What is the meaning of the number 15 in the Bible?
Introduction
God communicates in various ways and channels.
One of those channels is numbers.
Numbers have profound spiritual meanings and represent different things in the Bible.
They can point us toward the answers we seek or lead us to the right destinations.
Numbers can also teach us lessons and warn us of impending dangers and judgment.
The number fifteen is another important number in the Bible with deep spiritual meanings. It comes after the number fourteen, representing double perfection, deliverance, and salvation.
The number fifteen stands at the core of many significant events and figures in the Bible. This article reveals some of these meanings.
Number 15 meaning in the Bible:
It symbolizes rest
God communicates in various ways and channels. One of those channels is numbers.
Numbers have profound spiritual meanings and represent different things in the Bible.
They can point us toward the answers we seek or lead us to the right destinations. Numbers can also teach us lessons and warn us of impending dangers and judgment.
The number fifteen comes after the number fourteen, which signifies deliverance. After deliverance from slavery, the children of Israel experienced rest after hundreds of years of backbreaking labor amidst harsh and inhumane treatment.
For the first time, they woke up without fear and tension of going to the fields and work sites to make bricks and build.
Women no longer feared losing their husbands to the brutal slave masters, while young children did not have to worry about growing up to become slaves, instead doing a noble job like every other normal child.
God had promised that His people would be set free from slavery.
He even sent them a deliverer, Moses. However, all through the period of trying to get Pharoah to release God’s people, they were still under the yoke of slavery.
They could see freedom close to them but could not grasp it.
However, after the deliverance experience, celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month, the Israelites tasted freedom and later entered proper rest on the fifteenth day (Exodus 12:40-42).
Seeing the number fifteen may be a message to you.
It may be a sign that you are about to enter into your rest.
Many people have been delivered from problems and challenges. However, they have not recovered from the impact and injuries those experiences caused.
The number fifteen signals rest is around the corner and total freedom.
A sign of destruction and being overwhelmed
“The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered.” (Genesis 7:20)
The number fifteen is also a sign of destruction, as seen in the story of Noah.
God had instructed Noah to build an ark as he was about to send rain that flooded the earth and wiped out all living creatures.
God took this decision because wickedness had increased on earth, and men became extremely wicked with no sign of repentance.
After many years of warning, the rain started and covered the earth fifteen cubits higher than the highest ground, and the mountains were covered. The aftermath of this was recorded in Genensis 7:21-24.
The Bible says everyone outside the ark died, including all the living things. Therefore, the number fifteen signifies the fulfillment of a prophecy of destruction, especially when any positive change or repentance has not been made.
If you have been warned about your sinful lifestyle but refused to repent, seeing the number fifteen means the time of judgment has come. It means you have wasted time to change your ways and turn a new leave.
The number fifteen also means to be overwhelmed. The Bible records that the water submerged the mountains.
So, it is a sign that you are biting more than you can chew, whether at work, business, or in a relationship.
It is a sign that you have overstretched yourself and might snap if you do not take a break. Take a break and relax to cool off.
A sign of deliverance from death
“And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.” (2 Kings 20:6)
The number fifteen signifies life and deliverance from sickness and death.
King Hezekiah was sick and about to die. God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell the king it was time for him to leave this earth. However, the king prayed to God and asked for life.
God heard him and sent Isaiah to tell him that he would not die again, and God had added an extra fifteen years to his life.
The number fifteen here signifies overcoming sickness and death. It is God’s intention that we live a healthy and long life. He doesn’t want His children to die before their time or suffer any sickness.
Psalm 91:16 says, “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” However, the enemy comes to afflict us with sicknesses and death to stop us from fulfilling our purpose.
But God can also deliver us from the devil’s bondage of sickness and give us life. Therefore, the number fifteen could mean two things to you.
First, it could be a deliverance from a terrible sickness like cancer or other incurable diseases. Seeing the number fifteen means God is about to conquer sickness in your life and renew your health like King Hezekiah.
Secondly, the number fifteen might be a sign that God is about to deliver you from physical death and increase your years.
It may also mean deliverance from death in other areas of your life, whether financial, relational, mental, or emotional. Restoration and increase usually follow this type of deliverance.
