Meaning of Numbers: The Number 122
The English phrase "hundred and twenty and two," used for the number 122, is recorded 1 time in 1 King James Bible verse. It is found in the book of Nehemiah.
The possible meaning of the number 122 is derived from Biblical history and the occurrence of certain Hebrew and Greek words.
Many families living in Jerusalem and Judea, who had been taken out of the land by Babylon, were allowed to return to their homeland under Nehemiah and Ezra. Their freedom, prophesied through Jeremiah to occur (Ezra 1:1), took place after God moved Persia's Cyrus the Great to release the captives. The family of Michmas, among the many who were freed, had 122 men return to Judea.
These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah . . . The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two (122, Nehemiah 7:6, 31, KJV, see also Ezra 2:27).
Appearances of Number One Hundred Twenty Two
The Hebrew word or, Strong's Concordance #H216, is written 122 times in 111 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is recorded the most in the book of Job (32 times) followed by Isaiah (27) and the book of Psalms (19).
The word or, which means to illuminate something, is usually translated as "light" in the King James and other translations. Its first few appearances are in Genesis 1.
And God said, "Let there be light (Hebrew or)." And there was light. And God saw the light (Hebrew or) that it was good; and God divided between the light (Hebrew or) and the darkness. And God called the light (Hebrew or) day, and He called the darkness night. And the evening and the morning were day one (Genesis 1:3 - 5, HBFV).
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light (Hebrew or) shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light (Hebrew or) (Zechariah 14:6 - 7, KJV).
The Greek soma, Strong's #G4983, is recorded 146 times in 122 Greek New Testament verses. It is written the most in 1Corinthians (47 times), followed by the gospel of Matthew (16) then the gospel of Luke and the book of Romans (13 each).
Soma, translated as "body" or its plural in the King James, references the physical existence of either a human or an animal.
He (Joseph of Arimathea), after going to Pilate, begged for the body (soma) of Jesus (Luke 23:52, HBFV).
For pertaining to those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest for a sin offering, the bodies (soma) of all these are burned outside the camp (Hebrews 13:11, HBFV).
Entry 122 in Strong Concordance's Hebrew Definitions is adom. It is found only in six Biblical books, with Zechariah containing three occurrences with Genesis, Numbers, 2Kings, Song of Solomon and Isaiah mentioning it only once.
Adom is translated as the color "red" or "ruddy" in the King James. The word is used to denote the unique coloration of a heifer needed to ceremonially cleanse various things that were unclean.
This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red (adom) heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke . . .
And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer . . . and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin (Numbers 19:2, 9, KJV).
Beginning of a Jubilee!
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). This year was the seventh in every seven-year cycle. It began (likely) on Tishri 1 on the Hebrew calendar (Feast of Trumpets aka Rosh Hashanah).
A Sabbatical year began on September 17 in 123 B.C. This special year ended on September 7 in 122 B.C.
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 Psalms and Number 122
Psalm 122 sings the praises of Jerusalem and her holy temple, as well as requesting that prayers be offered for her peace.
I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." . . . Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you prosper. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces." (verses 1, 6 - 7 of Psalm 122).
The only Bible chapter that has more than 100 verses is Psalm 119. Verse 122 of the chapter asks God to be a surety, or pledge, against those who oppress him.
Be surety for Your servant for good; let not the proud oppress me (verse 122 of Psalm 119, HBFV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 122
Definition 122 in the Greek section of Strong's Concordance is the word aigeios. The word, which refers to something belonging to a goat, is found only once in the Greek New Testament.
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins (aigeios); being destitute, afflicted, tormented (Hebrews 11:37, KJV).
There are 2 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 122 times.
The numbers 2 and 61 are factors of 122.
As of the year 2023, the longest-lived person in modern times whose age can be proved by documentation is Jeanne Calment of France (Wikipedia). She was born on February 21 in 1875 and died August 4, 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.
Jeanne claimed not only to have met painter Vincent Van Gogh when she was 13 to 14 years old, but also to have viewed the building of Paris' Eiffel Tower that was erected from 1887 to 1889!
The English word "neighbour" (spelled neighbor in the U.S.) is recorded 135 times in 122 King James Bible verses. It is written the most in Proverbs (20 times) followed by Deuteronomy (19) and Jeremiah (18).
Out of the 122 occurrences of "neighbour" only 16 of them are found in the New Testament.
But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians (Exodus 3:22, KJV).
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest (Hebrews 8:11, KJV).