3827 — The Seven Times
By Editor
Kindly give an explanation of the third book of Moses, 26:27, 28. What is the meaning of the "seven times"? The expression "seven times" is mentioned several times in this chapter. It is sometimes said to refer to seven different years, and these years, of 360 days to the year, meaning 2,520 days or literal years; but that is not the thought of the expression at all. One reading the text will see that it is not that God is going to punish seven times and then seven times more and then seven times more. That is not the thought. The thought is, sevenfold, that is, to the very fulness. Seven is the number of completion. The term in the original simply indicates seven, or sevenfold. The Hebrew word is used in the sense of sevenfold. See Gen. 4:24 — Cain punished sevenfold. It is used in most cases simply as a number. Spurrell renders "sevenfold" each of the four times where the expression occurs in this chapter. The clear, evident meaning of the expression is that on account of their sins God would visit upon them full and complete punishment.