“In His Image”: The 168 Bridge between Genesis 1 : 27 and the Luke Lord’s Prayer

Abstract

Alphanumeric analysis and verse‑identifier arithmetic converge on the number 168 in two distant biblical loci: (1) the Hebrew word בְּצַלְמוֹ—“in His image” (Genesis 1 : 27) and (2) the cumulative identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11 : 2‑4. The number 168 (= 7 × 24) signals the sanctification of every hour of a complete week. We argue that Luke’s form of the prayer is not only Petitional, Covenantal, and Creedal but also Chronosanctifying—the liturgical engine of new‑creation life that hallows time itself. Drawing on Brant Pitre’s “new Exodus” reading [2], classical number symbolism [1], and the mathematical patterns in The Lord’s Prayer: A Mathematician’s Creed [3], we integrate creation theology, messianic expectation, and practical spirituality.

1 Introduction

Genesis crowns the creation narrative with the declaration that humanity was made “in His image”. Centuries later Jesus teaches a concise prayer that becomes Christianity’s heartbeat. An unexpected numerical thread—168—links these two moments and invites a fresh canonical reading that unfolds in four dimensions: Petitional, Covenantal, Creedal, and Chronosanctifying.

2 Methodology

1. Gematria of בְּצַלְמוֹ (“in His image”) is Bet 2 + Tsadi 90 + Lamed 30 + Mem 40 + Vav 6 = 168.
2. Verse‑identifier computation for Luke 11 : 2‑4 → 55 + 56 + 57 = 168.
3. Numerological analysis of 168, 153, 285, and 606.
4. Canonical‑theological correlation (creation, Exodus, kingdom).
5. Liturgical‑mathematical patterning of eight daily prayer times derived from 153.

3 The Numerical Data

3.1 Gematria of בְּצַלְמוֹ

Genesis 1 : 27’s phrase “in His image” [4] is a single word whose absolute value totals 168.

3.2 Identifier of the Luke Lord’s Prayer

Luke is the 42nd book: 42 + 11 + 2 = 55, 42 + 11 + 3 = 56, 42 + 11 + 4 = 57 → Σ = 168.

3.3 Interplay of 153 – 168 – 285 – 606

• 153 – number of fish in John 21 : 11; symbol of the “sons of God”.
• 168 – image/restoration number.
• 285 – identifier of the Matthean Lord’s Prayer (55 + 56 + 57 + 58 + 59).
• 606 – 153 + 168 + 285; its divisors (1, 2, 3, 6, 101, 202, 303, 606) sum to 1224 = 153 × 8, which equals the Greek isopsephy of τὸ δίκτυον (“the net”) in John 21 : 11 [3].
  This tapestry ties the prayer to the unbroken net that gathers believers into the kingdom.

3.4 The Number 168 as Symbolic Number

• 7 × 24 → a complete week, signalling the consecration of time.
• 14 × 12 → Davidic lineage (14) governing the twelve‑tribe kingdom (12).

4 Theological Synthesis

4.1 Creation and Image

Genesis presents humanity as God’s tselem—a royal‑priestly statue in the cosmic temple.

4.2 The Lord’s Prayer as New‑Exodus Petition

Pitre shows every clause echoes prophetic hopes for an eschatological Exodus [2]. The address “Our Father” invokes the father‑son Exodus motif (Ex 4 : 22) and Isaiah 63‑64, re‑activating the Genesis vocation.

4.3 Chronosanctifying (Time‑Sanctifying) Dimension

Time is first declared holy when God “blessed the seventh day and made it holy” (Gen 2 : 3): the Sabbath is a temporal sanctuary. Luke’s Lord’s Prayer extends that principle from one day to all 168 hours.

4.3.1 How the Prayer Hallows Time

• Hourly recollection – every recitation converts ordinary chronos into kairos, aligning the heart with God’s reign (“Thy kingdom come”).
• Temporal stewardship – Paul’s call to “redeem the time” (Eph 5 : 16) is operationalised; the prayer “buys back” each hour from vanity.
• Continuous priesthood – believers become the temple’s unceasing incense (Rev 8 : 3‑4), fulfilling Peter’s “royal priesthood” (1 Pet 2 : 9).

