physical problems or blemishes that would make an animal sacrifice unacceptable to God.¹¹ This verse shows what isn’t whole, orderly, or perfect when it comes to worship. It represents a kind of “disorder” in what’s offered to God, and so it’s not acceptable. The disorder that sin brings often leads to judgment listen to this: God’s ultimate plan, which is also sometimes hinted at by the number 22, is to restore order and bring His perfect light. He can turn any disorder in your life into His divine order!
C. Does 22 Signify Unity and Completion?
Yes, it absolutely does! Along with meanings like disorder, the number 22 also strongly points to wonderful ideas of unity and completion.¹ And often, these positive meanings stand as a beacon of hope against the idea of disorder, showing God’s amazing power to bring harmony and fulfillment into every situation.
If the number 2 can represent positive partnerships – like Adam and Eve, where Eve was created from Adam’s rib in Genesis 2:22 to be his helper and complete humanity’s creation 7, or the animals going into Noah’s ark in pairs (male and female) just as God commanded 1 – then the number 22 can make this idea of unity and coming together even stronger! One source notes, “If 22 amplifies disorder, it also amplifies unity”.¹ This is backed up by the fact that the 22nd book of the Protestant Old Testament is the Song of Songs.¹ That’s a book that beautifully and poetically describes marital love and union, which is often seen in Scripture as a symbol of Christ’s deep and intimate relationship with His Church – with you!
The idea of completion is also so very prominent. Those 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, which are the foundation of the Old Testament, point to the completeness of God’s written Word.⁷ And, as we’ll talk about later, some of the early Church Fathers counted the books of the Old Testament as 22, again showing a complete collection of God’s revelation to Israel. And most importantly, the very last chapter of the entire Bible is Revelation 22! This chapter describes the ultimate completion and fulfillment of all of God’s promises, the establishment of the New Jerusalem, the end of all sorrow and pain, and eternal life with God.⁷ This powerfully anchors the number 22 to the theme of God’s perfect and final work. God always finishes what He starts, and He has a plan for your completion too!
D. How Does 22 Reflect God’s Sovereignty and Divine Order?
The number 22 can also be a wonderful pointer to God’s absolute sovereignty – His supreme rule and His complete control over everything – and His perfect, divine order. Our God is a God of order, not of chaos (that’s what 1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us!), and this is reflected in His beautiful creation and in His powerful Word.
Some interpretations suggest that God created 22 specific things during the six days of creation, highlighting the completeness and the built-in order of His creative work.¹ The very structure of the Hebrew alphabet, with its 22 letters so carefully arranged and used to share God’s sacred Word, points to His careful design in how He chooses to reveal Himself and His truths to all of us.¹ He’s an intentional God!
A fantastic example of this divine order is Psalm 119. As we mentioned before, its 22 sections, each one perfectly matching a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order, form a magnificent song of praise for God’s sovereign law and His orderly commandments.¹ The fact that the word “commandment” is said to appear 22 times within this highly structured psalm further emphasizes the connection between the number 22, God’s Word, and His divine order.¹ One source sums this up so well: “The number 22 holds special meaning in biblical numerology, representing themes of completeness, divine order, and spiritual fulfillment”.⁷ These instances suggest that the number 22 can remind us, as believers, of God’s meticulous care and His sovereign oversight in everything He does. You can trust that He is in control!
To help make these varied meanings even clearer, here’s a helpful table that gives a summary:
Table 1: Key Symbolic Meanings of the Number 22
| Symbolic Meaning | Brief Explanation & Scriptural Basis | Key Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Light & Revelation | God’s truth dispelling spiritual darkness; linked to the 22 Hebrew letters (Word of God), 22 chapters of Revelation (unveiling), and 22 uses of “light” in John’s Gospel. | 1 |
| Disorder & Judgment | Amplified chaos, division, consequences of sin; linked to 2×11 (disorder of Babel), and the judgments in Revelation’s 22 chapters. | 1 |
| Unity & Partnership | Amplified positive pairings, togetherness; linked to 2×2 (marriage, pairs in ark), Song of Songs (22nd book) symbolizing Christ & Church. | 1 |
| Completion & Fulfillment | The entirety of God’s Word or plan brought to its intended end; linked to 22 Hebrew letters, 22 OT books (patristic view), Revelation 22 (new creation). | 7 |
| God’s Sovereignty & Divine Order | God’s meticulous plan, control, and perfect arrangement; linked to 22 created items, Psalm 119’s structure, 22 generations to Jacob. | 1 |
IV. The Number 22 in Scripture: Key Examples and Stories
the number 22 and ideas connected to it show up in all sorts of biblical stories and writings – from history and family trees to laws, beautiful poetry, and powerful prophecies. When we look at these examples, we can get an even richer understanding of how this number might be working symbolically within the amazing story of God’s Word. The fact that “22” appears in so many different kinds of writing suggests that if God uses numbers to share meaning, He does it consistently. This allows these symbolic themes to pop up again and again, carrying importance no matter the style of writing. This points to a single, divine Author who uses such patterns to reinforce how interconnected His Word truly is. Every part works together for your good!
