King James Bible

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Deuteronomy

16

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16

Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Three fork Noun H7969 שָׁלֹ֣ושׁ sha·lo·vsh
Analysis:

Three: Purposes of God in: Testing, revealing, proving, documenting, victory and if applied to God, holiness

The number "three" is one of the most significant numbers in the Scriptures. Its primary purpose is for the sake of revealing or documenting something as fact (testing to validate something). It is also connected to the outcome of the will of God. One of the most famous occurrences for the number three is found in the book of Jonah, where Jonah is in the belly of the fish "three days and three nights."  A major aspect of the book of Jonah is that the prophet was fleeing from the presence of HaShem. Instead of Jonah going to Nineveh as God had commanded, the prophet desired not to obey this commandment, even if it meant that his relationship with God would be destroyed. HaShem decided to test to see if Jonah preferred to end his relationship with God rather than go to Nineveh. By placing Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, it would be revealed whether it was true that Jonah wanted to end his relationship with God over this commandment to go to Nineveh. It is most significant that immediately after (in the next verse) the reader is informed that Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.  What does Jonah do? The text states that Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from within the fish. Hence, the three days and three nights ultimately revealed, proved, or documented that what Jonah said he wanted was not true. One could also say that Jonah was tested for those three days and three nights and the test results showed that he did not want to end his relationship with God and in the end Jonah went to Nineveh.

In a similar manner, Peter rejects Yeshua's statement that he will deny Him. Therefore, Yeshua says to Peter that he will deny Him three times. These three denials prove, document, and reveal to the reader that Yeshua's statement was factual. It is not a coincidence that when Yeshua reinstated Peter after the resurrection, He asked him three times, "do you love Me?” In this context, Yeshua was testing the validity of Peter's statement. 

Yeshua also revealed that He, in a similar manner to Jonah being in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, would be in the belly of the earth three days and three nights and then rise from the dead. In this passage, the number three not only documents the fact that He died, but also the resurrection. It is also very significant that Yeshua rose on the third day.

The number three also relates to victory, as in the completion of God's purposes and plans. In the book of Genesis, one reads about the offering of Isaac. This passage has great theological significance and is one of the first passages which is read in the morning synagogue service each day. This section begins with HaShem commanding Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering on one of the mountains in the land of Moriah. The climax of this portion of Scripture comes about on the third day. It was on the third day that HaShem provided the ram so that Isaac would live. In this passage, Isaac represents the promise (of God) which would have died (ended) had not HaShem acted. There is not a conflict between the two concepts for the number three of victory (the fulfillment of God’s will) and revelation or documentation. Often, it is the climax of what HaShem wants to do, which is simply being revealed or proved with the use of the number three.

Please note that when the number three is applied to God, then it can relate to holiness; whereas the number seven relates to holiness when this number is about man (see explanation for the number seven).

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

times anvil Noun H6471 פְּעָמִ֣ים pe·'a·mim
in a year whole age Noun H8141 בַּשָּׁנָ֡ה ba·sha·nah
all all manner Noun H3605 כָל־ chol-
shall all thy males males Noun H2138 זְכוּרְךָ֜ ze·chu·re·cha
appear advise self Verb H7200 יֵרָאֶ֨ה ye·ra·'eh
before accept Noun H6440 פְּנֵ֣י pe·nei
the LORD Jehovah Noun H3068 יְהוָ֣ה Yah·weh
thy God angels Noun H430 אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ e·lo·hei·cha
in the place country Noun H4725 בַּמָּקֹום֙ bam·ma·ko·vm
which after Particle H834 אֲשֶׁ֣ר a·sher
which he shall choose acceptable Verb H977 יִבְחָ֔ר yiv·char,
in the feast feast Noun H2282 בְּחַ֧ג be·chag
of unleavened bread unleaved bread Noun H4682 הַמַּצֹּ֛ות ham·ma·tzo·vt
and in the feast feast Noun H2282 וּבְחַ֥ג u·ve·chag
of weeks seven Noun H7620 הַשָּׁבֻעֹ֖ות ha·sha·vu·'o·vt
and in the feast feast Noun H2282 וּבְחַ֣ג u·ve·chag
of tabernacles booth Noun H5521 הַסֻּכֹּ֑ות has·suk·ko·vt;
and they shall not appear advise self Verb H7200 יֵרָאֶ֛ה ye·ra·'eh
before accept Noun H6440 פְּנֵ֥י pe·nei
the LORD Jehovah Noun H3068 יְהוָ֖ה Yah·weh
empty without cause Adverb H7387 רֵיקָֽם׃ rei·kam.

People

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Parallel Verses

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King James Bible Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
Hebrew Greek English Three "Three times in a year all your males shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy your God in the place which he shall choose; in He chooses, at the feast Feast of unleavened bread, Unleavened Bread and in at the feast Feast of weeks, Weeks and in at the feast Feast of tabernacles: Booths, and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:empty-handed.
New American Standard Bible 1995 Three "Three times in a year all your males shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy your God in the place which he shall choose; in He chooses, at the feast Feast of unleavened bread, Unleavened Bread and in at the feast Feast of weeks, Weeks and in at the feast Feast of tabernacles: Booths, and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:empty-handed.