What Does the Number 15 Mean in the Bible

Last updated on February 8th, 2022 at 06:23 pm

Number 15 symbolizes rest, and new direction, as it comes after 14. The 15^th days of the first and seventh months were connected with the Feast of Unleavened bread and with the Feast of Tabernacles, which are the days to have rest. On Nisan 15 God told Abraham in one vision that his people will become slaves in Egypt, however, they will eventually be released. Lots of years after this vision, a day after Passover (the 14th day of the first month), the people of Israel were free and honoured this day. The bloodshed on Passover had released Christians from their sins, it is a day to honour and rest.

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The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 15

The number 15 in the Bible pictures rest, which comes after deliverance, represented by fourteen. The 15th day of the first Hebrew month (Nisan) is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a day of rest for the children of Israel (and for Christians). The 15th day of the 7th Hebrew month begins the Feast of Tabernacles, also a day of rest.

God told Abraham in a vision, just as the sun was setting to begin Nisan 15 on the Hebrew calendar, that his descendants would end up as slaves in a foreign country (Egypt). They would, however, eventually be set free (Genesis 15:12 – 16).

Many years later in Egypt, God miraculously delivered Israel’s firstborn from the death angel just as Passover began after sunset (Nisan 14). Then, 24 hours later (just as the sun was setting to begin Nisan 15), the children of Israel began to leave Egypt (Exodus 12:40 – 41). This night is referred to as the ‘night to be much observed’ (Exodus 12:40 – 42, Deuteronomy 16:1). God’s prophecy of freedom, given to Abraham on Nisan 15, was fulfilled years later on the exact same day.

After dying on the cross, Jesus’ body is placed in a Garden Tomb as the sun was setting to begin Nisan 15 in 30 A.D. (Matthew 27:57 – 61, Luke 23:50 – 55, John 19:38 – 42).

Appearances of the number fifteen

King Hezekiah, who was sick and dying, prayed that God would remember his works and how he served him with his whole heart. God heard his prayer and told the king, through the prophet Isaiah, that he would be healed and granted an additional number of years of life (15 – see 2Kings 20:1 – 6).

The name Pharaoh gave Joseph was Zaphnathpaaneah, a fifteen-letter name.

The book of 1Peter contains material from fifteen Old Testament books.

Two of the top ten most frequently mentioned women in the word of God, Abigail and Miriam, are mentioned 15 times.

The longest words in the KJV Scriptures that are not names number fifteen letters in length. They include words such as administrations (1Corinthians 12:5), bloodguiltiness (Psalm 51:14), fellow prisoners (Romans 16:7), notwithstanding (Exodus 16:20), righteousnesses (Isaiah 64:6), stumblingblocks (Jeremiah 6:21) and unrighteousness (Leviticus 19:15).

It was in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar that John the Baptist’s ministry began (Luke 3:1 – 3).

15 Promises

There are at least fifteen promises to Christians listed in the book of Matthew.

1. The Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3)
2. We will be filled with righteousness (5:6)
3. We shall see God (5:8)
4. We will be called the children of God (5:9)
5. Our names confessed before God the Father (10:32)
6. We will be given rest (11:29)
7. God will consider us part of his family (12:50)
8. We shall become fully converted (18:3)
9. We shall be great in God’s Kingdom (18:4)
10. We will be able to receive Christ (18:5)
11. Our requests made with others will be granted (18:19)
12. Christ will be with us (18:20)
13. We will be saved (24:13)
14. We serve Jesus by serving others (25:40)
15. Jesus will always be with us (28:19)

Additional info on the Biblical Meaning of Number 15

For Christians, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15) pictures rest from their sins, having had them removed by Christ’s shed blood on Passover. The 15th day of the 7th month begins the Feast of Tabernacles. For the children of Israel, it pictured rest from the long harvest season. They were to dwell in booths in remembrance of their trek in the wilderness.

Prophetically, the 15th day of the 7th month pictures the coming Millennium when the world will have rest from sin because of the binding of Satan on the Day of Atonement. Under Christ’s reign, salvation will then be offered to all the world, becoming the great spiritual harvest of God for 1,000 years.

1) The waters prevailed 15 cubits above all the mountains of the earth. (Gen 7:20)

2) The waters prevailed over the earth 150 days. For the ark to later come to rest on the mountains of Ararat, the waters had to recede 15 cubits in 150 days, 1 cubit every 10 days. (Gen 7:24)

3) The hangings for the gate of the court in the tabernacle were 15 cubits on both sides. (Exo 27:14-15)

4) The feast of unleavened bread begins on the 15th day of the first month. (Lev 23:6)

5) Israel left Rameses on the 15th day of the first month. (Num 33:3)

6) God added 15 years to the life of Hezekiah. (II Kings 20:6)

7) Esther and Mordecai established the feasts of Purim on the 14th & 15th day of Adar. (Esther 9:18)

8) Luke 3:1 begins the story of John the baptist by stating that he began his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar.

9) Bethany was 15 stadia from Jerusalem. (John 11:18)

10) After sounding 15 fathoms, the sailors on Paul’s ship started praying for day light. (Acts 27:28)

11) Paul stayed 15 days with Peter. (Gal 1:18)

So what is the Spiritual meaning of the number FIFTEEN as it occurs and is used in Scripture? And what are the rules used in determining numeric symbolisms?