The number 16
Love, loving-kindness
Sixteen is associated with love. The description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 contains sixteen characteristics. It is 4x4, emphasizing earthly completeness squared.
In Hebrew and Greek
Hebrew
Shisha asar (שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר) - sixteen
Greek
Dekahexi (δεκαέξ) - sixteen
First occurrence
These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.
The pattern in Scripture
- 16 characteristics of love (1 Cor 13:4-8)
- 16 judges in Israel
- Jehoash reigned 16 years in Jerusalem
Key verses
These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, e...
And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one ...
And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two...
These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixtee...
And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the Lord’s tribute was thirty and two persons.
16:16 verses
And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an ...
And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Isr...
And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, t...
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall...