Introduction
Fourteen = Spirit x Difference.
Fourteen is a multiple of seven and two and so its meaning is something to do with both numbers. Seven is spiritual perfection and two is division or difference. Thus fourteen could be spiritual difference, or spiritual contrast. Such an example of spiritual contrast can be seen in the first occurrence of fourteen in the Bible.
Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
Genesis 31:41
Here Jacob has served for seven years for Laban's daughter Rachael, but Laban tricked him and gave him Leah instead. So Jacob served another seven years before he was able to marry Rachael. Thus we he served fourteen years for his two wives, but it is composed of two sevens of years. Another example would be the second verse in the Bible, which contains fourteen Hebrew words.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:2
In the Hebrew we have: xwr`w ~wht ynp-l[ $vx`w whb`w wht htyh #ra`h`w ~ym`h ynp-l[ tpxrm ~yhla
Note that words joined by hyphens, in the Hebrew are still regarded as separate words, they are only joined together for the purposes of pronunciation. These 14 words contain 52 letters. 52 = 4 x 13 and so is thus a multiple of both the earth and rebellion. This verse speaks of the earth was (came to be) without form (lying waste) and void (empty) and in darkness. But as verse two of the Bible is marked by fourteen words we see the link between the meaning of the number 14 and the two sevens it is composed of. It was the Spirit of God that moved in verse two, remembering that 7 is the number of spiritual perfection.
Fourteen = Spirit x Incarnation.
However two is also the number of incarnation. The threefold Godhead consists of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The second of these was God made flesh, god incarnate as Jesus Christ. Two is sometimes representative of this. For example the genealogy of Jesus Christ as given in Matthew 1:1-17 is divided into groups of fourteen generations. Thus we see this number fourteen representing 'perfect spirit incarnate' associated with Jesus' incarnation (His birth).
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Matthew 1:17
Numeric patterns of 14 can also be seen in passages relating to Jesus. Luke 2:8-20 gives the account of the shepherds and the angel who told them of the savior and then suddenly in verse 13 there is a multitude of the heavenly host and they sing in verse 14.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14
The angels depart in verse 15. Thus the song of the angels of praise and tanks to God, for sending His son, is contained in verse 14, the number of the spirit incarnate.
Also in Ephesians, a letter to a mostly Gentile church, which discusses the nature of the adoption, the redeeming power of Jesus blood.
For he [Jesus] is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Ephesians 2:14
It is again verse 14 that speaks of Jesus, and it mentions that He is the one who made possible for us to have a living relationship with the living God.
In the introduction to the letter of Colossians Paul mentions their good reputation for love and faith. In chapter 1 verses 9-11 he prays for further spiritual blessings for them. Verses 12-13 is giving thanks to the Father for his grace, starting in verse 14 we have seven verses about the work of Jesus in saving us through His own sacrifice.
...12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Colossians 1:12-21
So that again we see that the work of Jesus, the reason He had to come as flesh and blood, it marked with this number fourteen.
Promises made flesh
In Genesis 46 where those who went down to Egypt are listed, the sons and grandsons born to Jacob through Rachael are fourteen.
19The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife; Joseph, and Benjamin. 20And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. 21And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard. 22These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.
Genesis 46:19-22
These, along with the rest who went down to Egypt, are the beginnings of the 'sand of the sea' multitudes that Abraham was promised for his descendants. These children are the result of Gods promise come to life or made flesh. With this thought in mind we see that the number fourteen is perfect for representing this promise made real. If Jacob had got only what he had wanted, he would have had Rachael as his only wife (remembering that he had to work fourteen years for her) and his descendants would have been fourteen. But God conspired to bless him through Laban's deceit. So Jacob ended up with Leah, Zilpah, Rachael and Bilhah and 70 descendants (5 x 14 = grace x 14) who went down to Egypt with him.
The Psalms
There are 14 Psalms of, or about David that were written on historic occasions. The headings of these psalms as given in the King James version are:
Psalm |
Heading |
Total |
3 |
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. |
3 |
7 |
Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. |
10 |
18 |
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, |
28 |
30 |
A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. |
58 |
34 |
A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. |
92 |
51 |
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. |
143 |
52 |
To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. |
195 |
54 |
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? |
249 |
56 |
To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. |
305 |
57 |
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. |
362 |
59 |
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. |
421 |
60 |
To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. |
481 |
63 |
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. |
544 |
142 |
Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. |
686 |
The sum of these psalms is 686 which is 7 x 7 x 7 x 2 or 14 x 72 or 14 x 49.
The aleh tol-doth
As has been mentioned elsewhere this Hebrew phrase occurs in the bible 14 times. But there is more to it than that. The phrase is spelt in several different ways. Exactly seven times, it has the numeric value of 882 = 7 x 9 x 14. The final time it is used (actually the Greek equivalent phrase in the New Testament) it has a numeric value of 1582 = 113 x 14. The final time it is used it is used of Jesus. Thus in exactly eight uses its numeric value is a multiple of 14. The total numeric value for all times it is used is 13328 = 68 x 14 x 14.
In the Old Testament the word aleh is spelt in two different ways. The word tol'doth is spelt in four different ways. Thus the number of possible ways the phrase aleh tol'doth could be spelt is (2 x 4) eight. However only seven of these possibilities is actually used. The final time the phrase is used (the only time in the New Testament) it has 14 letters.
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