Bible Numbers 2.0

Our Response To God

Joshua 24:24 約書亞

Israel's response to God after the conquest of Canaan was documented in Joshua 24:24. God had proven Himself again and again to ancient Israel and the tribes were extremely grateful. Thus the national response they gave is very unique. The original Hebrew text had numeric features patterned after Revelation 1:8. This should be the proper response to anyone who accepts God.

Since The Proclamation, Revelation 1:8, and Matthew 22:37 (in Chinese) all had numeric features, this leads to a study of Joshua 24:24 in Chinese. Does the response translated to Chinese still have features?

The original Hebrew and English translation are reviewed first. Hover your mouse over each Hebrew word for their individual meanings.1

And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. (Joshua 24:24)³

Four Chinese translations are given below. Though they are basically the same, there are some differences.

The differences in each version are tabulated below.

Only two versions have numeric features as they stand. The Catholic version is divisible by 13, and the CUV is divisible by 49 (7 x 7). The other two translations have no numeric feature. That half of them do have a numeric total divisible by 7 or 13 links them to the original Hebrew.

All four versions have some drawbacks. More importantly, none of the versions use 上帝 to refer to God directly. The Kuoyu Bible turns 上帝 into a class to apply to 耶和華.

How do we decide which version is better? Or can parts of what has been translated be used to produce a better translation?

A computer can be programmed to run through all the possibilities and select those which yield the highest number of features. Nine columns have alternate words that can be tried. The first column has 2 possible variations. The second column has 3 alternatives. This information is summarized below.

Column       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Alternatives 2 3 2 1 2 1 3 1 3 2  1  2  1  2

From this information the computer generates 1728 combinations. With only 1728 possibilities, it is unlikely any one combination will have more than 5 features of 7. (7⁵ = 16807) The odds are roughly a one in ten chance of one success.

The curious part of this exercise is that there were two results with five features of 7. Both used the term 上帝. And both used the term 眾民 (gathering of people) rather than 百姓 (The Hundred Surnames) to refer to the people of Israel.

This is what the computer came up with:

眾民對約書亞說我們必事奉上帝我們的天主必聽從他的聲音

眾民答覆若蘇厄說我們必事奉上帝我們的天主聽從他的聲音

The phrase highlighted in green actually has nine features divisible by 7! This is a one in 23352 chance.

The weirdest part is that by selecting the permutation with the most numeric features, the changes actually made the most sense. There are good reasons to make these changes. The explanation for each column is given below.

Column 1

百姓 These two words are literally, The One Hundred Surnames and refers too much to Chinese culture, language and people. It is inappropriate since the verse is about Israel. The CNV choice is better with 眾民 (assembly/gathering of people).

Column 2

答覆 (literally: reply respond) and 回答 (literally: return reply) could be simplified by using a single word. The Hebrew text just says the people of Israel are speaking. They speak to Joshua, thus the Chinese translation could be 對 (to/toward). It could be interpreted that Israel is answering Joshua and that this is their reply and thus 答覆 and 回答 are not incorrect, but 對 is more direct.

Column 3

The Catholic transliteration of Joshua (Hebrew: יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ) comes out as: 若蘇厄 (Mandarin: ku3/ruo3 su1 e4; Cantonese: yeuhk1 sou4 ngak1). They miss the y or j sound, the sh and the a at the end. The Hebrew letter שֻׁ֑ is clearly sh. The Protestants appear to have a better transliteration (in Mandarin and Cantonese): 約書亞 (Mandarin: yue1 shu1 e4; Cantonese: yeuk1 syu4 a1).

Column 5

The Catholic version uses the term 定 to fix and emphasize 必 (must/necessary) in the previous column. In answer to Joshua, the Hebrew of Israel's statement that they will serve God does not seem to have this extra emphasis. 定 can be dropped (as seen in the Protestant translations).

Column 7

As usual, 上主 or 耶和華 should be replaced by 上帝, which is the proper title for the supreme God in Chinese.

