When men universally do or say certain things, they often don’t realize that there is a Biblical reason why they do the things they do and say the things that they say. It is typical for high-rise buildings to skip the 13th floor, for instance. That is not a mere superstition. The number 13 typically has a bad connotation in the Bible.

Just look at the negative things that 13 is associated with.

1. In Gen. 13:13, the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners.
2. In Gen. 14:4, five kings rebelled in the 13th year against the king of nations.
3. In Gen. 10:8, Nimrod, the 13th from Adam, shows up as a type of antichrist.
4. In Est. 3:13, Haman ordered the Jews to be killed on the 13th day of the 12th month.
5. In Jer. 1:2, the negative preaching of Jeremiah began in the 13th year of Josiah.
6. In Ex. 13:13, a wild ass pictures an unsaved man.
7. In Lev. 13, leprosy shows up as a type of the sore received with the mark of the beast (Rev. 16:2).
8. In Num. 13, the spies convince the Jews to disobey God.
9. In Deut. 13, false prophets are discussed.
10. In 1 Sam 13, Saul rebels against God and offers a burnt sacrifice.
11. In 2 Sam. 13, Jonadab convinces Amnon to commit incest with his sister.
12. In 1 Ki. 13:26, the man of God was disobedient to the word of God.
13. I think you are beginning to get the picture. In Rev. 13, the antichrist shows up with his mark, name and number.

So, it is well established that 13 is the number to watch out for. Nearly every time you find it in the Bible it signifies something bad. And this is one of the greatest testimonies that the numbering in the Bible is just as inspired as the word of God, even though the chapters and verses weren’t added until the 16th century. Quite remarkable, wouldn’t you say?

Hope this helps,

Pastor Bevans Welder