"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"
THREE: In sacred Scripture the number 3 represents that which is solid, real, substantial, and something in its completeness. This number usually indicates something of importance or significance in God's plan of salvation by identifying an important event in Salvation History. This number operates as a "sign-post" in Scripture study for the reader to "pay attention" to the significance of the next event.
In the Old Testament:
It is the first of the 4 perfect numbers which are 3 (divine perfection); 7 (spiritual perfection); 10 (ordinal perfection); and 12 (governmental perfection).
The earth was separated from the waters on the 3rd day [Genesis 1:9-13]
There were three Patriarchs of the children of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel
There are three verses in the Priestly Blessing in which the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, God's holy covenant name, appears 3 times [Numbers 6:24-26].
Three times the angelic Seraphim cry "Holy, Holy, Holy" (Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8).
After the Great Flood mankind descended from the three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. [Genesis 10:1-32]
Three "men" announced to Abraham that his barren wife would bear a son [Genesis 18:14].
Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son after a 3-day journey to Mt. Moriah [Genesis 22:1-4].
Baby Moses was hidden by his mother for 3 months [Exodus 2:1] and the adult Moses requests of Pharaoh that he let Moses take his people on a 3 day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifice to their God [Exodus 3:18].
There were 3 divisions of the desert Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem: the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies [Exodus 27:9; 26:1-30, 35-37; 31-34; 38:9-20; 21-31; 40:1-33; 1 Kings 6: 1-37].
God is mentioned three times in the Shema (the first profession of faith in Deuteronomy 6:4) and three times in the blessing in Numbers 23:24.
There are 3 attributes of God mentioned in Exodus 33:18-19: hen, rachum, and hesed (gracious, compassionate /merciful, and loving kindness).
Of the 7 Holy Feasts of the Sinai Covenant, 3 are Pilgrim feasts in which every man 13 years or older must present himself before God at the Temple in Jerusalem. This command is repeated three time in scripture.[Exodus 23:14-17; 34:18-23; Deuteronomy 16:16]
Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of the great fish [Jonah 1:17]; Jonah took a 3 day journey across the city of Nineveh [Jonah 3:3]
In the New Testament:
Jesus' ministry lasted 3 years.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months [Luke 1:56]
Jesus was missing for 3 days when He was 12 years old [Luke 2:46]
Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the Mt. of Transfiguration [Matthew 17]
Jesus arose from the dead on the third day.[Matthew 16:21, Acts 10:40]
Saul was blinded for 3 days [Acts 9:9]
The theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity [1 Corinthians 13:13]
The heavenly Jerusalem has 3 gates on each of its four sides [Revelation 21:13]
Christians saw three as symbolic of the Trinity, the triune nature of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Three is also recognized as the number of the Holy Spirit.
http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/documents/The%20Significance%20of%20Numbers%20in%20Scripture.htm