A. Old Testament Appearances
1. From Adam to Jacob: The 22 Generations
The Bible tells us that there were 22 generations from Adam, the very first man, all the way to Jacob.¹ And you might remember, Jacob’s name was later changed by God to Israel, and he became the father of the twelve sons who started the twelve tribes of Israel. One source points this out: “Guess how many generations there were from Adam to Jacob, the father of these tribes of Israel. That’s right – 22”.¹ This family line is so foundational to the Bible’s story because it establishes the lineage of God’s chosen people. It was through them that the covenant promises would be carried, and from them, the Messiah, our Savior, would eventually come. The number 22 in this context could be a gentle reminder from God, underscoring the completeness of this foundational stage of His amazing plan of redemption.
And, in a related number instance, when Moses took a count of the Israelites, as recorded in the book of Numbers, the tribe of Levi – which was specially set apart by God for priestly service and duties related to the Tabernacle – numbered 22,000 males from one month old and upward (you can find that in Numbers 3:39).¹ God is a God of detail!
2. Kings and Reigns: 22 in the History of Israel
The number 22 also shows up in connection with the reigns or ages of several kings and judges in the history of Israel and Judah. The direct symbolic meaning isn’t always spelled out right there in the text these occurrences are definitely worth noticing.¹
- Jair, who was one of the judges of Israel, judged the nation for 22 years (Judges 10:3).¹
- Jeroboam I, who became the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the nation split, reigned for a period of 22 years (1 Kings 14:20).¹
- King Ahab, who is sadly known as one of Israel’s most wicked and idolatrous kings, also reigned over Israel in Samaria for 22 years (1 Kings 16:29).¹
- King Ahaziah of Judah was 22 years old when he began his short reign (2 Kings 8:26; 2 Chronicles 22:2).¹
- King Amon of Judah, another king who did evil in the sight of the Lord, was also 22 years old when he became king (2 Kings 21:19).¹
The fact that the number 22 is linked with both times of leadership (like Jair’s time as judge or Jeroboam’s reign starting a new kingdom) and times of major sin and turning away from God (like Ahab’s reign or Amon’s evil actions) might connect back to those potential dual meanings of 22 we talked about. It could reflect God’s comprehensive dealings with humanity, covering His sovereign oversight of times of order and leadership, as well as periods where human sinfulness leads to disorder and, eventually, divine judgment. This complexity invites us to think deeper rather than just settling for one simple interpretation. God’s ways are higher than our ways!
3. Major Chapters: Genesis 22, Numbers 22, and Leviticus 22
Certain chapters that are numbered 22 in the Old Testament contain stories or laws that are particularly major:
- Genesis 22: This famous chapter tells the story of Abraham’s ultimate test of faith, when God commanded him to offer his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah.⁷ Abraham’s incredible obedience, and God’s perfect timing in providing a ram to be sacrificed instead of Isaac, stands as a powerful testimony to unwavering faith and God’s faithfulness. The chapter number being 22 might be seen by some as highlighting the “completeness” of Abraham’s devotion or the “fulfillment” of this powerful test of his trust in God.⁷ What a story of faith!
