Numbers have a deeper meaning in ancient Israelite culture than they do today. Although not every number has a deeper meaning in Scripture, frequently used numbers such as three, seven, twelve, and forty often have historical, philosophical, and prophetic underpinnings throughout Scripture. Often, we see the number seven in reference to holy works of God. God creates the earth in seven days (Genesis 1). He commands the Israelites to make the seventh day of the week, a holy day filled with no working activities (Exodus 20:8-11). Seven tends to represent something as being finished or complete. It also tends to represent divine perfection.
The symbolism associated with the number twelve is as diverse and multifaceted as it is with the number seven. From the twelve tribes of Israel to the twelve disciples of Jesus, the number twelve appears frequently in the Bible, representing completeness, authority, and divine order.