Jesus, the Perfect Bread of Forgiveness

The number 490 ties together Jesus’ birth, His purpose, and His gift of forgiveness in a beautiful way. It all fits with the Bible and Hebrew numbers.

1. Bethlehem: Where It Begins
   Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a town called בֵּית לֶחֶם (Beit Lechem) in Hebrew, meaning “House of Bread.” In Hebrew Gematria—where letters have number values—it adds up to 490:
   • ב (2) + י (10) + ת (400) + ל (30) + ח (8) + ם (40) = 490
     The Bible says, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah… yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel (Mic 5:2). This “House of Bread” gave us Jesus, who later said, “I am the Bread of Life” (Jn 6:35). His birth here starts the story.
2. Perfect and Complete: The Sacrifice
   The Hebrew word תמים (tammim), meaning “perfect” or “blameless,” also equals 490:
   • ת (400) + מ (40) + י (10) + ם (40) = 490
     In the Bible, sacrifices had to be “perfect” (Lev 22:21), and Jesus was the ultimate perfect sacrifice. Peter calls Him “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pe 1:19). Born in Bethlehem (490), He lived up to this “perfect” (490) standard, giving Himself for us.
3. Forgiveness Without Limit
   When Peter asked Jesus, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Mt 18:21-22). That’s 70 × 7 = 490. It’s not about counting; it’s about endless forgiveness. Jesus, the Bread from Bethlehem, was “given for you” (Lk 22:19) to forgive our sins—tying His life to this number of mercy.
4. A Hidden Pattern
   The name “Jesus” appears 490 times in the odd books of the Bible and 490 times in the even books (in the King James Version), splitting the Word perfectly. This truth hints at how Jesus fills the whole story of Scripture, from Bethlehem to the cross. (Click on chart to enlarge).

What It All Means

Imagine 490 as a special number God wove into Jesus’ story:

• Born in Bethlehem (“House of Bread,” 490), He’s the Bread of Life.
• Perfect and complete (tammim, 490), He’s the spotless sacrifice.
• Forgiving 70 × 7 (490), He offers mercy without end.

The Bible says, “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” (Lk 22:19). At the Last Supper, Jesus connects it all—bread, sacrifice, forgiveness—echoing Bethlehem’s promise. In Hebrew Gematria, 490 marks Him from birth to purpose, showing He’s the perfect gift for us.

The King James Bible has the fingerprint of God all over it. Matthew 18:21,22 reads:

 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? ²² Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Mt 18:21,22

But most modern translations use different older manuscripts that read:

New International Version
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

English Standard Version
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

New English Translation

Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!

New American Standard Bible + NASB 1977/ NASB 1995
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.

(Older manuscripts are not better in this case).

In Daniel 9:24, God confirms Jesus’ words of forgiveness.

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Dan 9:24.

To interpret the amount “70 weeks” equals, you need to know God’s math. A week is 7 days. Therefore 70 weeks means 70 groups of 7 or 70 x 7 = 490. In this case God is speaking of years.

This is confirmed even in the modern translations.

NIV “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed…”

NLT “A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed…”

AMP “Seventy weeks [of years, or 490 years] have been decreed…”

Daniel 9:24 prophesies that after 490 years from the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, Jesus would come, perform His ministry, die on the Cross, and bring reconciliation for humanity’s sins. This prophecy can be verified by constructing a timeline of specific historical events, confirming its fulfillment.

The number 70 x 7 = 490, significant in Daniel’s prophecy, also symbolizes forgiveness, as emphasized by Jesus in Matthew 18:22. Interestingly, Jesus’ name is mentioned 980 times in the entire Bible. While His name does not appear in the Old Testament, it is mentioned 490 times in the odd-numbered books of the New Testament (e.g., Matthew as book 1, Luke as book 3) and another 490 times in the even-numbered books (e.g., Mark as book 2, John as book 4). This symmetry highlights the completeness of His role in God’s redemptive plan.

It is important to note that there are three other individuals named “Jesus” mentioned in the Bible who are not Jesus Christ. Two of them refer to “Joshua,” the Hebrew equivalent of Jesus, and the third is “Jesus called Justus,” mentioned in Colossians 4:11. These references are excluded from the count of 490. 

JESUS, I LOVE YOU

JESUS, I LOVE YOU AND ALL THE WORDS YOU SAID

THEY RISE UP TO MEET ME DAILY THEY ARE MY BREAD