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regression
Guest
In 2 Kings chapter 4, Elisha brings a child back to life. The text I am reading, Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, says the child sneezed seven times. What significance is sneezing seven times?
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Usige
Guest
I believe that St Augustine said that the seven sneezes stood for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that raise us to new life in Christ. That being said, I don’t know if there is particular significance to sneezing seven times since some translations say the boy sneezed several times and the Septuagint I believe doesn’t even include this phrase.
An alternative explanation I’ve seen was that since the boy died of a headache and sneezing can be seen as a way to relieve pressure of the head, it can be illustrative of reversing the cause of death. You could perhaps also extend the symbology of the number 7 as the number of completion/perfection and so see the significance as death reversed through the perfection of God.
To be honest I think the main purpose of the Elisha raising the Shunammite’s son is to show that Elisha was a prophet beloved by God in the same vein as Elijah. The significance is really about the miracle and not necessarily what happened after the boy raised from the dead.
An alternative explanation I’ve seen was that since the boy died of a headache and sneezing can be seen as a way to relieve pressure of the head, it can be illustrative of reversing the cause of death. You could perhaps also extend the symbology of the number 7 as the number of completion/perfection and so see the significance as death reversed through the perfection of God.
To be honest I think the main purpose of the Elisha raising the Shunammite’s son is to show that Elisha was a prophet beloved by God in the same vein as Elijah. The significance is really about the miracle and not necessarily what happened after the boy raised from the dead.
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Dan_Defender
Guest
The miracle was not an instant miracle but came by degrees. By the seventh sneeze, seven being a perfect number in the Bible, the miracle was completed.
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Mintaka
Guest
Seven is the covenant number, because “seven” in Hebrew sounds like the word for “oath”. It is saying that God is remembering His promises.
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Cruciferi
Guest
Just saying, as an allergy sufferer, I’ve done that too
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regression
Guest
Ha. Thanks everyone for the replies.Just saying, as an allergy sufferer, I’ve done that too
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7_Sorrows
Guest
Usually, in the Bible, doing anything 7 times
has significance.
has significance.
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regression
Guest
But what is the significance in this instance?
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7_Sorrows
Guest
I haven’t read that scripture tonight and I am not familiar with it. I will have to look at it tomorrow.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
Sneezing has often been interpreted as expelling something bad from the body, like demons (that’s why we say “God bless you” traditionally when someone sneezes). In actual fact, a person sneezes to rid the nasal cavities of irritants like dust that shouldn’t be in there. So some commentators have interpreted sneezing as being similar to the repentance from sin, which causes the person to triumph over death. Seven is traditionally considered a holy number from the beginning of the Bible where God made creation over 7 days.
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