Chinese people unfamiliar with the Bible or Christianity will take the phrase 耶和華我們的神 (Yhwh our God) to actually mean Yhwh our god (as in small letter g). And there is also the danger many will take the phrase 耶和華我們的上帝 the wrong way. For the Chinese, the supreme God, 上帝, has no name, and to say the name is 耶和華 (Yehehua) would seem a contradiction right from the first. A name like 耶和華 is clearly foreign, and to say 耶和華 is supreme might make them think foreigners are imposing a different god on them and claiming this being is equal to 上帝. They will be certain of this when missionaries mention the Trinity.

Column 9

The Catholic choice of 天主 heavenly lord/master rather than 神 (god/s) is to be noted, because they understood that the Chinese concept of 神 did not fit the idea of a supreme god. To say the supreme God is a 神 would be like saying a lion is a cat (elevating the smaller creature to a classification and stuffing lion into it). At it's worse, this is similar to saying God is just an angel. At best, it would be saying God is just another god.

But 天主 as a replacement for 神 isn't much better. 主 means master, leader, chief, host(ess), and lord, but this does not necessarily include the idea of being supreme. 帝 is the word for supreme: emperor, supreme ruler, a god, a deified being, heaven, and imperial.

Earlier in column 7, they had already coined the term 上主 (high/est lord/master) to stand in for the Hebrew name for God (יְהוָ֤ה Yhwh). They avoided using 上帝 (high/est sovereign) simply because its singular concept conflicted with the Trinity. Thus the Catholic version ended up with 上主我們的天主 (We must serve the high/est lord our heavenly lord). It is almost a circular statement. This loses the sense of the original Hebrew: יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ (We must serve Yhwh our Elohim).

However, if column 7 was changed to 上帝 (instead of 上主 or 耶和華), 天主 would fit a lot better. 上帝 provides the missing elements of sovereignty, supremacy and deity. The phrase becomes 上帝我們的天主 (We must serve Shangti [the highest sovereign/deity] our heavenly lord). Any Chinese would understand it as recognizing and accepting 上帝 (divine and the highest sovereign in existence) as master of all heaven and thereby supreme over all other deities. This is no longer a circular statement and more similar to the Hebrew.

Column 10

Two versions do not have 必 (must/necessary). The Catholic's use of the word must/necessary gives the sense of the Hebrew text where Israel insisted against Joshua's advice that they would serve God (Joshua 24:19), and this is also applied to heeding God’s voice. This is also seen in the more modern CNV.

Column 12

The Catholics also use the rarer form of the third person singular he 衪 that is associated with divine beings in the phrase 衪的聲音 (his sound/pitch or his voice). The Protestants used the more regular 他 associated with people. While 衪 is more appropriate for God, 他 would be more familiar to everyday Chinese readers. In the interests of simplicity, we will settle for 他. (N.B. I can't find 衪 in two of my Chinese dictionaries. It's number in Big5 is 11374, which indicates its near the end of the character set with all the rare and lesser used characters.)

Column 14

The Protestant use of the word 話 gives the sense of actual speech and words, while the Hebrew word וּבְקוֹל֖וֹ conveys voice and sound but not necessarily only words and speech. The Catholic use of 聲音 (sound) has wider application. This also fits Isaiah 30:21 where Israel will hear a word (Hebrew: דָבָ֔ר) or something from God telling them what to do. This Hebrew word דָבָ֔ר in Isaiah has very wide meaning.

H1697 daw-bawr' From H1696; a word; by implication a matter (as spoken of) of thing; adverbially a cause: - act, advice, affair, answer, X any such (thing), + because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X commune (-ication), + concern [-ing], + confer, counsel, + dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, + eloquent, errand, [evil favoured-] ness, + glory, + harm, hurt, + iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter, message, [no] thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, + please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some [uncleanness], somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that, X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings, what [-soever], + wherewith, which, word, work.⁸

While a better Chinese translation of the Hebrew דָבָ֔ר is possible, I don't think it will be as compact as 聲音.

The New Phrase

眾民對約書亞說, 我們必事奉上帝我們的天主, 必聽從他的聲音

 眾   民    對    約   書   亞    說    我   們   必    事    奉   上
3700 386  5552  2234 2706 1161  5986  923 2445 371  1159  1311  24

 帝   我    們    的   天   主    必    聽   從   他    的    聲   音
1939 923  2445  1659 146  261   371  8550 3378 269  1659  7471 2422

1.This translation has 26 words (2 x 13), appropriately pointing to the sum of God’s name in Hebrew.

