Foundation, structure, and earthly stability. Four is the number of the physical world β four directions, four seasons, four elements.
Four cardinal directions, four seasons, four classical elements (earth, air, fire, water). In Christianity, four Gospels. The square β archetypal stability.
UNLUCKY β the word for 4 (sΓ¬) sounds like the word for death (sΗ). Buildings skip floor 4; phone numbers without 4 cost more. Tetraphobia is widespread.
Dalet β door, poverty, lowliness before God. Four letters in the Divine Name (YHWH). Four cups of wine at Passover seder. Four questions.
Four Vedas, four stages of life (ashramas), four castes (varnas), four goals (purusharthas). Deeply structural and foundational in Hindu cosmology.
The Four Noble Truths β the most fundamental teaching of Buddhism. The four foundations of mindfulness. Four immeasurables (loving-kindness, etc.).
Four sacred months in the Islamic calendar. Four archangels: Jibreel, Mikail, Israfil, Izrail. Four schools of Islamic law (madhabs).
Deeply split: sacred in most traditions, but severely unlucky across East Asia due to phonetic similarity to the word for death.