Meaning of Numbers: The Number 109
The English phrase "hundred and nine," used for the number 109, is recorded 1 time in 1 King James Bible verse. It is found in the book of Genesis.
The possible meaning of the number 109 is derived from the occurrence of certain words in the Bible's original languages and from the Psalms.
The Hebrew word tsar, Strong's Concordance #H6862, occurs 109 times in 106 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of Psalms (40 times) followed by Isaiah (13) and Lamentations (10). The word usually references an adversary, foe or enemy, or even to the troubles caused by such people. This distinction is seen in Psalm 107.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy (tsar) . . . Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble (tsar), and he delivered them out of their distresses (Psalm 107:2, 6, KJV).
Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries (tsar), and avenge me of mine enemies (Isaiah 1:24, KJV).
Appearances of Number One Hundred Nine
The Hebrew shemonah, Strong's #H8083, is found 109 times in 105 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It occurs the most in Nehemiah (15 times) followed by both 1 and 2Chronicles (13 each).
Shemonah, in the King James Bible, is commonly translated as the number "eight" or "eighth." It can, however, be translated as "eighteen" when it is used in combination with the Hebrew asar (#H6240).
And he that is eight (shemonah) days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed (Genesis 17:12, KJV).
And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men (Micah 5;5, KJV).
The Hebrew shomeron, Strong's #H8111, is used 109 times in 101 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is recorded the most in 2Kings (49 times) followed by 1Kings (19) and then both Isaiah and 2Chronicles (8 each). The word is commonly translated, in the King James, as the name of the Israelite city called Samaria.
The location of Samaria was selected by King Omri, who ruled the northern ten tribes (Kingdom of Israel) from 885 to 874 B.C. Samaria, under Omri, became Israel's new capital city, maintaining its importance until the people were conquered by Assyria in 723.
And he (King Omri of the Northern Ten Tribes of Israel) bought the hill Samaria (shomeron) of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria (shomeron) (1Kings 16:24, KJV).
Therefore I will make Samaria (shomeron) as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof (Micah 1:6, KJV).
The Temple and Number One Hundred Nine
King David, just before his death, gave to his son Solomon the enormous sum of 100,000 talents of gold to be used for Jerusalem's temple (1Chronicles 22:14). How much is this gold worth today?
One Biblical talent weighs about 75 U.S. pounds or 1,094 troy ounces. A troy ounce, which weighs roughly 10% more than a U.S. (avoirdupois) ounce, is the modern standard used for trading in gold and silver. David's gift of 100,000 talents is equal to slightly more than 109 million troy ounces. At $1,700 U.S. a troy ounce, his gift would be worth close to $186 billion dollars! If we assume $1,800 per ounce, the value jumps to 196.9 billion.
The Hebrew word kanaph, Strong's #H3671, is recorded 109 times in 85 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in Ezekiel (26 times) followed by 1Kings and the Psalms (12 each). The word is used to refer to wings or the extremity of something like a shirt or skirt.
Kanaph was also used to describe how two cherubs were to be placed on the mercy seat the covered the Ark of the Covenant.
And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings (kanaph) on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings (kanaph), and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be (Exodus 25:20, KJV).
And the cherubims spread out their wings (kanaph) on high, and covered with their wings (kanaph) over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims (Exodus 37:9, KJV).
Number 109 and Vengeance
Written by King David, Psalm 109 is somewhat unique. Almost half of the song, 15 out of 31 verses (verses 6 to 15, 17 to 20, verse 29), asks God to take various levels of severe vengeance against his enemies. This attitude is in contrast to Jesus' teaching that we should love, bless and pray for our enemies even if they persecute us (Matthew 5:44).
Psalm 109 is a perfect example that not everything in the Bible, even that written by a converted person like David, is a reflection of God's perfect will or an example of attitudes we should have toward others.
When he (David's enemy) is judged, let him be condemned; and let his prayer become sin . . . Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. Let his children always beg and be vagabonds, and seek food out of their desolate places.
Let the creditor seize all that is his; and let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor. Let there be none to give mercy to him, nor any to be gracious unto his fatherless children.
Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following, let their name be blotted out . . . Let them be always before the Lord, that He may cut off their memory from the earth (verses 7, 9 - 13, 15 of Psalm 109, HBFV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 109
There are 7 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 109 times.
God commanded ancient Israel to keep a Sabbatical year, also known as the land sabbath (Leviticus 25:2 - 6) or year of release (Deuteronomy 31:10). The start of a Sabbatical year began on September 11 (Tishri 1 on the Hebrew calendar) in 109 B.C. It ended the following year on September 1 in 108.
Coincidently, another Sabbatical year began on September 13 in 109 A.D. It ran until September 2 of 110 A.D.
Verse 3 of Psalm 109 is referenced in John 15:25 while verse 8 of the Psalm is referred to in Acts 1:20.
109 is the 29th prime number. The primes that come immediately before it are 101, 103 and 107, and those immediately after it are 113, 127 and 131.
The diameter of the Sun, at 865,370 miles (1.392 million kilometers), is roughly 109 times bigger than the earth's that is 7,917 miles (12,741 kilometers).
The English word "enemy" is written 110 times in 109 King James Bible verses. It is utilized the most in the Psalms (26 times) followed by Lamentations (11). Its first Biblical use rejoices in the Lord's victory over Egypt and Pharaoh when he freed his people from Egyptian slavery.
Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy (Exodus 15:6, KJV).
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4, KJV).