2.The total of the phrase: 59451 = 3 x 7 x 19 x 149.

2.1.1Odd positioned characters:

1    3    5    7    9    11   13 15  17   19  21   23  25
3700 5552 2706 5986 2445 1159 24 923 1659 261 8550 269 7471

Total: 40705 = 5 x 7 x 1163. (The sum of the positions: 169 = 13 x 13. We will see this again in feature 7.)

2.1.2Even positioned characters:

2   4    6    8   10  12   14   16   18  20  22   24   26
386 2234 1161 923 371 1311 1939 2445 146 371 3378 1659 2422

Total: 18746 = 2 x 7 x 13 x 103. (The sum of the positions: 182 = 2 x 7 x 13.)

2.2.1Odd valued characters::

1161 923 2445 371 1159 1311 1939 923 2445 1659 261 371 269 1659 7471

Total: 24367 = 7 x 59 x 59.

2.2.2Even valued characters:

3700 386 5552 2234 2706 5986 24 146 8550 3378 2422

Total: 35084 = 2 x 2 x 7 x 7 x 179.

This was as far as the computer was programmed to go in search for numeric features. All the features up above (except for the number of characters in the phrase) can be considered by skeptics to be manufactured. All I can say is that everything appears to coincide very well with the reasons listed above. The features below are extra and could not have been foreseen.

3.With 26 characters, everything can be split into two groups of 13 or thirteen groups of two.

3.1With two groups of 13 there is a first half and a last half.

3.1.1First half:

3700 386 5552 2234 2706 1161 5986 923 2445 371 1159 1311 24

Total: 27958 = 2 x 7 x 1997.

3.1.2Last half:

1939 923 2445 1659 146 261 371 8550 3378 269 1659 7471 2422

Total: 31493 = 7 x 11 x 409 . SF: 427 = 7 x 61.

3.2Thirteen groups of two can be further separated into every other group.

3.2.1Odd positioned groups of two:

3700 386  2706 1161  2445 371  24 1939  1659 146  8550 3378  7471 2422

Total: 36358 = 2 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 53.

3.2.2Even positioned groups of two:

5552 2234  5986 923  1159 1311  923 2445  261 371  269 1659

Total: 23093 = 7 x 3299. This is a perfect mirror of features 2.1.1 and 2.1.2.

3.2.3Since the two groups of thirteen characters each form a first and last, so too do the thirteen groups of two. The first and last groups of two: 13979 = 7 x 1997.

3.2.4The sixth, seventh, and thirteenth pairs to two are all divisible by 13. Naturally, 6 + 7 + 13 = 26 (2 x 13).

3.3Sort the words by their values from least to greatest.

24 146 261 269 371 371 386 923 923 1159 1161 1311 1659 1659 1939 2234 
2422 2445 2445 2706 3378 3700 5552 5986 7471 8550

3.3.1First and last pair of the ordered list:

24 146 7471 8550

Total: 16191 = 3 x 3 x 7 x 257.

3.3.2First and last four:

24 146 261 269 5552 5986 7471 8550

Total: 28259 = 7 x 11 x 367

3.3.3First and last eight:

24 146 261 269 371 371 386 923 2445 2706 3378 3700 5552 5986 7471 8550

Total: 42539 = 7 x 59 x 103. SF: 169 = 13 x 13. SF: 26 = 2 x 13.

3.3.4First and last twelve:

24 146 261 269 371 371 386 923 923 1159 1161 1311 1939 2234 2422 2445 
2445 2706 3378 3700 5552 5986 7471 8550

Total: 56133 = 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 7 x 11.

3.3.5Aside from being divisible by seven, there is another relationship between these groups: 2 + 4 + 8 + 12 = 26 (2 x 13).

3.3.6Pair up the 26 characters of the sorted list.

