Seven signs and 7777 sheeps

A sure sign of control is the matching of words with numbers. Every opportunity to show structure in John's book (and the synoptics) has been shown in all these posts. Seven is a number that shines in this book as this initial demonstration shows.

The seventieth word begins verse seven, a demonstrative pronoun referring to the Rabbi's cousin, the Baptizer. John 1:7 is 14 words (7+7) and also contains "the Light | τοῦ φωτός," book word 77. One other verse that matches verse order with verse content is "the Glory | τὴν δόξαν," book word 177 in 1:14 (7+7). Impressive is the emphatic pronoun used by Nathaniel in 1:49 (7x7) which is book word 777 ("Rabbi, thou! to be the Son of the God | Ῥαββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ"). It is the seventh such pronoun and Nathaniel belongs to a group known as "the Figtree" (book word 770).

Sharing the limelight is John the Baptizer as "the Lantern," used only once as talk words 299 (444) and 166 (666) in 5:35. In this verse, the audience is told of "an hour in the Light of him | ὥραν ἐν τῷ φωτὶ αὐτοῦ." John's "Light" is book word 3444. The noun, used 23 times, is also book word 8366 (11:10), 9788 (12:36), 88 (1:8) and book word 1622 and talk word 177 (444) at 3:20.

Since the Baptizer was "the Lantern" and "the Light" of him is book word 3444, let us segue from chapter five to chapter ten with this thread of fours. Preaching to the Pharisees, the Rabbi explains the hierarchy by word and number. Anyone not entering through "the Door" (talk word 44 at 10:2) is not a Shepherd, but a Thief, a Robber (Bar-Abbas, book word 13644 at 18:40). Now to this Shepherd "the Doorkeeper" (book word 7540) opens "the Door" for "the Sheeps" (book word 7544 at 10:3).

It is at this point that the pair of columns of talk words (labelled 333 and 444) share double-fours and double-fives, shifting to double-sevens in a spiral with the same progression as book words.

By "this one! | τούτῳ" [Shepherd] (talk 50 [333]) do hear "the Sheeps | τὰ πρόβατα" (talk 55 [333]; book 7544), which are "the own | τὰ ἴδια" (talk 44 [444]; book 7550). He calls by "name" (book 7555) and out-leads "them" (talk 70 [333]). In 10:4, if all "the own" (talk 55 [444]) he may out-throw before "them" (talk 77 [333]), he "goes" (book 7566) and "the Sheeps" (talk 80 [333]) follow "him" (book 7570) because they know the voice of "him" (talk words 88 [333] and 70 [444]).

Shifting to a word meaning "stranger | ἀλλοτρίῳ" (book word 7577 in 10:5), it's this "strange" shepherd they shall flee (the verb is talk word 77 [444]), as the voice of him is not "known" (book word 7588). Both Luke and Matthew use this word in relation to the monetary customs of non-Jews. Knowing the wealth the hierarchy generated, the threat that Roman tribute posed, troubled the Jewish leadership.

An interlude of double-fours begins with the Rabbi's frequent use of the divine expression "I AM! the Door | ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ θύρα," through whom anyone must enter to be saved. The emphatic pronoun "me!" is book word 7644 (10:9). Talk word 44 (333) is "the Thief," who does not "come" (talk word 44 [444] in 10:10) except in order that he may, rather interestingly, thieve, sacrifice and destroy.

As a prelude to the quadruple-seven of 10:16, the next verse is a reduplication of noun and adjective: "I AM! the Shepherd the Good | ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς." Each noun/adjective straddles the pair of talk word columns (333/444). The first is 66/66 and the other 70/70. Of course, "sheeps" is 77 (444), but the soul of this shepherd is book word 7688 ("him"). The wage-earner (talk word 80 [333]), not being a shepherd, he leaves "the Sheeps" (talk word 88 [444]) so "the Wolf" snatches and scatters them. Jaded readers may not be so surprised that this noun is used twice in this book, both in 10:12 as book words 7707 and 7717.

Then the author repeats "I AM! the Shepherd the Good" so that the pronoun "me" will be book word 7744 at 10:14 and his "soul" will be talk word 144 (444) at 10:15. After the essential verse of quadruple-seven, "the soul of me" will be talk words 188 (333) and 188 (444).

It is now in 10:16 that Rabbi Jesus reveals he has "other sheeps | ἄλλα πρόβατα" which it is absolutely necessary "to me to lead." "Me" is talk word 166, the adjective "other" (ἄλλα) is book word 7766 and "those ones!" is book word 7777.

In 14:5 the second last of four times, "the Way | ἡ ὁδὸς" is book word 10770. The second last of seven "I AM!" declarations, that noun is 10777. And the seventh of seven times that "the Paraclete" (beside-caller) is used is talk word 777 (16:7).

A summary of the seven signs ("miracles") and an investigation of the seven "I AM!" sayings will be our next subject.