Meaning of Numbers: The Number 16
The English word "sixteen" for the number 16 appears 23 times in 23 King James Bible verses. 22 of these occurrences are in the Old Testament while one is in the New.
The Old Testament writings that use the word "sixteen" the most are the book of 2Chronicles (6 times) followed by 2Kings (5). The book of Acts in the New Testament books contains one use of the word.
The meaning of the number 16, in the Bible, represents love and loving. Christians are to become perfected in God's love not just by physically obeying the Commandments (which should be done anyway) but also by following the full spiritual intent of our Creator's laws and judgments (Matthew 22:37 - 40). This duality of true love is represented by 8 + 8 = 16.
In the Old Testament, 16 of the various names and titles for God specially signify His constant, never-ending love for the children of Israel.
Jacob, at the age of 130 in 1670 B.C., moves his entire family to Egypt to escape a famine in Canaan. Other than himself, of the 66 people that migrated to Egypt, 16 of them were related to Zilpah, the slave girl given to his first wife Leah (Genesis 46:18). She produced Gad and Asher, two of Jacob's twelve sons.
Appearances of the Number Sixteen
The tribe of Judah, by lot, was initially given a large section of the Promised Land as an inheritance from God (Joshua 15:21 - 63). Part of what they had the right to possess were 16 cities in what would become the lowlands of their territory.
And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages (Joshua 15:41, KJV).
Issachar was the fourth of the tribes to receive, by lot, their inheritance of territory in the Promised Land. What they received was on the western side of the Jordan River just south of the Sea of Galilee. This area included 16 cities.
And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages (Joshua 19:22, KJV).
Jehoash, king of Israel, reigned for 16 years (798 to 782 B.C.). King Ahaz reigned over Judah as sole ruler also for sixteen years (732 to 715 B.C.).
Azariah (also known as Uzziah) is made king of Judah at the young age of 16 (2Kings 15:2). A good king, he rules for the second longest period, fifty-two years (792 to 740 B.C.), of any ruler of either Israel or Judah.
There were 16 Judges (or group of Judges) that governed Israel from the time the Israelites took possession of the Promised Land to the time Saul was anointed their first human king. They were Joshua, Othniel, Ehud, Deborah and Barak, Eli, Gideon, Abimelech (North only), Tola (North only), Jephthah (East only), Samson (in the South and West only), Samuel, Ibzan (East only), Jair (North only), Elon (East only) and Abdon (East only).
Samuel's sons comprised the sixteenth and final Judge over Israel. Designated Judges by Samuel when he could no longer perform his duties, they soon became so corrupt in their responsibilities that the Israelites requested a human king be placed over them.
Number 16 and Love
Apostle Paul, in his first book to the Corinthian church, states there are sixteen distinct things about the quality of love that God has and that he wants us to have. Love is incredibly patient and very kind. It never brags about itself or does it envy others.
Perfect love does not act vainly, behave in an unacceptable manner, is not selfish, is not very easily provoke and thinks no evil of others. It mourns sin but rejoices in what is the truth. Godly love is willing to bear and endure all things, and to hope for and believe the best. This greatest of all spiritual gifts will never ever fail (1Corinthians 13:4 - 8)!
The 16th time the word "love" is used in 1John it says, "There is no fear in love . . ." (1John 4:18).
Words and Phrases
Some of the longest words in the King James Bible translation are sixteen letters long. They include covenantbreakers (Romans 1:31), evilfavouredness (Deuteronomy 17:1), lovingkindnesses (Psalm 25:6) and unprofitableness (Hebrews 7:18).
There are 133 words and phrases found exactly 16 times in the original languages of the Bible.
The words "sickness" and "branch," as well as the phrase "the Father," appear 16 times in Scripture.
The Greek word Kapernaoum, Strong's Concordance #G2584, is written 16 times in 16 New Testament Greek verses. The word, in the King James, is translated as the city name "Capernaum." Located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum was the city Jesus moved to from Nazareth when his ministry was starting.
Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum (Kapernaoum), which is upon the sea coast . . . (Matthew 4:12 - 13, KJV).
The Hebrew word khawm, Strong's #H2526, is recorded 16 times in 15 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of Genesis (9 times). The word, which means "hot," is translated as the name "Ham" in the King James. Ham was the youngest of Noah's three sons who survived the great flood.
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham (khawm), and Japheth (Genesis 5:32, KJV).
The Hebrew word chanok, Strong's #H2585, is used 16 times in 15 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of Genesis (11 times). The word, translated as the name "Enoch" in the KJV, means "dedicated" or "initiated."
Enoch was the name Cain, who was the world's first murderer, gave to his firstborn son. Enoch was also the name a man called Jared gave to his first son. This Enoch, who would become the father of Methuselah, lived only 365 years before God had to move him for his own safety.
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch (chanok): and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch (chanok) (Genesis 4:17, KJV).
And all the days of Enoch (chanok) were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch (chanok) walked with God: and he was not; for God took him (Genesis 5:23 - 24, KJV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 16
The books of Mark, Romans and 1Corinthians have 16 chapters in the King James.
The Old Testament Biblical chapters of Genesis 16, Exodus 17, Leviticus 2, 17, Numbers 12, 30, Joshua 23, 2Chronicles 12, Job 17, 35, Psalm 81, 91, Ecclesiastes 4, Song of Solomon 4, 5, Isaiah 11, Jeremiah 40, Hosea 7, 13, Amos 2, Micah 1, 6 contain 16 verses in the King James translation.
The New Testament chapters of 1Corinthians 2, 2Corinthians 7, 1Timothy 3, 4, Titus 1 and Hebrews 4 contain 16 verses in the King James.
Verse 16 of Deuteronomy 6 is referenced in Matthew 4:7 and Luke 4:12. This verse number, in Exodus 20, is referenced in Matthew 19:18 - 19, 22:39 and Luke 18:20.
Romans chapter 16 is unique in that Paul lists one woman and five men who have some relationship through blood with the apostle. Written from Corinth, the chapter acknowledges Paul's distant relatives Andronicus, Herodion and Junia (a woman) living in Rome (verses 7 and 11 of Romans 16). He also sends greetings to those in Rome from his relatives Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, all of whom are with him in the city (verse 21).