- Numbers 22: This chapter shares the fascinating story of Balaam, the pagan prophet who was hired by King Balak of Moab to curse Israel. It includes Balaam’s donkey that miraculously speaks, and the angel of the Lord stepping in.¹³ A key moment happens in verse 22: “But God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him” (NKJV).¹³ This chapter powerfully shows God’s sovereign control over human affairs, His ability to turn intended curses into blessings for His people, and His direct intervention in the lives of individuals. This lines up with the themes of divine order and sovereignty that are sometimes associated with the number 22. God can turn any situation around!
- Leviticus 22: This chapter gives specific laws about holy offerings and the qualifications for sacrifices to be acceptable to God. Notably, Leviticus 22:22 lists animals with various defects—like being blind, injured, maimed, or having festering sores—that must not be offered to the Lord.¹¹ This presents an interesting contrast: a chapter numbered 22, often linked to ideas of completeness and perfection, carefully details what is considered incomplete or imperfect for a sacred offering. This could subtly emphasize the high standard of holiness God requires and the truth that our human offerings can fall short if they are not lined up with His perfect will and character. God deserves our best!
4. Psalm 22: A Prophetic Look at Suffering and Deliverance
Psalm 22 is one of the most powerful and moving Messianic psalms in the Old Testament. Written centuries before Jesus was even born, it prophetically describes with astonishing and vivid detail the intense suffering and crucifixion of the Messiah.⁷ Jesus Himself quoted the opening words of this psalm while He was hanging on the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (You can read that in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).
This psalm is described as “a powerful prophetic scripture that describes the suffering of Jesus on the cross,” encouraging believers “to see God’s plan of salvation fulfilled through Christ’s passion, highlighting the deep love and sacrifice of Jesus”.⁷ One of the early Church Fathers, Augustine of Hippo, in his detailed commentary on Psalm 22, focused entirely on how its words were spoken by and fulfilled in Christ during His suffering, death, and His glorious resurrection and ascension.²² This psalm, numbered 22, outlines a complete journey from agonizing abandonment and deep distress to ultimate deliverance, vindication, and worldwide praise. It reflects a full and complete arc of redemption accomplished through the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord!
B. New Testament Connections
1. The Book of Revelation’s 22 Chapters
The very last book of our Christian Bible, the Book of Revelation, is made up of exactly 22 chapters.¹ This amazing, eye-opening book unveils the end times, describes God’s final judgments on sin and rebellion, details the triumphant return of Jesus Christ, and climaxes in the creation of the new heavens and new earth, featuring the glorious New Jerusalem where God will live with His people forever!
As one source describes it, “Revelation 22 describes the ultimate victory of God and the establishment of the New Jerusalem. It is a chapter of hope and fulfillment”.⁷ This strong and direct connection firmly links the number 22 to themes of finality, the completion of God’s cosmic plan, ultimate spiritual fulfillment, and the full and final revelation of God’s sovereign purpose for all of His creation. What a future we have to look forward to!
2. The Mention of “Light” 22 Times in John’s Gospel
As we noted earlier when we were talking about symbolic meanings, the Gospel of John uses the Greek word for “light” (phos) 22 times. And the twenty-second and final time this word is used is Jesus’ powerful and definitive declaration in John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness will have the light of life”.¹ This numerical pattern reinforces the idea of 22 as a number connected to divine revelation, with Jesus Christ Himself being the perfect embodiment, the ultimate source, and the complete manifestation of that divine light. Let His light shine in you today!
The following table summarizes some of these notable occurrences:
Table 2: Notable Occurrences and Connections of 22 in the Bible
| Biblical Reference/Concept | Brief Description & Significance in Relation to 22 | Key Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Hebrew Letters | Foundation of God’s written Word in the Old Testament; often seen to symbolize the completeness of that initial divine revelation. | 1 |
| 22 Generations (Adam to Jacob) | Marks the complete foundational lineage leading to the patriarchs of the nation of Israel, through whom God’s covenant promises would unfold. | 1 |
| King Ahab’s 22-year reign | A significant period (1 Kings 16:29) associated with a notoriously wicked king; may link 22 to times of disorder or periods inviting judgment. | 1 |
| Genesis 22 | Abraham’s ultimate test of faith regarding Isaac; the chapter number might highlight the completeness of the test or Abraham’s obedience. | 7 |
| Numbers 22 (esp. v. 22\) | Story of Balaam and his donkey; God’s anger at Balaam is noted in verse 22; the chapter demonstrates divine intervention and God’s sovereignty. | 7 |
| Leviticus 22:22 | Lists physical defects that make animal sacrifices unacceptable to God; contrasts with the theme of completeness by detailing imperfection. | 11 |
| Psalm 22 | A profound Messianic psalm prophetically detailing Christ’s suffering and ultimate triumph; portrays a complete arc of redemption. | 7 |
| Revelation (22 Chapters) | The final book of the Bible; details the culmination of God’s plan, final judgment, and the new creation, signifying ultimate completion. | 1 |
| “Light” in John’s Gospel (22 times) | The 22nd mention is Jesus’ declaration “I am the light of the world,” linking 22 to the ultimate divine revelation embodied in Christ. | 1 |
V. Voices from the Past: What Did the Early Church Fathers Teach About the Number 22?
Those early centuries of Christianity were such an important time for understanding and interpreting God’s Word. The Church Fathers, who were wise and influential theologians and writers from that period, played a huge role in shaping Christian thought. And when it comes to the number 22, their most major and widely discussed teaching is all about its connection to the structure of the Old Testament. It’s pretty amazing!
A. The 22 Books of the Old Testament and the Hebrew Alphabet
A very important teaching from many respected early Church Fathers is that the Hebrew Old Testament was commonly organized into 22 books. These wise theologians saw a deliberate and meaningful connection between this number of books and the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.²⁴ For them, this wasn’t just a casual observation; it carried real theological weight.
Among these Fathers who noted this were Origen (who lived around 184–c. 253 AD), a brilliant scholar from Alexandria; Jerome (around 347–420 AD), the man who translated the Latin Vulgate Bible; Hilary of Poitiers (around 310–c. 367 AD), a strong defender of the truth of the Trinity; and Athanasius (around 296–373 AD), another key figure in clearly stating Christian beliefs.
Jerome, in his well-known “Helmeted Preface” to his translation of the books of Samuel and Kings, specifically stated this connection. He said: “As, then, there are twenty-two elementary characters by means of which we write in Hebrew all we say… So we reckon twenty-two books, by which, as by the alphabet of the doctrine of God, a righteous man is instructed…”.²⁵ This shows that Jerome saw these 22 books as forming a complete and foundational set for God’s teaching, comparing them to the very letters that make up God’s instruction. Isn’t that a beautiful thought?
Eusebius of Caesarea, an early church historian, recorded that Origen, in his commentary on the first Psalm, also said that the Old Testament consisted of 22 books, matching the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet.²⁶ This understanding is further confirmed by a general statement found in historical sources about what the Church Fathers believed: “It should be observed that the collective books, as handed down by the Hebrews, are twenty-two, according to the number of letters in their alphabet”.²⁴
It’s important for us today to understand how they got to this 22-book count. It involved combining certain books that we see separated in our modern Protestant Bibles. For example, 1 & 2 Samuel were often counted as one book, and the same for 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles. Sometimes Judges was combined with Ruth, and Jeremiah with Lamentations.²⁵ The actual content of this 22-book Old Testament canon is basically the same as what we find in the Protestant Old Testament today; the difference is just in how the books were grouped and counted.
B. Purpose: Establishing the Canon and Divine Instruction
The Church Fathers highlighted this 22-book structure of the Old Testament for very important reasons, mainly related to defining the authoritative Word of God (which we call the canon of Scripture) and for the purpose of good, sound Christian teaching.
- Defining the Canon: During those early centuries of the many different religious writings were floating around. Some of these were considered unreliable, misleading, or even completely wrong, like various Gnostic texts. In that kind of environment, it was so crucial for Christian leaders to clearly identify which books were truly God’s inspired Word and therefore authoritative for our faith and how we live. The 22-book structure, which had a history in Hebrew tradition (as the first-century Jewish historian Josephus tells us 29), provided a clear, historically grounded, and defensible list for the Old Testament Scriptures.²⁵ Jerome, for example, specifically used this 22-book canon to distinguish the divinely inspired books from other writings known as the Apocrypha, which he didn’t believe held the same level of authority for establishing doctrine.²⁵ This wasn’t just some scholarly exercise; it was a vital pastoral need to make sure believers were grounded in a defined and trustworthy set of Scriptures, rather than an “innumerable multitude of books” that might cause confusion.³² God wants clarity for His people!