Feast of Unleavened Bread
“And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread.” (Leviticus 23:6)
Leviticus 23:6 holds significant spiritual meaning and is connected to the number fifteen in the context of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Let’s explore this connection!
The verse talks about the timing of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a festival God appointed for the Israelites to observe.
It starts on the fifteenth day of the first month in the Hebrew calendar, corresponding to the month of Nisan (usually occurring in March-April).
The number fifteen in this context holds significant symbolism. It marks the precise date on which the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins, making it a crucial reference point for this festival.
During this seven-day celebration, the Israelites were to eat bread without yeast, symbolizing the need to remove sin and corruption from their lives, just like we discussed earlier.
But there’s more to it! The number fifteen also has some spiritual significance in biblical numerology.
In the Bible, the number five often represents God’s grace and goodness, while the number ten symbolizes completeness and divine order.
When you combine five and ten, you get fifteen – a powerful combination of God’s grace and completeness.
In the situation of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, it emphasizes that God’s grace is available to His people to lead a life free from sin and corruption.
It recalls us that God’s grace is sufficient for us to walk in purity and holiness, just as the Israelites were called to do during this feast.
Additionally, fifteen is half of thirty, which is another number associated with spiritual maturity and preparation.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread takes place in the first month, while the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) occurs in the seventh month, lasting seven days.
Six months apart, these two feasts reminded God’s people to continuously grow in their spiritual journey, becoming more mature and prepared to serve and follow God wholeheartedly.
So, Leviticus 23:6, with its reference to the fifteenth day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, not only highlights the timing of this significant festival but also underscores God’s grace and desire for His people to live pure and holy lives through His provision and guidance.
The Feast of Purim
“But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.” (Esther 9:18)
Esther 9:18 holds significant spiritual meaning and is connected to the number fifteen in the context of the Feast of Purim. Let’s delve into this connection!
The verse comes from the book of Esther, which tells the story of how God delivered the Jews from the evil plot of Haman, as we discussed earlier.
The Feast of Purim is a celebration of this deliverance, and it occurs on the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Adar.
Here’s the connection with the number fifteen: The fifteenth day of Adar is central to the Feast of Purim.
On this day, the Jews celebrated their victory over their enemies and rested from their battles. It became a day of feasting, joy, and gladness, as mentioned in Esther 9:18.
But why did they rest and feast on the fifteenth day? To understand this, we must go back a bit in the story.
Esther 9:1-16 tells how the Jews defended themselves against those who sought to harm them on the thirteenth day of Adar. The battle continued on the fourteenth day, and they emerged victorious.
Then, on the fifteenth day, they rested and celebrated because it was a day of triumph and deliverance. It was a time to remember God’s faithfulness and the courage of Esther and Mordecai, who trusted Him and stood up for their people.
The spiritual significance of the number fifteen here is that the events surrounding Purim showcase God’s providence, working through the courage and faith of ordinary individuals to save His chosen people.
Therefore, Esther 9:18, mentioning the fifteenth day and the Feast of Purim, reminds us of God’s grace in granting victory and deliverance to His people.
It acts as a testimony of how God’s hand can turn the tide of events in favor of His faithful ones and brings us joy and gladness as we celebrate His faithfulness and goodness. 
The beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry
“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar…the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” (Luke 3:1-3)
Another significance of the number fifteen is seen in the New Testament, which shows the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry.
Jon the Baptist was prophesied to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ.
He was to prepare the way for Him. But John was in the wilderness, waiting on the Lord and building spiritual capacity.
He set himself apart, feeding on only wild locusts and honey.
However, the Word of God came to him in the wilderness in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar to begin his ministry of preaching about repentance and baptizing those who repent of their sins.
The number fifteen here signifies the birth of a new journey in one’s life.
It represents a release of grace and a supply of resources to begin what God has destined you to be.
Many people have visions and plans. However, they do not feel ready to move and explore their dreams.
Seeing the number fifteen consistently might be a sign that all is set to begin.
Do not hesitate to act if you find yourself in this situation.
Take action and expect divine backing.
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David Akeju is a Christian writer who believes in the transformational power of God’s Word. His articles and books have been published on global platforms, and thousands of lives have been touched. He works with pastors and ministers, churches and ministries, and brands.