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Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database



9252
Philo Of Alexandria, That God Is Unchangeable, 12-13


nanand this is the constitution of the number seven, that is to say, of the soul that rests in God, and which no longer concerns itself about any mortal employment, when it has quitted the number six which it allotted to those who were not able to attain to the first rank, but who of necessity contented themselves with arriving at the second.


nanIt is therefore not incredible that the barren woman, not being one who is incapable of becoming fruitful, but one who is still vigorous and fresh, striving for the chief reward in the arena of fortitude, patience, and perseverance, may bring forth a seven, equal in honour to the unit, of which numbers, nature is very productive and prolific.


Intertexts (texts cited often on the same page as the searched text):

13 results
1. Hebrew Bible, Exodus, 31.3-31.5 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)

31.3. וָאֲמַלֵּא אֹתוֹ רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים בְּחָכְמָה וּבִתְבוּנָה וּבְדַעַת וּבְכָל־מְלָאכָה׃ 31.4. לַחְשֹׁב מַחֲשָׁבֹת לַעֲשׂוֹת בַּזָּהָב וּבַכֶּסֶף וּבַנְּחֹשֶׁת׃ 31.5. וּבַחֲרֹשֶׁת אֶבֶן לְמַלֹּאת וּבַחֲרֹשֶׁת עֵץ לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּכָל־מְלָאכָה׃ 31.3. and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship," 31.4. to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass," 31.5. and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship."
2. Hebrew Bible, Genesis, a b c d\n0 "11.30" "11.30" "11 30"\n1 "2.2" "2.2" "2 2"\n2 9.20 9.20 9 20 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)

3. Septuagint, 4 Maccabees, 17.11-17.15 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)

17.11. Truly the contest in which they were engaged was divine 17.12. for on that day virtue gave the awards and tested them for their endurance. The prize was immortality in endless life. 17.13. Eleazar was the first contestant, the mother of the seven sons entered the competition, and the brothers contended. 17.14. The tyrant was the antagonist, and the world and the human race were the spectators. 17.15. Reverence for God was victor and gave the crown to its own athletes.
4. Philo of Alexandria, On Husbandry, 120-121, 119 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

119. Therefore the Olympian contest is the only one that justly deserves to be called sacred; meaning by this, not that which the inhabitants of Elis celebrate, but that which is instituted for the acquisition of the divine, and Olympian, and genuine virtues. Now, as competitors in this contest, all those have their names inscribed who are very weak in their bodies, but very vigorous in their souls; and then, having stripped off their clothes, and smeared themselves in the dust, they do all those actions which belong to skill and to power, omitting nothing which may conduce to their gaining the victory.
5. Philo of Alexandria, On The Decalogue, 105 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

6. Philo of Alexandria, On Drunkenness, 144-152, 143 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

143. And it is an especial property of law and of instruction to distinguish what is profane from what is holy, and what is unclean from what is clean; as, on the other hand, it is the effect of lawlessness and ignorance to combine things that are at variance with one another by force, and to throw everything into disorder and confusion. XXXVI. On this account the greatest of the kings and prophets, Samuel, as the sacred scriptures tell us, drank no wine or intoxicating liquors to the day of his death; for he is enrolled among the ranks of the divine army which he will never leave in consequence of the prudence of the wise captain.
7. Philo of Alexandria, On Flight And Finding, 184 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

184. and twelve is the perfect number, of which the circle of the zodiac in the heaven is a witness, studded as it is with such numbers of brilliant constellations. The periodical revolution of the sun is another witness, for he accomplishes his circle in twelve months, and men also reckon the hours of the day and of the night as equal in number to the months of the year
8. Philo of Alexandria, On The Change of Names, 144, 143 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

143. and to those who ask, whether she who is barren has an offspring (for the holy scriptures, which some time ago represented Sarrah as barren, now confess that she will become a mother); this answer must be given, that a woman who is barren cannot, in the course of nature, bring forth an offspring, just as a blind man cannot see, nor a deaf man hear; but that the soul, which is barren of bad things, and which is unproductive of immoderate license of the passions and vices, is alone very nearly attaining to a happy delivery, bringing forth objects worthy of love, namely, the number seven, according to the hymn which is sung by Grace, that is, by Hannah, who says, "she who was barren hath born seven, and she who had many children has become weak:
9. Philo of Alexandria, On The Creation of The World, 101-128, 168, 89-100 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