1) 24 146 = 170 = 2 x 5 x 17.
2) 261 269 = 530 = 2 x 5 x 53.
3) 371 371 = 742 = 2 x 7 x 53.
4) 386 923 = 1309 = 7 x 11 x 17.
5) 923 1159 = 2082 = 2 x 3 x 347.
6) 1161 1311 = 2472 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 103.
7) 1659 1659 = 3318 = 2 x 3 x 7 x 79.
8) 1939 2234 = 4173 = 3 x 13 x 107.
9) 2422 2445 = 4867 = 31 x 157.
10) 2445 2706 = 5151 = 3 x 17 x 101.
11) 3378 3700 = 7078 = 2 x 3539.
12) 5552 5986 = 11538 = 2 x 3 x 3 x 641.
13) 7471 8550 = 16021 = 37 x 433.

The following pairs are divisible by seven: 3, 4 and 7. And of course 3 + 4 + 7 = 14 (2 x 7).

3.3.6.1The even valued pairs:

170 530 742 2082 2472 3318 7078 11538

Total: 27930 = 2 x 3 x 5 x 7 x 7 x 19.

3.3.6.2The odd valued pairs:

1309 4173 4867 5151 16021

Total: 31521 = 3 x 7 x 19 x 79.

3.3.7The character 的 is in the middle of the sorted list as a pair: 1659 + 1659 = 3318 = 2 x 3 x 7 x 79. SF: 91 = 7 x 13.

3.3.8.1The divine name in Hebrew can run 7 times through the ordered list.

a) Letter from the Hebrew
b) Count
c) Adjusted count
d) Character found

a) 10   5    6    5    10   5    6    5    10   5    6    5    10
b) 10   15   21   26   36   15   21   26   36   15   21   26   36
c) 10   15   21   26   10   15   21   26   10   15   21   26   10
d) 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159

a) 5    6    5    10   5    6    5    10   5    6    5    10   5
b) 15   21   26   36   15   21   26   36   15   21   26   36   15
c) 15   21   26   10   15   21   26   10   15   21   26   10   15
d) 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939

a) 6    5
b) 21   26
c) 21   26
d) 3378 8550

Total: 105182 = 2 x 7 x 11 x 683.

3.3.8.2It can run 13 times through the ordered list.

a) Letter from the Hebrew
b) Count
c) Adjusted count
d) Character found

a) 10   5    6    5    10   5    6    5    10   5    6    5    10
b) 10   15   21   26   36   15   21   26   36   15   21   26   36
c) 10   15   21   26   10   15   21   26   10   15   21   26   10
d) 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159

a) 5    6    5    10   5    6    5    10   5    6    5    10   5
b) 15   21   26   36   15   21   26   36   15   21   26   36   15
c) 15   21   26   10   15   21   26   10   15   21   26   10   15
d) 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939

a) 6    5    10   5    6    5    10   5    6    5    10   5    6
b) 21   26   36   15   21   26   36   15   21   26   36   15   21
c) 21   26   10   15   21   26   10   15   21   26   10   15   21
d) 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378

a) 5    10   5    6    5    10   5    6    5    10   5    6    5
b) 26   36   15   21   26   36   15   21   26   36   15   21   26
c) 26   10   15   21   26   10   15   21   26   10   15   21   26
d) 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550 1159 1939 3378 8550

Total: 195338 = 2 x 11 x 13 x 683.

3.3.9Five sets of characters are divisible by 13 in the ordered list. Each set consists of two equal sized groups of characters positioned equidistant from the beginning and end.

a) From character:  1     5     6     6     7
b) To character:    3     10    11    12    9
c) Group total:     22438 21229 20553 23803 9828

The total of the beginning and end positions (a + b): 70 = 2 x 5 x 7. SF: 14 = 2 x 7.

3.3.10Two sequences can be found in the ordered list that are divisible by 13.

3.3.10.1Every third character:

3   6   9   12   15   18   21   24
261 371 923 1311 1939 2445 3378 5986

Total: 16614 = 2 x 3 x 3 x 13 x 71.

3.3.10.2Every fourth character:

4   8   12   16   20   24
269 923 1311 2234 2706 5986

Total: 13429 = 13 x 1033.

3.3.10.3Why every third and every fourth? Because 3 + 4 = 7.

3.3.11The list of characters with values divisible by 7 had no feature in the original list. They do in the ordered list.

