Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

SIX, NUMBER

A symbol of accomplishment of growth or purpose ;-the number which limits and serves to usher in the seventh, that of perfection. It signifies completion of a period of activity, as six days, six hours, six signs, six months, six seasons, six years.

"Now in the sixth month (of Elisabeth) the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto... Nazareth, to a virgin; and the virgin's name was Mary.". - LUKE i. 26, 27.

Now when the completion of the moral nature (John) was accomplished, the inner messenger (angel) of intuition was enabled to acquaint the soul of the spiritual results which were to follow ethical rule. The messenger came to the centre of progression (Nazareth) in the soul, and to the purified lower nature (Mary) which is “virgin," i.e. unfructified by mind (man), but which can be fructified by the Holy Spirit.

"The reason why six signifies what is complete to the end, is because three has that signification, and six is double that number, and a number doubled has the same signification as the simple number." - SWEDENBORG, Apocalypse Revealed, n. 489.

"The number six is perfect, because it is the first number which is made up of its several parts, that is, its sixth, its third and its half, which are 1, 2 and 3, and these added together become 6. But because we transcend all this knowledge, by advancing through the loftiness of Holy Scripture, we there find the reason why the numbers 6, 7, 10 and 1,000 are perfect. For the number six is perfect in Holy Scripture, because in the beginning of the world God completed on the sixth day those works which He began on the first. The number seven is perfect therein, because every good work is performed with seven virtues through the Spirit, in order that both faith and works may be perfected at the same time. The number ten is perfect therein, because the Law is included in ten precepts. In a denary three are joined to seven." - ST. GREGORY, Morals on the Book of Job, Vol. III. p. 691.
“It may perhaps appear curious that the number six should occur so often in Ainu folk-lore, but it may be now, once for all, noted that we find it constantly recurring as the numerical exponent of perfection, and is regarded by the people as the sacred number. We often find it so appearing in their legends." - J. BATCHELOR, The Ainu, etc., p. 305.

See Also

ADAMAS (lower)
DAYS
MONAD OF LIFE
SATURDAY
SEASONS (six)
SEEDS OF SIX
VIRGIN MARY
WEEK