Are the Bible Codes real or are they just a lot of hot air?

Answer 1

Stated simply, “Bible codes” are generated by a computer program that selects (for example) every 50th character in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, and examines these “sequences” to see if they spell something. Since words sometimes appear in these sequences, those who find them claim that it reveals messages hidden in the Bible’s text.

Stated bluntly, I do not believe that the Bible codes are “real” for at least three reasons:

1. The Bible itself states that God made his messages clear. Deuteronomy 30:11-14 is one of many examples. Something that requires a computer could not reasonably be called “clear.” A popular “Bible Code” book states that put together as one string without spaces, the Old Testament is 304,805 characters long. If the original copy of the Bible text differs by one character, the “hidden messages” would be wrong, because the sequences would change. Although I do believe that the message and teachings of the Bible is accurate and true, I am not confident that these folks have correctly defined every one of the 304,805 characters and placed them in the perfect order. Also since some words are translated from much older words that are no long used due to the passage of time, how can one be sure that have the right sequence or spellings. One incorrect letter or sequence can throw the whole thing off.

2. If God intended to put codes in the Bible, there would be a lot more of them than the few scattered phrases people find using the Bible code computer program. Also a person can find just about anything they want to see within any long book to see if they spell something. Try and have fun with the code program using such books like Moby Dick or War & Peace and you will see the same thing.

3. I understand that some well-meaning people believe that these codes and think that their hidden messages offer further proof that the Bible is accurate. Unfortunately, this “proof” is no better than using the similar arguments that are used to support the Qur’an. Predicting the future with 100% accuracy is a much stronger proof, Jesus and others tell us clearly these such events. One which no other “holy writing” besides the Bible achieves.

Answer 2

The short answer is hot air.

The longer answer is that Kaballah is, in part, about finding hidden meaning in the Bible. Hebrew letters can also represent numbers or certain ideas, for example, so things can be read a number of ways in the original hebrew of the Old Testament. I'm not a Kaballist, so I can't form an opinion of the "validity" of what Kaballah can teach, but its a highly complex and respected system when properly studied. (Madonna running around shouting "I'm a Kaballist" not falling under my definition of "proper study.")

However, the usual sensational messages that are supposedly hidden in the Bible are mostly hot air. You string enough letters together, even random letters, and you will occasionally get unintentional words spelt out. Its not a conspiracy, its just probabilities - and people can manipulate those probabilities (such as different layouts of the letters) so that more sensational answers show up.

Answer 3

They're fiction. There are huge complicated mathematical formulas used to find letter sequences besides every other letter or every fifth letter. From Bible Codes, you could prove that there is no God, pretty much prove anything you want. And another thing is that you can't find anything prophetic because you wouldn't know what to look for until after it happened. Bible Codes are just hot air.

Answer 4

Hot air.

Take any long book, and have a computer choose the "every nth character" from it. Look in enough books and enough combinations, and you'll find some codes. Imagine what fun Harry Potter codes would be.

Answer 5

Hot air

Answer 6

Hot air... it's fake... if you read the front of the "DaVinci Code" you will see that it is a novel.

Answer 7

Fiction.

Answer 8

Money makers!