5   6   13   14   15   17
371 371 1659 1659 1939 2422

Their positions in the ordered list: 70 = 2 x 5 x 7. SF: 14 = 2 x 7.

4.1.1From the original list four characters appear twice.

                              我 們  必 的
Position of first appearance: 8  9  10 17 
Position of last appearance:  15 16 20 24 

Total of the positions (first and last): 119 = 7 x 17. The four characters form the phrase We must! (emphatic), which is very appropriate for the entire verse.

4.1.2The middle 2 characters (13 and 14) 上帝 (God) are appropriately central to the meaning of what Israel is saying, and of course the total of these two characters (as seen before): 1963 = 13 x 151.

4.2There are 12 words before 上帝 (God) in the centre of the verse:

3700 386 5552 2234 2706 1161 5986 923 2445 371 1159 1311

The total is 27934 (2 x 13967) which bears no feature because the sentence up to this point is incomplete. The twelve characters up to this point (眾民對約書亞說, 我們必事奉) just state that Israel wants to serve, but the words don't say who or what Israel wants to serve. There is no fruit until 上帝 (God) is included: 27934 + 24 + 1939 = 29897 (7 x 4271).

4.3There are 12 words after 上帝 (God) and this forms a complete thought:

923 2445 1659 146 261 371 8550 3378 269 1659 7471 2422

The total is 29554 (2 x 7 x 2111) and this is divisible by seven. The numbers seem to be saying God must be included. (Everything before God does not work. Everything after God works automatically.)

The features above are astonishingly paired and balanced like the Chinese concept of Yin and Yang. Features 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 are interwoven with features 3.2.1 and 3.2.2 like cloth. Is this because a computer was first set to find features like those in The Proclamation (i.e. manufacturing them)? Is this coincidence? And how can it be explained that what the computer selected by numeric feature ended up with the best reasons for the change? Or is this some minor miracle? You be the judge.

5.1The values of the letters from the divine name in Hebrew point out four characters in the phrase.

10  5    6    5
371 2706 1161 2706

Total: 6944 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 7 x 31.

5.2These values can be run 7 times through phrase.

a) 10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5    10  5   6
b) 10  15  21   26   36  15  21   26   36  15  21   26   36  15  21
c) 10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26   10  15  21
d) 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550

a) 5    10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5
b) 26   36  15  21   26   36  15  21   26   36  15  21   26
c) 26   10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26
d) 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422

Total: 85862 = 2 x 7 x 6133.

5.3They can be run 13 times through the phrase.

a) 10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5    10  5   6
b) 10  15  21   26   36  15  21   26   36  15  21   26   36  15  21
c) 10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26   10  15  21
d) 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550

a) 5    10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5    10  5
b) 26   36  15  21   26   36  15  21   26   36  15  21   26   36  15
c) 26   10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26   10  15
d) 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923

a) 6    5    10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5
b) 21   26   36  15  21   26   36  15  21   26   36  15  21   26
c) 21   26   10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26
d) 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422

a) 10  5   6    5    10  5   6    5
b) 36  15  21   26   36  15  21   26
c) 10  15  21   26   10  15  21   26
d) 371 923 8550 2422 371 923 8550 2422

Total: 159458 = 2 x 13 x 6133.

6.1Six paired groups (from beginning and end) produce totals divisible by 13. The first and last three words, from the second to ninth words, from the third to the eleventh, from the fifth to the sixth, from the fifth to the seventh, and from the sixth to the seventh words.

a) From character:  1     2     3     5     5     6
b) To character:    3     9     11    6     7     7
Group totals:       21190 43498 41275 15795 22152 16068

Sum of the line positions (a + b): 65 = 5 x 13.

6.2This feature is similar to 6.1, but it is more strict. The groups are individually and together divisible by 7.

a) Group's start position.      b) Group's end position.
c) Total of both groups (beginning & end).

a) 1     2
b) 13    12
c) 59451 51366

Position total (a + b): 28 = 2 x 2 x 7.

7.In feature 2.1.1 every other character (odd positioned, or N=2) produced a sum divisible by seven. Two other similar sequences are possible, except that these sequences yield totals divisible by 13.

