Meaning of Numbers: The Number 32
The English phrases "thirty and two" and "two and thirty," used for the number 32, are recorded 15 times in 14 King James Bible verses.
The number 32 in the Bible derives part of its meaning from its link to Jesse, King David's father. Jesse is the thirty-second patriarch in Jesus' physical lineage (Matthew 1:5 - 6) through both his stepfather Joseph and his mother Mary.
Reu, who lived 239 years, had his first son Serug at the age of 32 (Genesis 11:20 - 21).
The book of Revelation contains material from 32 out of 39 Old Testament books, the most of any New Testament writing! It also houses more references to its individual verses, 278, than any other first century book.
King Jehoram of Judah began his reign over the people at the age of 32 (2Kings 8:16 - 17, 2Chronicles 21:5). He ruled for only eight years and died in 841 B.C.
Appearances of Number Thirty-Two
The Hebrew word shiloh, Strong's Concordance #H7887, is recorded 32 times in 30 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of 1Samuel (10) then Joshua (8) followed by both Judges and Jeremiah (5 each). The word, which means "place of rest," is untranslated in the King James as the name "Shiloh."
Shiloh's importance as the focal point of Israel's worship of God ran from the time the Israelites entered the Promised Land to the ministry of Samuel the prophet. It is the place where Joshua cast lots, in 1398 B.C., to divide the remaining territory in the Promised Land among the children of Israel (Joshua 18:1 - 19:48). It is also where the Ark of the Covenant was located from the time the lots were cast until 1085 B.C., a period of 313 years.
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them (Joshua 18:1, KJV).
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies (1Samuel 4:3, KJV).
Part of the spoils of Moses and the Israelites defeating the Midianites were 32,000 (32 x 1,000) virgins (Num. 31:35). Part of the tribute paid to the Lord, out of all the spoils, was thirty-two people (verse 40).
Syrian King Benhadad, along with the military might of 32 kings, besieged the Kingdom of Israel's capital in Samaria (1Kings 20:1). His plans were to level the city and take all its booty for himself. The Lord however, through a prophet, informed Israel's King Ahab that he would protect his people (verses 13 - 14).
God would accomplish the task of saving Ahab and the Israelites through 232 young princes from among the people (1Kings 20:13 - 15). Benhadad and the thirty-two kings with him, when they had gotten drunk in the middle of the day, were attacked. The princes, and the army that followed them, defeated the enemy with Ahab completing the slaughter (verses 16 to 21).
Number 32 and the Messiah
As mentioned above, Jesse is the 32nd patriarch in Jesus' physical lineage. Jesse produced a total of seven sons (including David, the youngest) and two daughters (1Samuel 17:12 - 13, 1Chronicles 2:13 - 16). His name is used in a prophecy predicting that the Messiah would come to ultimately rule over the whole earth.
And there shall come forth a shoot out from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord . . .
"And in that day there shall be the Root of Jesse standing as a banner for the people; to Him the nations shall seek; and His rest shall be glorious." (Isaiah 11:1 - 2, 10, HBFV).
Jesus, toward the end of his earthly ministry, asked the following question.
How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? . . . if David himself called Him Lord (in Psalm 110:1), how can He be his Son?" (Mark 12:35, 37, see also Matthew 22:41 - 45 and Luke 20:41 - 44).
Jesus' inquiry completely stumped the hard-hearted Jewish religious leaders. How could the Lord exist before David yet also be one of his descendants? How could the Messiah be both the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10) or the root of David and their offspring (Revelation 5:5, 22:16)?
The answer to Christ's riddle is both simple and profound! The prophetic use of number 32 reveals that He was God (the Lord David knew) who willingly decided to be born as a human through a human (Mary) who had a physical connection to King David.
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 32
The Biblical writings that use "thirty and two" and "two and thirty" for 32 the most are the book of Numbers (5 times) followed by 1Kings (3) and 2Chronicles (2).
The Greek word helios, Strong's Concordance #G2246, is found 32 times in 32 Greek New Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of Revelation (13 times) followed by Matthew (5) and then both Mark and Acts (4 times each). The word, which means "a ray," is translated as the word "sun" in the King James.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun (helios) be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken (Matthew 24:29, KJV).
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun (helios) shineth in his strength (Revelation 1:16, KJV).
There are 41 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 32 times.
32 is the product of 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 or 2 to the fifth power. The number is also equal to 1 + (2 x 2) + (3 x 3 x 3) or 1 + 4 + 27.
The English word "God" appears 32 times in Genesis 1 (verses 1 - 12, 14, 16 - 18, 20 - 22, 24 - 29, 31).
In the Old Testament, the Biblical chapters of Genesis 5, 10, 11, 32, Exodus 8, Numbers 18, Deuteronomy 11, 12, 2Samuel 2, 1Chronicles 23, 26, Nehemiah 3, Esther 9, Ecclesiastes 10, Isaiah 14, Jeremiah 29, 36, Ezekiel 18, 21, 32 and Joel 2 contain 32 verses in the King James Bible.
In the New Testament, the chapters Luke 15, Acts 26, Romans 1 and Ephesians 4 have 32 verses in the KJV.
In 32 A.D., a critical turning point was reached in the early New Testament church. It was a year where the first concerted efforts to eradicate Christianity's influence, through the persecution of average believers, took place. It was also a time when Jesus' command to spread the gospel far and wide (the great commission) was beginning to be fulfilled.
Stephen, only two years after Jesus' death, is stoned by an angry mob of Jews (Acts 6 to 7). A young Saul (who would become Paul) then initiates a campaign of terror by barging into homes and arresting any Jew who professes Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 8:3, Galatians 1:13 - 14). The scattering of Jerusalem Christians in 32 A.D. due to persecution, however, also allows the gospel is spread throughout Samaria and beyond.