The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 101
The possible meaning of the number 101 is derived primary from the occurrence of words and from Noah's Flood.
The Hebrew word meat, Strong's #H4592, occurs 101 times in the Old Testament. It usually refers to a little or few of something, with its first use recorded when Abraham entertained Jesus in the flesh accompanied by two angels!
And he (Abraham) lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door . . . (and he said) Let a little (meat) water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree (Genesis 18:2, 4, HBFV).
Hebrew raab, Strong's #H7458, is also recorded 101 times in the original language of the Old Testament. Found 33 times in Jeremiah and 24 in Genesis, it is usually translated as "famine" in the King James. Its first two Scriptural uses involved Abraham.
And there was a famine (raab) in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine (raab) was grievous in the land (Genesis 12:10, KJV).
The Greek kalos, Strong's #G2570, is used 101 times in the New Testament. Written twenty-one times in the book of Matthew, the word is usually translated as "good" in the King James Bible.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good (kalos) fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire (Matthew 3:10, KJV).
The Psalms and Number One Hundred One
Psalm 101 is one of mercy and justice that encourages people to live with a clean conscience while warning those with a perverse heart will be rejected. The Treasury of David speculates this song may have been written just before David became king.
I will behave myself wisely in a blameless way. O when will You come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before my eyes. I have hated the work of those who turn aside . . . He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not remain in my sight (Psalm 101:2 - 3, 7).
Number 101 and the Flood
Eber was the great-grandson of worldwide flood survivor Shem (Genesis 11:10 - 14). At the age of thirty-four, 101 years after the flood took place in 2313 B.C., he had a firstborn son named Peleg. In Hebrew Peleg's name means division or earthquake (Strong's #H6389). Scripture makes the following interesting statement about him that may hint at when the earth's landmasses became separated.
And Eber begat two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, FOR IN HIS DAYS THE EARTH WAS DIVIDED . . . (Genesis 10:25, HBFV).
Noah's flood likely enabled massive amounts of water, in the form of ice, to form in the earth's Polar Regions. This ice would have provided a traversable connection between continents for the first few generations after the deluge. As the ice melted, however, these bridges would have disappeared. Rising sea levels, also caused by the melting ice, would have separated still other landmasses by submerging their land bridges. These events, less than 101 years after the flood, may have been how Peleg got his name!
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 101
This number is often used in class names to designate the beginners or entry-level course of a subject such as "Astronomy 101."
101 is the sum of five primes (13 + 17 + 19 + 23 + 29). This number is also the 26th prime. The primes before it are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89 and 97.
According to the Free Dictionary, more books are now published with a title that begins with the number 101 (such as "101 Ways to . . .") than with 100. This is likely a marketing technique used to entice sales by offering something "a little extra."