7.1Beginning with the first character, take every third after (N=3):

1    4    7    10  13 16   19  22   25
3700 2234 5986 371 24 2445 261 3378 7471

Total: 25870 = 2 x 5 x 13 x 199. (The sum of the positions: 117 = 3 x 3 x 13.)

7.2Beginning with the first character, take every eighth after (N=8):

1    9    17   25
3700 2445 1659 7471

Total: 15275 = 5 x 5 x 13 x 47. SF: 70 = 2 x 5 x 7. SF: 14 = 2 x 7. (Once again the sum of the positions is divisible by 13: 52 = 2 x 2 x 13).

Even though one sequence is divisible by 7 and the other two by 13, they are grouped together because all three sequences began with the first character, and their positions all come to thirteen. The sum of the N values (2 + 3 + 8) is (you guessed it) 13.

Four sequences can begin at the Nth character (N = 2, 6, 10, 11) and produce totals divisible by 7 and or 13. The first sequence was seen previously in feature 2.1.2 where N=2. Unfortunately, the other three sequences do not have the sum of their positions divisible by 13. Thus this does not mirror feature 7.

8.The sum total of the phrase is 59451. 59451 goes around the phrase 2286 times. On the incomplete 2287th time, it will land on the 15th character 我 (I, me) with a value of 923. This just shows the entire phrase is to be taken personally. The decision to serve God starts with each individual. Oddly enough, 923 = 13 x 71. SF: 84 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 7. SF: 14 = 2 x 7. The chain of factors goes through three levels.

8.1Just like the total of the entire phrase, 我's value of 923 can be used to count through the 26 characters again. The character it finds can be used to find another character, and that character to find another. The chain stops when it repeats.

Thus 923 counts through the 26 characters to land on the 13th word: 上 (value 24). Twenty-four takes us to the 24th character 的 (value 1659). 1659 takes us to 21st character 聽 (value 8550). 8550 brings us to the 22nd character 從 (value 3378). And 3378 takes us back to the 24th character 的 where the pattern begins to repeat.

The characters found 上的聽從 form a meaningless phrase, but their values together is something else: 13611 = 3 x 13 x 349. Strangely enough, if the starting word was included 我上的聽從, the phrase becomes even more strongly associated with the number 13: 14534 = 2 x 13 x 13 x 43. (Or is it a meaningless phrase: I arise [possessive] listen and submit? One could almost stretch the meaning: I rise to listen and submit.)

8.1.1When many individuals decide to serve God and get together, it becomes We (Chinese: 我們). 我們 has a value of 3368. This produces 帝我上的聽從 (also meaningless) and the sum of this phrase is 16473 (3 x 17 x 17 x 19). There appears to be nothing until the factors are added: 56 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 7. SF: 13.

8.1.2Since first person singular and plural had results, what about you second person singular 你? No results are found. But there are results with the second person plural 你們 since the phrase is about collective action. 你們 has a total of 3215. This produces a short chain of three characters: 的聽從 (13587 = 3 x 7 x 647).

8.1.3The same occurs with they 她們, third person plural (feminine). 她們's sum is 3005. The chain is 我上的聽從 (14534 = 2 x 13 x 13 x 43).

8.1.4And also with the masculine they 他們. 他們's numeric value is 2714. This produces the chain 必說亞的聽從 (21105 = 3 x 3 x 5 x 7 x 67).

8.1.5Notice how all the meaningless phrases from feature 8 to 8.1.4 all have the same three character ending 的聽從. The sum of these characters is 13587 = 3 x 7 x 647. These three characters have meaning on their own: listening and obeying. The numbers emphasize the proper goal of collective action.

8.2God's title in Chinese is 上帝 with a total of 1963.

8.2.1The first character in the title, 上, can be used to produce the following chain: 的聽從 (13587 = 3 x 7 x 647).

8.2.2The second character in the title 帝 produces this chain: 我上的聽從 (14534 = 2 x 13 x 13 x 43) which is exactly what was seen previously.

8.2.3The title total together: 上的聽從 (13611 = 3 x 13 x 349), is once again a repeat of what was seen with the character 我 (I, me).

