11:11—What Does it Mean? (2025)

The 11:11 phenomenon poses a familiar question to many people, “What does it mean?” It’s a question my husband and I have pondered almost daily as one or the other, or both of us, ‘just happen’ to glance at the clock at that exact time. So, I Googled it, but the 502,000,000 answers that popped up in 0.33 seconds were not very satisfying, ranging from New Age philosophies that 11:11 has mystical powers, to Christian opinions implying the most dire of warnings to the most bountiful of blessings.

None of the many posts resonated in my spirit, so I left it to God and told Him if He had something He wanted me to understand I’d wait until He was ready to tell me. I forgot about it for some time—months, at least. Then one morning as I was reading my Bible, the Lord started me on a path through scripture that was eye-opening.

A footnote in 2 Samuel 24:8 caught my eye, and that it pointed to 1 Chronicles 11:11 suddenly seemed like a very important avenue of pursuit. As I followed the trail the Spirit led me on, I came to believe that 11:11 is specific to the events of the end times in regard to Israel. Not only is Israel front and center in the news, but Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s books The Harbinger and The Mystery of the Shemitah have served to put Christians and non-Christians alike on notice that God is on the move.

I was led to begin at 1 Chronicles 11:11 and then to check every reference in the Old Testament and in Revelation, keeping in mind that in ‘dreamspeak’, 11 means disorder, imperfection, incompleteness, and judgment; but it can also mean revelation, transition and prophecy. Would each of these scriptures somehow relate to one of those meanings?

• 1 Chronicles 11:11 is an account of David’s mighty men, which appears to be both historical in terms of Israel’s previous strength, as well as prophetic in terms of God’s mighty men of the end times. Whether grafted in or not, we are, through Jesus, members of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David.
• 2 Chronicles 11:11 speaks of fortresses, commanders and provision, which again is historical but also fits with current prophetic implications for protection and provision.
• Nehemiah 11:11 references priests who ruled over of the house of God, also historical but seemingly very prophetic of the priesthood of the believer.
• The question in Job 11:11 fits with the idea of judgment, “For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?” It’s interesting to note this in conjunction with Proverbs 11:11, “By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.” Both scriptures can be applied to the blessing and judgment of Israel.
• Isaiah 11:11, “In that day the Lord will extend His hand yet a second time to recover the remnant.”
• Jeremiah 11:11, “Behold, I am bringing disaster.” Kind of speaks for itself!
• Ezekiel 11:11 speaks of the judgment of the wicked counselors of Israel and says, “I will judge you at the border of Israel.”
• Daniel 11:11, “Then the king of the south, moved with rage shall come out and fight against the king of the north.”
• Hosea 11:11, “they shall come…and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord.”
• Zechariah 11:11, “So it (favor) was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the Lord.”
• Revelation 11:11 is about life returning to the 2 witnesses, which could represent both the Church, as the grafted-in sons of David, and Israel rising up together.

It seems pretty clear that all of the references above relate to Israel in a way that aligns with the meaning of the number 11. But writing this, I wondered if other biblical instances of 11:11 would also apply, and was not surprised to find that every other Old Testament occurrence can also be applied to Israel.

• Genesis 11:11 is obviously pre-Israel, but it speaks of Noah’s son Shem, who was an ancestor Israel, David, and ultimately Jesus.
• Leviticus 11:11 is a part of the law that was given to Moses, advising Israel of that which is clean versus unclean.
• Numbers 11:11 occurs in the midst of the complaints of the Israelites to Moses—so bad that he complained to God, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?”
• Deuteronomy 11:11 describes the Promised Land as, “a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven.”
• Joshua 11:11 relates how Israel should have dealt with all of their enemies, “And they struck with the sword all who were in it, devoting them to destruction; there was none left that breathed.”
• Judges 11:11, “So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them.” Jephthah served God above all else, setting an example that neither Israel nor Christians have followed.
• 1 Samuel 11:11, Saul led Israel to annihilate the Ammonites.
• 2 Samuel 11:11, “Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”

The 11:11s in the New Testament prior to Revelation are geared toward the Church, touching on John the Baptist, Jesus, and Christianity. But, Romans 11:11 is notable for this discussion in that it references both the Gentile Church and Israel, “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” And then, Revelation 11:11 very appropriately ties it all together with the two witnesses.

It seems pretty clear that 11:11 should be a reminder to all that both Israel and the Church play into God’s prophetic timetable, which includes both the positive and negative aspects of the meaning of 11—disorder, imperfection, incompleteness, and judgment, as well as revelation, transition and prophecy.

So, I think I’ve got it—at least for myself. I believe 11:11 is God’s reminder to watch what’s happening with Israel, and to remain alert for the signs of His coming as we, His Church, watches the unfolding of prophecy.