Ten

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

(c) There are a number of thoughts concerning the typical meaning and the significance of the number ten. I shall use it as a number that represents human infirmity and failure.

Here are some examples of this application:

The ten spies failed to see GOD's power and provision, so they brought back an evil report (  Numbers 13:32).

The ten tribes failed to walk with GOD and to bow to His will. Therefore, they established a separate kingdom given to idolatry (  1 Kings 11:31).

The ten day diet of pulse and water which Daniel desired was not sufficient normally to show improvement in the body. It gave GOD the opportunity of showing His power to bring blessing out of that which humanly and normally insufficient. (  Daniel 1:12).

The magicians and astrologers were ten times as weak and insufficient as Daniel. (  Daniel 1:20).

The ten virgins all fell asleep, none were awake to their privileges (  Matthew 25:1).

The ten lepers were unable to cure themselves, and insufficient because of their leprosy. They needed the Lord Jesus to meet the need. (  Luke 17:12).

The ten servants who were given the ten pounds proved to be unfaithful in part, and only two receive their Lord's approbation (  Luke 19:13).

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Δέκα (Strong'S #1176 — Noun — deka — dek'-ah )

whence the Eng. prefix "deca," is regarded by some as the measure of human responsibility, e.g.,  Luke 19:13,17;  Revelation 2:10; it is used in a figurative setting in  Revelation 12:3;  13:1;  17:3,7,12,16 .

 Acts 23:23Thousand.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) The number greater by one than nine; the sum of five and five; ten units of objects.

(2): ( n.) A symbol representing ten units, as 10, x, or X.

(3): ( a.) One more than nine; twice five.

King James Dictionary

TEN, a. L. decem.

1. Twice five nine and one.

With twice ten sail I cross'd the Phrygian sea.

2. It is a kind of proverbial number.

There's a proud modesty in merit,

Averse to begging, and resolv'd to pay

Ten times the gift it asks.

The meaning in this use is, a great deal more, indefinitely.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

TEN . See Number, § 7 .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

See Numbers As Symbols

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( עֶשֶׂר , Ser, or some modification of it; Δέκα ; the Heb. plur. עַשְׂרַים , Esrim, means "Twenty;" the root עָשִׂר , As '''''Á''''' R'' is thought by F Ü rst and Mihlau to signify Heaping, but Gesenius regards it as primitive), the number which lies at the basis of modern numeration, having its natural origin in the twice five fingers used for counting, and largely employed as such even by the Hebrews, notwithstanding their peculiar regard for seven as containing the notion of completeness. (See Number).

In the civil and ecclesiastical usages of the Israelites this numerical idea especially appears in their word for "tithe" ( מִעֲשֵׁר ,  Leviticus 27:30-32, etc.; Sept. Δεκάτη , scil. Μοῖρα , "a part;" Vulg. Decimal), plainly derived from עשר , "ten," which also (in the form עשר ) means "to be rich;" hence ten is the rich number, perhaps because including all the units under it. The same idea has been rather hastily conceived as being retained in the Greek; thus, Δέκω , Δέχομαι , "to receive," "hold," etc., Δέκα , "ten," because the ten fingers hold everything; and in the Latin, Teneo; French, contenir; English, contain, ten. Pythagoras speaks of the Decade, which is the sum of all the preceding numbers 1+2+3+4, as comprehending all musical and arithmetical proportions. For a view of his doctrine of numbers and the probability of its Egyptian origin, see Wilkinson, Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians, 4:193-200. For Aristotle's similar ideas of the number ten, see Probl. 3, 15. This number seems significant of completeness or abundance in many passages of Scripture. Jacob said unto Laban, "Thou hast changed my wages these ten times" ( Genesis 31:41); "Am not I better to thee than ten sons?" ( 1 Samuel 1:8); "These ten times have ye reproached me" ( Job 19:3); "Thy pound hath gained ten pounds" ( Luke 19:16), etc. This number, as the end of less numbers and beginning of greater, and as thus signifying perfection, sufficiency, etc., may have been selected for its suitableness to those eucharistic donations to religion, etc., which mankind were required to make, probably, in primeval times. Abraham gave to Melchisedek, "priest of the Most High God," a tenth of all the spoils he had taken from Chedorlaomer ( Genesis 14:20;  Hebrews 7:4). The incidental way in which this fact is stated seems to indicate an established custom. Why should Abraham give tithes of the spoils of war and not of other things? For instances of the heathen dedicating to their gods the tenth of warlike spoils, see Wettstein, On  Hebrews 7:4. Jacob's vow ( Genesis 28:22) seems simply to relate to compliance with an established custom; his words are, literally, "And all that thou shalt give me I will assuredly tithe it unto thee," אעשרנו ל ִעשר . On the practice of the heathen, in various and distant countries, to dedicate tithes to their gods, see Spelman, On Tithes, ch. 26; Selden, ch. 3; Lesley, Divine Right of Tithes, § 7; Wettstein, On  Hebrews 7:2. The Mosaic Law, therefore, in this respect, as well as in others, was simply a reconstitution of the patriarchal religion. Thus the tenth of military spoils is commanded ( Numbers 31:31). For the law concerning tithes generally, see  Leviticus 27:30, etc., where they are first spoken of as things already known. These tithes consisted of a tenth of all that remained after payment of the first-fruits of seeds and fruits, and of calves, lambs, and kids. This was called the first tithe, and belonged to God as the sovereign. (See Tithe).