Is it just coincidence that 上帝 (God) and various collective groupings of people keep yielding similar results? It would be coincidence except for the meaning the the phrase itself. The entire phrase is about Israel choosing to serve God and to heed His voice.

8.2.4天主 has a value of 407. This produces the result seen in feature 8.2.1, with the character 上: 的聽從 (13587 = 3 x 7 x 647). The number chain shows 天主 belongs to the supreme God 上帝.

Conclusion

By running 1728 combinations through a computer, it should not have been possible to construct a translation with so many numeric features. One explanation is that there are universal ideas behind the text linking it to a higher reality. When different languages express this meaning, they exhibit numeric features. If other verses in Chinese have numeric features (The Proclamation, Revelation 1:8 and the Greatest Commandment) mirroring the Hebrew, why not Joshua 24:24? These verses all naturally go together, just as the numbers show the same similarities.

Reminder: You can only obey God properly if you know what He wants. And you will only know what God wants by reading the Bible. You won't find it in the numbers.

Notes

1. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D, Riverside Book and bible House, Iowa Falls, Iowa
2. The NIV Interlinear Hebrew-English Old Testament, edited by John R. Kohlenberger III, Vol.2, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1980
3. The Holy Bible (KJV), The Gideons International, 146 Jarvis St, Toronto, ON., 1962
4. Catholic Bible Chinese Version, from The Word Project, accessed July 31, 2019.
5. The Chinese Union Version, from The Word Project, accessed July 31, 2019.
6. Kuoyu Bible Shangti Ed. 1033, China Bible House, Hong Kong, 1953.
7. Chinese New Version, eBible.org, accessed July 30, 2019.

Numeric Study Links

• Home
• Preface & Dedication
• Part 1: Introduction
• Part 2: God Describes Himself With Words & Numbers
  • The Hypothesis
  • Selecting The Verses
  • Formulating Rules
  • Applying The Rules To Exodus 34:6-7
    (The Proclamation)
  • The Proclamation's Complexity
  • Odd & Even
    (Complementary Opposites)
  • Combining Rules

  • The Structural Miracle I
    (Features from inside the verse.)
  • The Structural Miracle II
  • The Structural Miracle III
    (Features from the Bible outside the verse.)
  • The Structural Miracle IV
    (Features near the verse.)
  • The Proclamation & Revelation 1:8
  • The Divine Name & Signature
  • What It Means To Us
    (The first two commandments.)
• Part 3: A Bible Numbers Experiment
  (Eliminating randomness.)
• Part 4: Computer Searches
  • Short Computer Searches
    Quest For God’s Signature

    • Old Testament Verses
      • Exodus 17:16 War With Those Against God
      • Joshua 24:24 The Proper Response
      • 1 Kings 8:2-9 Solomon's Temple
      • 2 Kings 24:8 Kingship Rescinded
      • Psalm 89:8-12 Praising God
      • Isaiah 2:19-3:2 End Times
      
      
    • New Testament Verses (GNT)
      • Matthew 13:52-58
        Response (to teaching)
      • Philippians 2:14-15
        Advice For Service
      • Luke 1:31-36
        Divine Announcement Of Jesus' Birth
      • John 8:19-20
        Knowing God
      • Romans 2:13-16
        Doers Of The Law
      • Galatians 5:13-14
        The Second Great Commandment

      • 2 Timothy 2:22-3:2
        An Evil End Time Generation
      • Revelation 3:14-17
        The Church At The End Times
      • Revelation 4:8-10
        Heaven Praises God
      • Revelation 7:9-11
        The Great Multitude
      • Revelation 12:1-6
        The Woman And The Dragon
      • Revelation 19:12-14
        King Of Kings, Lord Of Lords
      
      
    • New Testament Verses (GNS)
      • Matthew 9:3-8
        The Son Of Man's Authority For Forgiving Sin.
      • Matthew 11:4-6
        Jesus' Ministry.
      • Matthew 18:21-22
        Forgive Your Brethren
      • Matthew 21:18-21
        Faith & Miracles
      • Mark 2:6-13
        Confirmation Of The Authority To Forgive (GNT)
      • Mark 2:8-10
        Authority To Forgive Sins. (See also the verse above.)
      • Mark 3:24-29
        Blaspheming The Holy Spirit (Unforgivable Sin).
      • Mark 13:8-11
        What To Say Before Persecutors.
      • Mark 14:48-49
        Man Made Religion Kills.
      • Mark 16:1-2
        The Women Visit Jesus' Tomb.
      • Mark 16:2-14
        The Resurrection Of Jesus.
      • Luke 7:46-50
        Why Jesus & God Forgive
      • Luke 9:38-43
        Perverse Generation.