🕊️ The Lord’s Prayer as Chronosanctification: A Line-by-Line Theology of Time

Line	Temporal Function	How It Hallows Time
1. “Our Father, who art in heaven”	Recalibrates Identity Hourly	Each time we say “Our Father,” we reaffirm our covenantal identity as children of God. This orients the believer’s day—no hour is wasted when lived as a son or daughter under divine fatherhood. It recalls Israel’s new Exodus identity (Isaiah 63:16) and daily reminds us who we are.
2. “Hallowed be Thy Name”	Consecrates the Hour	By praying for God’s name to be hallowed, we “set apart” the moment in holiness. Each hour becomes a “temple moment” where God’s reputation is lifted high in our conduct and speech. Echoes Ezekiel 36:23—the sanctification of God’s name among the nations.
3. “Thy Kingdom come”	Aligns the Present with the Coming Reign	This is an invocation for kairos—God’s appointed reign—to interrupt and take over our earthly schedules. We invite heaven to reorder our chronos. It places each moment under messianic expectation.
4. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”	Activates Divine Purpose in Time	No hour is aimless: we request that God’s perfect heavenly order break into earthly events. Every decision, duty, or delay can be infused with divine intent. This turns mundane time into mission time.
5. “Give us this day our daily bread”	Blesses the Daily Cycle	It invokes provision for today only—anchoring our lives in daily trust. It hallows each day as a gift, like the manna of Exodus, reminding us that each sunrise is a fresh outpouring of grace. This teaches dependence, resisting the anxiety of hoarding time or resources.
6. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive…”	Sanctifies Past Time	This petition cleanses the memory of time. Past failures no longer dominate the present because time is now sanctified by mercy. It restores time by healing relationships, allowing the next hour to be lived in peace, not bitterness.
7. “Lead us not into temptation”	Secures the Future Hour	A plea for guidance through upcoming moments—sanctifying the unknown. It is forward-looking, preparing the soul for future tests by seeking divine leading. Every future hour is put under God’s protective hand.
8. “Deliver us from evil”	Covers Time in Spiritual Warfare	This is spiritual shielding over every tick of the clock. The unholy is repelled. Prayer here is proactive—not just reactive—warding off unseen evils that seek to steal time from God’s purpose.
9. “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory…” (Doxology)	Closes the Day with Eternal Perspective	This closing doxology lifts time into eternity. All our hours are bracketed by God’s sovereignty. It reminds us that our lives are part of a larger redemptive clock moving toward final restoration.

4.3.2 Eightfold Daily Rhythm

The eight moments derived from 153—10 : 35 am, 10 : 53 am, 1 : 35 pm, 1 : 53 pm, 3 : 15 pm, 3 : 51 pm, 5 : 13 pm, 5 : 31 pm—puncture secular time and net it for God. These hours map onto the passion timeline and distribute Sabbath‑like margins through every day [3].

4.3.3 Biblical Parallels

Precedent	Text	Fulfilment in the Prayer
Sabbath (one day made holy)	Gen 2 : 3; Ex 20 : 8‑11	168 hours sanctified
Thrice‑daily prayer	Ps 55 : 17; Dan 6 : 10	Eight‑fold rhythm
Hours of incense	Luke 1 : 10	“Our Father” rises day & night
Jubilee calendar	Lev 25	“Thy kingdom come” = final Jubilee

4.3.4 Mathematical Icon of the Net

The summation 153 + 168 + 285 yields 606; the divisor‑sum of 606 is 1224 = 153 × 8, matching the Greek isopsephy of τὸ δίκτυον (“the net”) in John 21 : 11. Thus the eight prayer‑hours (8) cast the unbroken net (1224) that gathers the sons of God (153) until the boat reaches shore.

4.3.5 Implications

• No hour is spiritually neutral; life becomes a rolling liturgy.
• Regular forgiveness disarms resentment before it ossifies.
• Work hours are offered to God (Col 3 : 23), embedding mission in routine.
• Rhythmic pauses combat hurry and restore Sabbath shalom.

4.4 Davidic‑Kingdom Resonance Davidic‑Kingdom Resonance

Matthew’s 285 points to comprehensive governance; Luke’s 168 highlights the Davidic hope (14) within the twelve‑tribe kingdom (12). Together they show that the prayer stands at the juncture of creation theology and messianic expectation.

5 Pastoral Implications

1. Weekly Rule of Prayer – adopt the eight‑fold rhythm (10 : 35 → 5 : 31) so that all 168 hours are held under the Father’s reign.
2. Imago Dei Renewal – use the prayer as daily self‑judgment (palal) to align life with God’s holiness.
3. Eucharistic Convergence – “Give us this day our daily bread” unites creation gift and eschatological banquet.
4. Mathematical Meditation – reflecting on 606 and its divisor‑sum 1224 (τὸ δίκτυον) reinforces the call to remain in the unbroken net of grace.

6 Conclusion

The shared value 168 is more than numerical coincidence; it is a canonical hyperlink from Eden’s image to the new‑creation community. Luke’s Lord’s Prayer is Petitional, Covenantal, Creedal, and Chronosanctifying—the liturgical engine that sanctifies every hour of every week until the kingdom is fully revealed.

References

• [1] S. E. Jones, The Biblical Meaning of Numbers from One to Forty 
• [2] Brant Pitre, “The Lord’s Prayer and the New Exodus,” Letter & Spirit 2 (2006) 69‑96 
• [3] J. Vanualailai et al., The Lord’s Prayer: A Mathematician’s Creed 
• [4] Hebrew (MT) and Greek (LXX) biblical texts.