In researching this inconsequential number, I discovered the band Smashing Pumpkins had a song titled Thirty Three; There’s a business in South Carolina called Thirty Three Butterflies that designs dog bandanas and hair scrunchies; for just a little bit more, Thirty Three & Third is the seventh studio album by former Beatle, George Harrison; the number Thirty-three is drawn about twenty-five percent of the time in the Loto, and unfortunately Lounge Thirty-Three in Riverside CA has permanently closed.

So what’s the big deal about Thirty-Three? It’s not the number, it’s the sound that ‘TH’ makes in words like this or that, and thread or thunder. Why is that so important? Yesterday while visiting the UIC Craniofacial Center in Chicago, Suzanne pronounced the best ‘TH’ sound I have heard from her since surgery three years ago.

During her checkup visit, Dr. S added more material to the back of her palate prosthesis which brought the device even closer to her tongue. She said it felt like I have a marble in my mouth. From there, Suzanne was asked to say words, and it’s those sounds that tell the Dr if the adjustments in the prosthesis worked. So she asks Suzanne to repeat several phrases.

First up, an oldie but goodie, “Go Get Gary”. Then it was the word “judge” multiple times. Finally, count starting at thirty. To which we heard Thirty, Thirty-one, Thirty-two, and then the double ‘TH’ . . . Thirty-Three

As Suzanne continued to count, Dr. S looked over at me with a smile on her face and gave me a big thumbs-up. She could tell by the smile on my face that we were both on the same page and that page was how clearly we could hear Suzanne pronounce the ‘TH’ sound.

Although the number Thirty-three isn’t much of a big deal, yesterday, it was a winning number. I wish I would have bought that lotto ticket.

These were the sons Leah bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, besides his daughter Dinah. These sons and daughters of his were thirty-three in all.

Genesis 46:15