      • Luke 9:43-46
        Man Made Religion Blinds.
      • Luke 10:16-19
        Jesus Gives Authority To His Disciples.
      • Luke 14:12-13
        Invite Those Who Can't Repay.
      • Luke 17:23-27
        The "Presence" Of The Son Of Man.
      • Luke 21:8-10
        Signs Of The End.
      • John 11:53-54
        Man Made Religion Seeks Death.
      • Acts 2:45-3:1
        Voluntary Sharing.
      • Acts 13:32-34
        Prophecy Fulfilled In The Gospel.
      • Romans 9:33-10:4
        Jesus The Stumbling Block For Israel.
      • 1John 1:7-9
        Jesus Is Faithful To Forgive
      • Hebrews 12:11-17
        The Closing Door.
      • Revelation 20:14-21:5
        New Heaven & Earth.
  • Long Computer Searches
    Widening The Search For God’s Signature

    Extended Old Testament Passages

    • The Story Of Abraham
    • The Story Of Jacob
    • The Exodus
    • The Journey From Darkness To Light
    • The Conquest Of Canaan
    • God, The Master Of Time

    Extended New Testament Passages (GNT)

    • John 1:1-37a
    • Matthew chapters 5:1 to 9:17b
    • Confirmation Of Jesus' Life, Teachings & Ministry
• Part 5: Taking It All Further
  • Moving Beyond The Bible
    (English in numbers.)
  • The Founding Of Modern Israel
  • We Hold These Truths...
    (A piece from the American Declaration Of Independence.)
  • Comparing Other Texts
• Part 6: Chinese Numbers
  • The Proclamation (Chinese)
    出 埃 及 34:6-7
  • Genesis 1:1
    創 世 記 1:1
  • John 1:1
    約 翰 福 音 1:1
  • Revelation 1:8
    啟 示 錄 1:8
  • Revelation 22:13 & 21:6
    啟 示 錄 22:13

  • The Vision In Revelation
    啟 示 錄 1:8-22:13
  • The Vision in 3D
    啟 示 錄 1:8-22:13 (三 維)
  • Chinese Character Number Convertor
    漢字編號轉換板
  • More...
    • Related Verses In Chinese
    • Jesus' Birth (Luke 1:31-36 路加福音)
    • Our Response (Joshua 24:24 約書亞記)
    • The Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:37 馬太福音)
    • Other Verses In Chinese
    • Prophecy Of China & America (Isaiah 18 以賽亞)
• Part 7: Closing Words On Bible Numbers
  (The grand picture.)
• Part 8: What This Means To The World
  • A Message For Skeptics, & Unbelievers
  • A Message For Christians
  • A Message For Muslims.
  • A Message For Jews.
• New Numeric Experiments
  • The Proclamation In English
  • The Proclamation In Greek
  • Prophecy Of China & America
    Isaiah 18 (English)
  • Numeric Experiments: Conclusion
  • Speculative Numeric Experiments

  Further Numeric Experiments

  • Numeric Experiments
  • Second Experiment: It's Not Easy
  • The Balfour Declaration In Chinese
  • The U.S. Recognition Of Israel In Chinese
  • A New Proclamation In Chinese
• Miscellaneous
  • The Future Of The Middle East.
  • The Prayer Of Moses.
  • The lord Is My Shepherd.
  • The Structure Of History.
  • The Donkey Speaks.
  • Be Holy For I Am Holy.

  • God’s Covenant.
  • The Tower Of Babel.
  • The First Marriage.
  • The Flood.
  • The Imperial Number.
• Appendix: Why 7 & 13?
• About This Site & Contact

May the Lord god rebuke any who seek to misuse what is presented on this site.

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