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Christianity teaches that Jesus died on the cross and on the Third day rose from the dead. His resurection is significant for all sorts of reasons which I don't want to go into in this question. What I'm interested in is why did he rise THREE days later? Why not 4 days, or 2 days?

The only thing I could find is that Jonah was in the fish for 3 days, however this just moves the question to why was Jonah in the fish for 3 days (instead of 2 or 4 or any other number).

Is there any significance to Jesus being dead for three days?

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I may assume it to be a Biblical numerology. There are common numbers like 3,7,12,40,70. – Mawia Feb 19 at 5:04
I recall hearing once that, according to Jewish tradition, the departed spirit would hang around the body after death, and would not fully "move on" for three days. By rising on the third day, Jesus demonstrated that he was not simply reviving, but truly Coming Back From The Dead. Not posting this as an answer because I don't have any references to support it, but if anyone has any information about this idea, feel free to use it. – Mason Wheeler♦ Feb 19 at 5:19
@MasonWheeler I have heard something similar - that you weren't considered dead until the 3rd day, but like you have no evidence to back it up. – Greg Feb 19 at 5:23
@mason I think you might be on to something there but I think at the time of Jesus' death it was more common thought among Jews that the body and soul were one (no sources either). The Sadducees for example, because they did not believe in any kind of resurrection. – fredsbend Feb 19 at 8:58

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Numerology in Scripture us often debated, but the number three is significant. It is considered the number of divine perfection, represented in:

  • The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
  • The three-part nature of man - Body, Soul, Spirit
  • Past, Present, Future
  • Time, Space, Matter
  • Depths, width, height
  • Solid, liquid, gas

The number three is seen by some as significant all throughout creation and history. Others remain skeptical.

Specifically, the significance of three days applied to the death, burial, and resurrection is addressed at http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/documents/The%20Symbolic%20Significance%20of%20the%20third%20day.htm

In the symbolic language of the Bible, a three day period points to an act of divine intervention which impacts Salvation History. Genesis 22:4 records that Abraham's journey to Mt. Moriah to offer his son in sacrifice, as commanded by Yahweh, was a three day journey. In the Matthew passage Jesus refers to three days, applying the significance of the three day period to His resurrection and man's redemption. In the Gospels Jesus often spoke of a three day period prophesying His sacrifice and resurrection. (2)

Interestingly, in Judaism, the number three has this significance:

From http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/608781/jewish/On-the-Meaning-of-Three.htm

The number three symbolizes a harmony that includes and synthesizes two opposites. The unity symbolized by the number three isn’t accomplished by getting rid of number two, the entity that caused the discord, and reverting to the unity symbolized by number one. Rather, three merges the two to create a new entity, one that harmoniously includes both opposites.

That can be taken many ways applied to Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. A new harmony between sinful man and righteous God made possible by Christ's atoning death, for example.

It seems likely (but not conclusive if you discount numerology) that there is a significance in the choice of three days.

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So following that through, Jesus being dead for 3 days is because 3 is divine perfection? – Greg Feb 19 at 5:18
@Greg Yeah, thinking the same thing here. It's perfect to be dead? – fredsbend Feb 19 at 8:41
Significant to whom? Only numerologists. A few denominations quickly attack any talk about numerology as occultic and wrong. 7th day adventists I have spoken to feel this way. They say simply 40 means a generation when talking about years, and similar things. However, they accept the 666 for the number of the beast's name like it is kind of a kids game. Certain letters equal certain numbers then add them up. I don't quite see the distinction. Now on three days I thought there was a prophesy in the OT. – fredsbend Feb 19 at 8:46
On another note in your list of three's the first one is not even mentioned in the Bible; it is inferred so three there seems more of a coincidence. The last four have other parts and are more then three's: before and after the ages, energy, time is a dimension, and plasma. Not trying to argue against the validity of numerology, I just don't think you answered the question well from their perspective and you ignored other perspectives. – fredsbend Feb 19 at 8:55
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Also, I'm aware that not everyone buys into numerology. However, I answered this way because if you stray away from numerology, the question becomes either unanswerable, or can be answered only with "no, it's not significant." For example, if you take the idea that it's based on the idea that after three days someone was "truly dead", it still only pushes the question back. Why three days to be truly dead? Why not four of five? Numbers had meaning in Judaism that also carried over into Christianity. – David Stratton Feb 19 at 12:43
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