The number 12 is a highly symbolic number that has carried meaning and significance across cultures and throughout history. In numerology, 12 is considered a very spiritual number representing wholeness and completion. In the Bible, there are 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles of Jesus. From the 12 signs of the zodiac to the 12 months in the Gregorian calendar, the number 12 has been engrained in everything from mathematics to religion. So what exactly makes the number 12 so special and meaningful? Here we will explore the origins and symbolism behind the ubiquitous number 12.
Numerology
In numerology, the study of the mystical relationship between numbers and living things, 12 is one of the most important numbers. This is because it is considered a “perfect number” – meaning its factors (including 1 and itself) add up to itself. The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12, which add up to 12. Perfect numbers were considered highly symbolic in ancient mystic traditions, said to represent completion, totality, and a cycle that comes full circle.
Twelve is also significant because it consists of 10 (a foundational and complete number in numerology) plus 2 more, symbolizing going just beyond completeness into a new realm or cycle. For this reason, 12 is strongly associated with the zodiac, months of the year, hours of the day, and many other cyclical concepts rooted in the number 12.
Attributes of 12 in Numerology
Here are some of the main symbolic attributes associated with the number 12 in numerology and mystic numerological traditions:
| Wholeness | 12 represents the completion of a cycle, as it symbolizes the 12 months of the year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles, etc. |
| Harmony | The number 12 brings harmony through bringing diverse elements together into a cohesive whole, like the 12 notes in a musical scale. |
| Cosmic Order | 12 is said to reflect the order and symmetry of the cosmos and universe. |
| Spiritual Enlightenment | In Tarot, 12 is linked to The Hanged Man card representing self-sacrifice and enlightenment. |
| Infinite Possibilities | 12 has many factors and multiplications (12, 24, 36, etc), allowing seemingly infinite permutations. |
So in summary, 12 represents a complete cycle and perfect order which allows higher understanding, purpose, and potential.
12 in Religion & Myth
The number 12 has carried deep symbolic meaning in religions across the world, often representing the holy force that holds everything together in divine order and harmony.
12 in Christianity
– There were 12 apostles of Jesus who spread his teachings. This reflected the 12 tribes of Israel descending from the 12 sons of Jacob in the Old Testament.
– Revelation describes the New Jerusalem as having 12 gates, 12 angels, 12 pearls, and other instances of the number 12 reflecting its holy status.
– Jesus performed 12 recorded miracles in the Gospel accounts.
So the number 12 was used to demonstrate how Christianity represented a completion and new beginning compared to the Old Testament, ushering humanity into a new era of spiritual truth. The 12 apostles unified around Christ reflected the 12 tribes unified around God.
12 in Islam
– There are 12 Imams revered in Shi’a Islam as divinely ordained successors to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
– The 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, is believed to still be alive guiding humanity hidden from view, and will emerge at the end times as a messianic figure.
So again, the 12 Imams in Shi’ite Islam represent the 12 tribes of Israel, symbolic of divine completeness and authority.
12 in Hinduism & Buddhism
– Hinduism describes 12 Adityas or incarnations of the sun god.
– In Buddhism, Buddha’s teachings are summarized in 12 categories known as the 12 Nidānas.
– The branches of the Bodhi Tree that Buddha sat under were said to have 12 shoots.
Once more, the number 12 represents the wholeness and perfection of the teachings of these faiths.
12 Zodiac Signs
One of the most widely known symbolic instances of 12 is in the 12 signs of the Zodiac wheel. In Western Astrology, the zodiac contains 12 constellations that the Sun passes through over a year-long cycle. Each sign governs 30 degrees of the 360 degree circle, broken into 12 divisions of 30 degrees for each sign.
