– Among the Semites, the number 7 indicated perfection, completeness:
Gen 29:18 : Jacob, who loved Rachel, said to Laban: “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your youngest daughter”.
Gen 41:27 : The seven skinny and ugly cows that came out next are also seven years.
Leviticus 26:18 : If you still do not listen to me, I will punish you sevenfold for your sins.
Jos 6,4 : Seven priests, sounding seven trumpets, will go before the ark.
Ps 118 :164 : Seven times a day I proclaim your praises because of the righteousness of your judgments.
– Same thing in NT:
Mt 18:21 : Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?
Mt 22:25 : Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died.
Lk 17 :4 : If he sins against you seven times a day and comes to look for you seven times a day.
Luke 20:29 : Now there were seven brothers, the first of whom took a wife, but died childless.
Acts 6:3: Brethren, choose from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.
Revelation 1 :4: John to the seven churches in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come.
– The use of the number 8 indicated even greater perfection:
Num 29:29 : On the sixth day you shall offer eight young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish.
1Ch 24,4 : They were distributed as follows: […] the sons of Ithamar, eight heads of families.
Eccl 11 :2 : Make your wealth seven or even eight parts, because you do not know what calamity will befall the earth.
Ez 40,34.41 : There were, on both sides, palm trees on its pillars, and a stairway with eight steps.
Mic 5 :4 : When the Assyrian invades our land […] we will resist him with seven shepherds and eight princes of the people.
Mt 5,1-12 : Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the mountain. He sat down and his disciples approached him . (8 Beatitudes)
1Pt 3:20 : When God waited patiently, […] few people, that is, only eight, were saved through water.
