The number two-hundred appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, often symbolizing completeness or a significant quantity. It is used in both literal and figurative senses, reflecting the cultural and historical settings of the biblical narrative.

Old Testament References

1. Genesis 11:23 · In the genealogies, the number two-hundred is used to denote the age of certain patriarchs. For instance, "And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters" . This usage underscores the longevity of early biblical figures and the importance of lineage in the biblical narrative.

2. 1 Samuel 25:18 · Abigail, the wife of Nabal, prepares a generous gift for David to appease his anger: "Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys" . Here, two-hundred loaves and cakes signify abundance and the seriousness of her peace offering.

3. 2 Samuel 14:26 · The weight of Absalom's hair is described: "And when he cut the hair of his head—he shaved it at the end of every year because it grew so heavy on him—the weight of the hair from his head was two hundred shekels by the royal standard" . This detail highlights Absalom's physical attributes and perhaps his vanity, which plays into his later rebellion.

4. Ezra 2:65 · In the account of the return from Babylonian exile, the number two-hundred is used to describe the servants and singers: "besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 200 male and female singers" . This indicates the restoration of worship and community life in Jerusalem.

New Testament References

1. John 6:7 · During the feeding of the five thousand, Philip responds to Jesus' question about buying bread: "Philip answered, 'Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece'" . This highlights the miraculous nature of Jesus' provision, as two-hundred denarii was a substantial amount, yet insufficient for the crowd.

2. Acts 23:23 · In the account of Paul's transfer to Caesarea, the number two-hundred is used to describe the military escort: "Then he called two of his centurions and said, 'Prepare a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night'" . This reflects the Roman authority's concern for Paul's safety and the seriousness of the situation.

Symbolic and Cultural Significance

In biblical numerology, the number two-hundred can symbolize a large, complete, or significant quantity. It often appears in contexts where abundance, completeness, or protection is emphasized. The use of two-hundred in various narratives underscores the importance of the events or actions described, whether it be in offerings, protection, or divine provision.

The number also reflects the socio-economic conditions of the times, such as the value of currency (denarii) or the logistics of military operations. In each instance, the number serves to provide a deeper understanding of the narrative and the cultural context of the biblical world.1250. diakosioi -- two hundred
... two hundred. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: diakosioi Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ak-os'-ee-oy) Short Definition: two hundred Definition: two hundred. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1250.htm - 6k

3461. murias -- ten thousand, a myriad
... from murios Definition ten thousand, a myriad NASB Word Usage fifty* (1), many
thousands (2), myriads (3), thousand (1), thousands (1), two hundred million* (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3461.htm - 7k

1365a. dismurias -- twenty thousand
... Word Origin from dis and murios Definition twenty thousand NASB Word Usage two hundred
million* (1). 1365, 1365a. dismurias. 1365b . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1365a.htm - 5k

3967. meah -- hundred
... 845* (1), 928* (1), 945* (1), 956* (1), 973* (2), eleven* (3), hundred (220),
hundredfold* (1), hundreds (27), hundredth (2), one hundred (1), two hundred (1). ...
/hebrew/3967.htm - 8k

She Speaks to Two Hundred
... Chapter 4. Preaching Incidents; Wesley's Labor Colony; Dispute with Whitefield;
Curious Interruptions; The Mother of the Wesleys She Speaks to Two Hundred. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/she speaks to two hundred.htm

The Canons of the Two Hundred Holy and Blessed Fathers who Met at ...
... The Canons of the Blessed and Holy Fathers Assembled at Antioch in Syria. The Canons
of the Two Hundred Holy and Blessed Fathers Who Met at Ephesus. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the canons of the two.htm

That Varro Has Made Out that Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight ...
... Chapter 1."That Varro Has Made Out that Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight Different Sects
of Philosophy Might Be Formed by the Various Opinions Regarding the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 1 that varro has made.htm

My vineyard is Before Me; Thou, O Peaceable, must have a Thousand ...
... CHAPTER VIII. 12. My vineyard is before me; Thou, O Peaceable, must have a
thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof, two hundred. ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/12 my vineyard is before.htm

Of the virtue and Age of the Two Hundred and Fifty Bishops.
... Book III. Chapter IX."Of the Virtue and Age of the Two Hundred and Fifty
Bishops. Of these ministers of God, some were distinguished ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter ix of the virtue and.htm

American Board of Foreign Missions.
... one; of female helpers, married and unmarried, one hundred and thirty-nine;"making
a total of laborers beyond sea from this country of two hundred and eighty ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/american board of foreign missions.htm

Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
... seventeen church members."Domestic missions"one hundred and seventy-eight missionaries,
forty-one thousand church members."Total"two hundred and forty ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/missions of the methodist episcopal.htm

From the Thirteenth Chapter.
... being reckoned up, you will find to give the number as above: a one, n fifty, t
three hundred, e five, m forty, o seventy, s two hundred,"which together ...
/.../from the thirteenth chapter.htm

A Description of the Sea-Coast, Out of Pliny and Strabo.
... Strabo goes backward: "Tyrus is not distant from Sidon above two hundred
furlongs":"five-and-twenty miles. ... Sum total is two hundred and nineteen miles. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 10 a description of.htm

How Cyrus, King of the Persians, Delivered the Jews Out Of
... BOOK XI. Containing The Interval Of Two Hundred And Fifty-Three Years And Five Months.
From The First Of Cyrus To The Death Of Alexander The Great. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how cyrus king.htm

Two-hundred (1 Occurrence)
Two-hundred. Two-horned, Two-hundred. Two-leaved . Multi-Version
Concordance Two-hundred (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles ...
/t/two-hundred.htm - 6k

250 (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 30:23 "Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and
of fragrant cinnamon half as much, even twohundred and fifty; and of fragrant ...
/num/250.htm - 7k

200 (6 Occurrences)
... 200 (6 Occurrences). Genesis 11:23 Serug lived twohundred years after he became
the father of Nahor, and became the father of sons and daughters. (See NIV). ...
/num/200.htm - 8k

1254 (4 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:7 The children of Elam, one thousand twohundred fifty-four. ... Ezra 2:31 The
children of the other Elam, one thousand twohundred fifty-four. ...
/num/1254.htm - 7k

Fifty-four (7 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:7 The children of Elam, one thousand twohundred fifty-four. ... Ezra 2:31 The
children of the other Elam, one thousand twohundred fifty-four. ...
/f/fifty-four.htm - 8k

Body-covers (25 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 1 Kings 10:16 And Solomon made twohundred body-covers of hammered gold,
every one having six hundred shekels of gold in it. (BBE). ...
/b/body-covers.htm - 14k

Shields (44 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). 1 Kings 10:16 King Solomon made twohundred
bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler. ...
/s/shields.htm - 19k

Fourscore (33 Occurrences)
... 25:7 So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs
of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was twohundred fourscore and eight. ...
/f/fourscore.htm - 16k

Males (51 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Genesis 32:14 Twohundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, twohundred
females and twenty males from the sheep, (Root in BBE). ...
/m/males.htm - 22k

Threescore (87 Occurrences)
... Acts 23:23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready twohundred
soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two...
/t/threescore.htm - 33k

What is the story of David and Nabal? | GotQuestions.org

What happened between Paul's third and fourth missionary journeys? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Porcius Festus? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus