Meaning of Numbers: The Number 121
The English phrase "hundred and twenty and one," used for the number 121, is not recorded in the King James Bible.
The possible meaning of the number 121 is derived primarily from the occurrence of words in the Bible's original languages.
The first chapter of Daniel, Obadiah, Zechariah and 2Peter contain exactly 21 verses (121). The book of Obadiah is unique in this group as it only contains one chapter. 2Peter 1:21 reveals the purity and truth of Scripture when it comes to prophecy.
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture originated as anyone’s own private interpretation; Because prophecy was not brought at any time by human will, but the holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2Peter 1:20 - 21, HBFV).
Joseph, at the age of 30, is inspired to correctly interpret Pharaoh's dream as symbolizing seven years of bountiful harvests followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41:1 - 36). The wisdom given him by God earns him the promotion of second most powerful individual in all Egypt (verses 39 - 46). His father Jacob, at the time of his promotion, was 121 years old. Joseph's rise will eventually lead to Jacob's entire family migrating to Egypt (Genesis 45 - 46).
Number One Hundred Twenty One Appearances
God commanded ancient Israel to keep a Jubilee year (Leviticus 25:8 - 40). When seven cycles of seven years completed (49 years total) the next, or 50th year, was declared to be a Jubilee. These years always began on the Day of Atonement (aka Yom Kippur).
On September 16 in 122 B.C. a Jubilee year began. It lasted until October 3 of 121 B.C.
The English name "Samuel" is recorded 142 times in 121 King James Verses. It is found the most in 1Samuel (131 times) followed by 1Chronicles (5). Samuel, who was born after his mother was miraculously healed of a barren womb, was the last righteous Judge of Israel before Saul was anointed King of God's people.
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord (1Samuel 1:20, KJV).
Then said the Lord unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth (Jeremiah 15:1, KJV).
The fourteen books authored by the Apostle Paul (100 chapters total), plus the epistles penned by James (5), Peter (8), John (7) and Jude (1), total 121 chapters.
The first chapters of the books of Isaiah (31), Jeremiah (19), Lamentations (22), Ezekiel (28) and Daniel (21) total 121 verses.
Number 121 and Original Words
The Hebrew word lakad (Strong's #H3920) is recorded 121 times in 112 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is utilized the most in the book of Joshua (24 times) followed by Jeremiah (22) then the book of Judges (14).
Lakad is a word that means to catch, capture or occupy something. It is first used to delineate the conquest of a key Amorite city by Moses and the Israelites.
And Moses sent men to scout out Jaazer, and they took (lakad) its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there (Numbers 21:32).
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city (Zechariah 14:2).
Jaazer was located east of the Jordan River between the Arnon and Jabbok rivers. It existed in territory controlled by the Amorites, a pagan people who were known to produce giants (Deuteronomy 3:11, Amos 2:9).
The Greek word paradidomi (Strong's #G3860) appears 121 times in 118 Greek New Testament verses. It is found the most in the gospel of Matthew (32 times) followed by Mark (20) and then Luke (17).
Paradidomi is used to convey the surrender, yielding up, entrusting or otherwise releasing something into the power of someone else. Its first use is in regard to John the Baptist losing his freedom by being delivered into prison.
Now when Jesus had heard that John was put in prison (paradidomi), He went into Galilee (Matthew 4:12, HBFV).
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered (paradidomi) unto the saints (Jude 1:3, KJV).
Paradidomi, in the King James Bible, is frequently translated as "betray" or "betrayed" as in Matthew 26.
And as they (Jesus and the disciples) did eat (the Passover), he said, "Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray (paradidomi) me" (Matthew 26:21, KJV).
Heart of a Beast
The English word "beast" is found 133 times in 121 King James Old Testament verses. It is recorded the most in Leviticus (29 times) followed by Genesis (20) and then Exodus (18).
The word "beast," the majority of the time, is used as a generic reference to an animal (a mammal or reptile). It can, however, refer to certain spirits that serve God (Revelation 4:6 - 9) or even kingdoms that possess great power.
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good (Genesis 1:24 - 25, KJV).
Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet . . .
Thus he (an angel?) said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth . . . (Daniel 7:19, 23, KJV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 121
There are 2 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 121 times.
121 is the product of 11 x 11 or 11 squared. 11 is a prime number.
121 is also the sum of three consecutive primes which are 37 + 41 + 43.
The board used to play the game of Chinese checkers has 121 holes.
The English word "hope" is written 130 times in 121 King James Bible verses. It is recorded the most in the book of Psalms (22 times) followed by Job (16) then the book of Romans (15).
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (Romans 8:24, KJV).
And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love, 1Corinthians 13:13, KJV).