Number Seven: Symbolic Meanings of 7/7 “V/V” | By Monsuru Adeyemo “Socrates”

Number Seven: Symbolic Meanings of 7/7 “V/V” | By Monsuru Adeyemo “Socrates”.

Number seven(7) has many symbolic meanings in numerology, spirituality, mythology, psychology, and astrology. There are seven colours of the rainbow, seven chakras, seven days of the week, seven continents, and seven wonders of the world. The number seven is featured extensively in Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other religions.

Number seven has numerous meanings in Abrahamism and it is noted frequently in the Torah, Bible and Quran. Seven is also an important number of spiritual significance in Hinduism, Buddhism, and African Traditional Religion (ATR).

First of all, let us go there Afrocentrically, ogún, in Yoruba mythology is the orisa associated with the number 7; he is the god of iron, war and labour. To Yorubas, ogun is the owner of all technologies, and because this technology shares in his nature, it is almost always used first for war. As Elegba opens the roads, it is ogún that clears the roads with his machete. He is recognised with the number 7.

Yoruba traditionalists have many gods but seven: Obatala, Elegua, Osun, Sango, Oya, Ogun, Yemoja are chiefly among Yoruba deities. Many traditional worshippers call upon the seven African gods, 7 African powers, 7 spirits and respect the Orisas. This is a great thing for those who are into the Santeria spirituality, voodoo, African magic, hoodoo, spiritual deities.

Let us also go Abrahamically, in the Old Testament(Torah), God had created the world in six days while resting on the seventh day.

There are seven deadly sins in the Bible, seven layers of purgatory, and seven sacraments in the Catholic church. The Book of Revelations speaks of seven stars, seven trumpets, seven seals, seven angels, seven churches, and seven plagues. Philosopher and patron Saint Thomas Aquinas revealed seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord.

References to the number seven in Islamic knowledge and practice include: Seven Ayat in Surat Al-Fatiha, the first book of the holy Qur’an. Seven circumambulations of Muslim pilgrims around the Kaaba in Mecca during the Hajj and the Umrah, among others.

The following Biblical verses are quoted from the New International Version:”Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Genesis 2:3

”During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully.”Genesis 41:47

”For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord.” Exodus 13:6

”The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” Revelations 1:20

In Hinduism, the sun god rode a chariot with seven horses. There are seven upper worlds (heavens) and seven lower worlds, totaling 14 realms of existence. During a Hindu wedding ceremony, the bride and groom walk around a holy fire seven times.

 It is often considered lucky in Western culture and is often seen as highly symbolic. Also, the number seven forms the basis of Western musical scales.

In Roman numerals, vii is the number 7, and the Roman numeral system is comprised of seven letters.

Let us shed more light on Number 7 in Abrahamism:
Judaism –
The number seven forms a widespread typological pattern within Hebrew scripture, including;

Seven days (more precisely yom) of Creation, leading to the seventh day or Sabbath (Genesis 1)

Seven-fold vengeance visited on upon Cain for the killing of Abel (Genesis 4:15)

Seven pairs of every clean animal loaded onto the ark by Noah (Genesis 7:2)

Seven years of plenty and seven years of famine in Pharaoh’s dream (Genesis 41)

Seventh son of Jacob, Gad, whose name means good luck (Genesis 46:16)

Seven times bullock’s blood is sprinkled before God (Leviticus 4:6)

Seven nations God told the Israelites they would displace when they entered the land of Israel(Deuteronomy 7:1)

Seven days (de jure, but de facto eight days) of the Passover feast (Exodus 13:3–10)

Seven-branched candelabrum or Menorah (Exodus 25)

Seven trumpets played by seven priests for seven days to bring down the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:8)

Seven things that are detestable to God (Proverbs 6:16–19)

Seven Pillars of the House of Wisdom (Proverbs 9:1)

Seven archangels in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit(12:15)

References to the number seven in Jewish knowledge and practice include:

Seven divisions of the weekly readings or aliyah of the Torah.

Seven Jewish men (over the age of 13) called to read aliyahs in Shabbat morning services

Seven blessings recited under the chuppah during a Jewish wedding ceremony

Seven days of festive meals for a Jewish bride and groom after their wedding, known as Sheva Berachot or Seven Blessings

Seven Ushpizzin prayers to the Jewish patriarchs during the holiday of Sukkot.

Christianity-
Following the tradition of the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament likewise uses the number seven as part of a typological pattern:

Seven loaves multiplied into seven basketfuls of surplus (Matthew 15:32–37)

Seven demons were driven out of Mary Magdelene(Luke 8:2)

Seven last sayings of Jesus on the cross

Seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom (Acts 6:3)

Seven Spirits of God, Seven Churches and Seven Seals in the Book of Revelation.

References to the number seven in Christian knowledge and practice include:

Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Seven Corporal Acts of Mercy and Seven Spiritual Acts of Mercy.

Seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride, and seven terraces of Mount Purgatory.

Seven Virtues: chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility.

Seven Joys and Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary.

Seven Sleepers of Christian myth.

Seven Sacraments in the Catholic Church (though some traditions assign a different number)

Islam-
References to the number seven in Islamic knowledge and practice include:

Seven Ayat in Surat Al-Fatiha, the first book of the holy Qur’an

Seven circumambulation of Muslim pilgrims around the Kaaba in Mecca during the Hajj and the Umrah

Seven walks between Al-Safa and Al-Marwa performed by Muslim pilgrims during the Hajj and the Umrah

Seven doors to hell (for heaven the number of doors is eight)

Seven Earths and seven Heavens (plural of sky) mentioned in Qur’an (S. 65:12)

Night Journey to the Seventh Heaven, (reported ascension to heaven to meet God) Isra’ and Mi’raj of the Qur’an and Surah Al-Isra’.

Seventh day naming ceremony held for babies

Note: Seven is the least number of players a soccer team must have on the field in order for a match to start and continue. So, it means 7 sets boundaries. Therefore, my clarion calls go to all black nationalists, Afrocentric ideologues and Pan-African philosophers on the continent and in diasporas! Irrespective of our leaning, let us stop people from abusing, or mis conceiving Number Seven(7/V) “Nomba Keje, abi Meje/Meje? Let us set the records straight. Yes, African map looks like Number 7. So, symbolism of Number 7 to black nationalist thinkers is iconic, but we must not allow anybody to abuse it. Emphatically, we must all rise up to wage war against its abuse, and Ideological degeneracy

In the voice of legendary Afrocentric Musician, Beautiful Nubia,”Seven goats; Seven beads; Seven Cowries; Seven nuts;
Seven life that’s I’ve got; I’m an African boy …” So, I greet all Africans, at home and in diasporas.

Sons and daughters of the soil! Courage.

Izwelethu I Africa.

Cdr M.T Adeyemo (Socrates) writes…