- Affirming Completeness and Divine Origin: By linking the number of Old Testament books to the sacred Hebrew alphabet—the very language of God’s initial covenant revelation to Israel—the Fathers suggested that this collection of Scriptures was complete and divinely ordered. Jerome’s phrase, “the alphabet of the doctrine of God” 25, captures this idea so beautifully. It implied that just as an alphabet provides all the necessary letters for language, these 22 books provided the complete foundational revelation from God in the Old Covenant. This gave a solid and trustworthy basis for Christian teaching and for understanding God’s unfolding plan of salvation. He’s always had a plan!
So, the emphasis on the 22-book Old Testament canon was a strategic theological and even an apologetic move – a way to defend the faith. It served to establish continuity with God’s revelation to Israel, provide a clear boundary for authoritative Old Testament Scriptures against a backdrop of many diverse texts, and affirm the completeness and divine ordering of this foundational part of our Christian Bible.
C. Distinguishing Symbolic Interpretation from Gnostic Mysticism
It’s so important to understand how these early Church Fathers approached the interpretation of numbers in Scripture. They generally used numbers symbolically, as tools to point to deeper theological truths, to show how God’s plan all fits together, or to highlight connections within the Bible story. They did not believe that numbers themselves held magical powers, were divine beings, or contained hidden mystical secrets in the way that some other philosophical systems or Gnostic groups of their time did.² That’s a big difference!
One source clearly explains this distinction: “The difference between the Church Fathers and the Gnostics is that for the Church Fathers the use of numbers has a symbolic value, while for the Gnostics it has a mystical value, holding a metaphysical value in itself”.² So, when the Church Fathers talked about the number 22 in relation to the Old Testament canon, their interest was mainly in its connection to the completeness of God’s Word and its divinely ordered structure, which served as a foundation for Christian faith and teaching. They weren’t getting into some kind of mysterious or superstitious number game. Their goal was theological clarity and the spiritual encouragement of believers, always making sure that such interpretations lined up with the “rule of faith”—the core apostolic teachings of Christianity. They were all about pointing people to Jesus!
D. Specific Commentaries (e.g., Augustine on Psalm 22)
When these wise Church Fathers wrote commentaries on specific Bible chapters that happened to be numbered 22, like the powerful Psalm 22, their main focus was almost always on the theological message and the spiritual meaning of the text itself. They didn’t typically get into elaborate symbolic interpretations of the number 22 within the context of that particular chapter.
A perfect example is Augustine’s detailed teaching on Psalm 22. In his commentary, Augustine interprets this psalm as the very voice of the crucified Christ, powerfully and meticulously showing how it prophetically detailed Jesus’ suffering, His words from the cross, and His ultimate triumph.²² Augustine’s entire focus is Christ-centered, drawing out the psalm’s fulfillment in Jesus. He doesn’t, in this context, discuss any special numerological meaning of the number “22” itself as influencing the psalm’s content.
Similarly, Jerome’s Letter 22, while a historically major document in early Christian writings, is a detailed pastoral letter offering guidance on living a life of Christian virginity and devotion.³⁶ The number 22 is simply its numerical designation within the collection of Jerome’s letters and doesn’t have any symbolic influence on the letter’s content or themes. The Fathers’ primary way of engaging with numbers was symbolic and often Christ-centered, aimed at encouraging believers and clarifying the core beliefs of the faith, rather than getting into obscure speculations. Their use of “22” for the Old Testament canon underscored the Old Testament as a complete and divinely prepared foundation for understanding Christ, to whom all Scriptures ultimately testify. It all points back to Jesus!
The study of a biblical number like 22 should ultimately lead us as believers not just to a collection of interesting facts or symbolic connections to a greater awe and worship of God Himself. The themes of “revelation light” 6 and “completion” that are so strongly associated with the number 22 find their most perfect and ultimate expression in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the eternal Word of God made flesh (John 1:1, 14), the true Light of the World (John 8:12) 1, and the One who will bring all of God’s magnificent plans to their perfect and glorious completion (Revelation 21:6, 22:13). All of Scripture, with all its intricate details and powerful symbols, ultimately points to Him. It’s all about Jesus! And He has a wonderful plan for your life. Believe it, declare it, and walk in His victory today!
