His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the spiritual meaning of the number 6, and how it symbolizes the completeness of human work in Scripture, as well as the fullness of time and human effort, distinguished from the divine perfection symbolized by the number 100.
1. Why number 6 symbolizes completion of work
God completed His creative work in six days; therefore six became a symbol of completed work.
Christ completed the work of redemption in the sixth hour of the sixth day, giving the number a salvific meaning as well.
2. Number 6 in work and servanthood
A servant worked six years and was set free in the seventh, after the completion of labor.
The land was cultivated six years and rested in the seventh; thus God blessed the produce of the sixth year to suffice for two years.
3. Human strength and the symbol of 60
Scripture mentions sixty mighty men around Solomon’s throne, showing the strength and completeness of human effort.
Six multiplied by ten (the commandments) becomes 60, symbolizing full human effort in obeying God’s law.
4. Number 6 in time
All human time is built on multiples of six:
Year = 12 months
Month = 30 days
Day = 24 hours
Hour = 60 minutes
Minute = 60 seconds This shows that work and time are linked to number six — the human system.
5. Fruits of human work and divine work
Good seed produces 30 and 60, both multiples of six — the fruit of human effort with God’s grace.
But 100 is the fruit of divine work alone, for true perfection belongs only to God.
🔑 The spiritual message
A person may complete and perfect their work, yet human perfection is limited to the number 6, while absolute perfection belongs to God alone. By grace, the human being rises from “completion of work” to “completion of life in God.”
For better translation support, please contact the center.
Number Six in the Bible
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the spiritual meaning of the number 6, and how it symbolizes the completeness of human work in Scripture, as well as the fullness of time and human effort, distinguished from the divine perfection symbolized by the number 100.
1. Why number 6 symbolizes completion of work
God completed His creative work in six days; therefore six became a symbol of completed work.
Christ completed the work of redemption in the sixth hour of the sixth day, giving the number a salvific meaning as well.
2. Number 6 in work and servanthood
A servant worked six years and was set free in the seventh, after the completion of labor.
The land was cultivated six years and rested in the seventh; thus God blessed the produce of the sixth year to suffice for two years.
3. Human strength and the symbol of 60
Scripture mentions sixty mighty men around Solomon’s throne, showing the strength and completeness of human effort.
Six multiplied by ten (the commandments) becomes 60, symbolizing full human effort in obeying God’s law.
4. Number 6 in time
All human time is built on multiples of six:
Year = 12 months
Month = 30 days
Day = 24 hours
Hour = 60 minutes
Minute = 60 seconds
This shows that work and time are linked to number six — the human system.
5. Fruits of human work and divine work
Good seed produces 30 and 60, both multiples of six — the fruit of human effort with God’s grace.
But 100 is the fruit of divine work alone, for true perfection belongs only to God.
🔑 The spiritual message
A person may complete and perfect their work, yet human perfection is limited to the number 6, while absolute perfection belongs to God alone. By grace, the human being rises from “completion of work” to “completion of life in God.”
For better translation support, please contact the center.