Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Why are there seven days in a week?

And on the seventh day … but why that number?
And on the seventh day … but why that number? Photograph: Alamy

I know the Bible states that God laboured for six days and rested on the seventh, but why was that period chosen by the prophets?

Chris Hankinson, Leeds

• Post your answers – and new questions – below, or email them tonq@theguardian.com. Please include name, address and phone number.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Whose Penny? Kaley Cuoco's fiancé Tom Pelphrey was clueless about The Big Bang Theory
Kaley Cuoco's fiancé Tom Pelphrey had never watched her hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory when he first met her, and he still hasn't tuned in to the nerd culture celebrating comedy series.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
I Collected 250 Anonymous Confessions About Love — Here’s What I Learned
What 1,500 strangers revealed about love behind closed doors.
Marie Claire
Marie Claire
3 Big Mistakes I’ve Made At Universal Studios' Mardi Gras I Won’t Ever Make Again
Mistakes were made though.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Why Black Animals Are Still Waiting For Homes Despite Being Perfect Companions
Walk into almost any animal shelter in the world, and a quiet pattern reveals itself. Lighter colored pets leave first. The black ones stay behind. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months. This is not a coincidence. Across countries, cultures, and shelter systems, black animals are adopted less frequently and…
Times Pets
Times Pets
Heard it on the grapevine: Polish wine’s quiet renaissance
Once thought of only for vodka and lager, Poland is in the midst of a wine-making revival that’s infiltrating restaurant lists, bars and independent suppliers
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
In My Tiny Kitchen, Every Inch Counts – Yet Drew Barrymore’s Ingenious Blender Earned a Spot on My Counter (And Replaced 3 Bulky Appliances)
The new 'Kitchen System' is a personal blender and food processor all in one, making it a must-have for small spaces (starting with mine)
Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play