100. But seven alone, as I said before, neither produces nor is produced, on which account other philosophers liken this number to Victory, who had no mother, and to the virgin goddess, whom the fable asserts to have sprung from the head of Jupiter: and the Pythagoreans compare it to the Ruler of all things. For that which neither produces, nor is produced, remains immovable. For generation consists in motion, since that which is generated, cannot be so without motion, both to cause production, and to be produced. And the only thing which neither moves nor is moved, is the Elder, Ruler, and Lord of the universe, of whom the number seven may reasonably be called a likeness. And Philolaus gives his testimony to this doctrine of mine in the following Words:ù"for God," says he "is the ruler and Lord of all things, being one, eternal, lasting, immovable, himself like to himself, and different from all other beings." XXXIV.
10. Philo of Alexandria, On The Sacrifices of Cain And Abel, 17 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

17. for having introduced Esau, who bears the name of folly, as the elder in point of time, he gives the birthright and chief honour to the younger, who, from his practice of virtue, was called Jacob. And he is not seen to obtain this pre-eminence before (as is the case in athletic contests) his adversary renounces the combat, putting down his hands from weakness, and yielding up the decision and the crown to him who has carried on a truceless and irreconcilable war against the passions; for, says Moses, "He sold his birthright to Jacob
11. Philo of Alexandria, Allegorical Interpretation, 3.48, 3.132 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

12. Philo of Alexandria, That The Worse Attacks The Better, 170 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

170. At all events, when the Creator determined to purify the earth by means of water, and that the soul should receive purification of all its unspeakable offences, having washed off and effaced its pollutions after the fashion of a holy purification, he recommended him who was found to be a just man, who was not borne away the violence of the deluge, to enter into the ark, that is to say, into the vessel containing the soul, namely, the body, and to lead into it "seven of all clean beasts, male and Female," thinking it proper that virtuous reason should employ all the pure parts of the irrational portion of man. XLVII.
13. Philo of Alexandria, That God Is Unchangeable, 11, 13-15, 5-8, 10 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

10. Now the most evident sign of a soul devoted to God is that song in which that expression occurs, "She that was barren has borne seven children, and she that had many children has become weak."7


Subjects of this text:

subject book bibliographic info
aaron Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206
abram/abraham Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393, 395
alexandria Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
allegorical commentary Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 211, 395
allegory/allegoresis, of the soul Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 211
aristobulus Taylor and Hay, Philo of Alexandria: On the Contemplative Life: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2020) 268
arithmology, seven Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393, 394, 395
arithmology Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188
bezalel Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
creation Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188
cycle, patriarchal, abrahamic Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 394
cynic/cynicism Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
emotions, good Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393
epictetus Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
etymology, hebrew Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393, 394
excellence, (moral) Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
fall Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 211
games Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206
god, creator Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
god Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188
grace Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393, 394
hagar Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 394, 395
hannah Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393, 394
harris, h.a. Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
harris, harold Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206
homer Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 211
imagery athletic Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
isaac Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393, 394, 395
jacob Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
josephus Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206; Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
keturah Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393, 394, 395
law Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393
life, daily, worldy Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188
metaphorical language/use Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206
midian Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393
moses Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393
music Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188
nature Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188
neopythagoreanism Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188
noah Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206
number Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188
onomasticon Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393
passions, struggle against Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
passions Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206
pentateuch Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393
perfection, road/way to Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206
perfection Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 211; Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206
philo of alexandria Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188
plutarch Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 211
prophets Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 211, 393, 395
rachel Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393
rhetoric Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 211, 394
sabbath Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188
sarah Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393, 394, 395
seneca Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
soul, eight-part Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393
soul Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206
spirit, divine Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
stoa/stoic/stoicism Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 132
virtue, cardinal Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 393
virtue, contest of' Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Cultivation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2013) 206
virtue Cover, Philo of Alexandria: On the Change of Names (2023) 394
voice Corrigan and Rasimus, Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World (2013) 188