Here are the 12 zodiac signs in order:
| Aries | Mar 21 – Apr 19 |
| Taurus | Apr 20 – May 20 |
| Gemini | May 21 – June 20 |
| Cancer | June 21 – July 22 |
| Leo | July 23 – Aug 22 |
| Virgo | Aug 23 – Sept 22 |
| Libra | Sept 23 – Oct 22 |
| Scorpio | Oct 23 – Nov 21 |
| Sagittarius | Nov 22 – Dec 21 |
| Capricorn | Dec 22 – Jan 19 |
| Aquarius | Jan 20 – Feb 18 |
| Pisces | Feb 19 – Mar 20 |
In astrology, the 12 zodiac signs represent 12 personality types and ways of expressing human traits and emotions. Each sign is also ruled by a planet in the solar system, creating an astrological link between human affairs and the cosmos.
12 Months of the Year
The Gregorian calendar used internationally today contains 12 months spanning the year’s cycle. While calendars have varied over human history, the majority have been based around a 12 month cycle, likely inspired by the 12 cycles of the moon across the course of one orbit around the Earth.
Here are the 12 months of the Gregorian calendar:
| January | 31 days |
| February | 28/29 days |
| March | 31 days |
| April | 30 days |
| May | 31 days |
| June | 30 days |
| July | 31 days |
| August | 31 days |
| September | 30 days |
| October | 31 days |
| November | 30 days |
| December | 31 days |
The 12 month calendar represents the completion of Earth’s full yearly cycle around the Sun. Many calendar systems used 13 months instead of 12, with the 13th month allowing realignment between the lunar and solar cycles. But 12 months proved the most convenient division of a year based on lunar cycles.
12 Hours on a Clock Face
On analog clocks and watches with hour and minute hands, there are 12 numerical hours marked on the face going around the circle. Once the hour hand goes around the full 12 hour cycle, it starts again at 1, representing a complete revolution.
While hours in a full day actually total 24, starting at midnight, the 12 hour clock divides this in half for convenience. The 12 hours on the face of a clock represent half of a full 24 hour day. 12 AM signifies the start of a new day at midnight, while 12 PM signifies noon at the middle of a day.
So the 12 hour clock further reflects the symbolic significance of 12 in representing a complete cyclical journey, whether a full day or year. The 24 hour full day is split in two 12 hour halves.
12 Days of Christmas
In the Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” counting up increasing gifts for each day represents completeness across the 12 days. The 12 days in the song are also symbolic of the 12 days between Christmas day December 25 and the Epiphany on January 6, commemorating the Magi’s visit to the baby Jesus.
12 Inch Foot
The imperial and US customary measurement systems are based around a foot equaling 12 inches. This 12 inch standard for a “foot” length has been used for thousands of years dating back to ancient Roman times. While not based on anything cosmic, the number 12 again represents a complete standardized measurement unit fundamental to calculation.
12 Egg Carton
A standard egg carton holds one dozen eggs, which equals 12 eggs. This amounts to a customary complete carton of eggs for handling and transporting. The dozen or group of 12 again reflects wholeness and completion for a customary packaged set of eggs.
Jury of 12
In the Anglo-American common law legal system, the traditional standard jury contains 12 people. This hearkens back to ancient English common law precedents requiring “12 good men and true” to render a verdict. While sometimes varied today, the 12 person jury represents the completeness of testimony and evidence required to achieve a unified verdict.
12 Step Programs
12 step programs are peer support systems used to treat addictions, compulsive behaviors, and mental health issues. The original 12 step program was Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), but the template has been used for many other recovery programs since. The 12 steps represent a complete, incremental path to recovery through admission of powerlessness, self-analysis, making amends, and helping others.
Conclusion
In summary, the number 12 has carried deep symbolic meaning across cultures and eras representing cosmic order, cycles, spiritual enlightenment, divine rule, and completeness. This likely derives from ancient numerological beliefs in 12 as a “perfect number”, astronomical observation of 12 cycles of heavenly bodies, and convenience of using 12 divisions for calendars, timekeeping, organized religion, and other purposes. While often arbitrarily chosen, the prevalence of 12 as a number representing wholeness reflects a universal human recognition that it just feels complete.