Meaning of Numbers: The Number 124
The English phrase "hundred and twenty and four," used for the number 124, is not recorded in the King James Bible.
The possible meaning of the number 124 is derived from the Biblical calendar and from the occurrence of certain Hebrew words.
Construction began on the temple of Olympian Zeus, in ancient Athens, in the 6th century B.C. It was not completed, however, until more than 600 years later! It took Roman Emperor Hadrian's massive building program, started in 124 A.D., to finish the temple. The edifice was formally dedicated by the Emperor in 132 A.D.
Appearances of Number One Hundred Twenty Four
The Hebrew word chemah, Strong's #H2534, is recorded 124 times in 117 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is written the most in the book of Ezekiel (33 times) followed by Jeremiah (17) and then the Psalms (15).
Chemah can reference heat in the sense of rage, anger, wrath or indignation. Its first use revolves around Rebekah's advice to Jacob after he had stolen the birthright blessing from Esau by pretending to be him!
Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury (chemah) turn away (Genesis 27:43 - 44, KJV).
Pour out thy wrath (chemah) upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name (Psalm 79:6, KJV).
The Hebrew word peh, Strong's #H6310, is written 124 times in the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible). The book of Numbers, in this set, contains the most occurrences with 49.
Peh can refer to the mouth of animals or beasts, or the mouth of a river, or to any opening literally or figuratively. Its first use in the Bible involves God's condemnation of Cain for murdering his brother Abel.
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth (peh) to receive thy brother's (Abel's) blood from thy hand . . . (Genesis 4:10 - 11, KJV).
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths (peh), that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 31:19, KJV).
The Hebrew word chashab, Strong's #H2803, is written 124 times in 122 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is recorded the most in the Psalms (18) then Exodus (13) then both Isaiah and Jeremiah (12 each).
The word chashab can reference a variety of actions such as thinking, planning, regarding, esteeming, calculating, imagining or counting. Its first use revealed that Abraham's faith in God's ability to bless him and produce countless descendants (when Isaac was not yet born) was considered righteous.
And he (God) brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and he counted (chashab) it to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:5 - 6, KJV).
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought (chashab) upon his name (Malachi 3:16, KJV).
Sabbatical and Jubilee Years
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 8 in 123 A.D. This special year ended on September 26 in 124 A.D.
God also 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 October 5 in 124 A.D. a Jubilee year began. It lasted until September 25 of 125 A.D.
Number 124 and God's Name
One of the Hebrew names for God, Jehovah (YHVH, Strong's #H3068), is recorded in 124 verses in the book of 2Samuel. The first use of the Tetragrammaton in this book is in regard to David and his men mourning when they were informed King Saul and Jonathan, David's close friend, were killed in battle.
And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord (Jehovah), and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword (2Samuel 1:12, KJV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 124
There are 3 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 124 times.
The English word "verily" is written 124 times in the King James New Testament. It is recorded the most in the gospel of John (50 times) followed by Matthew (30) then Mark (15). The word is usually translated from the Greek amen (Strong's #G281) but can also be derived from men (#G3303) and others. It is used to underscore the trustworthiness or truthfulness of what is being stated.
The word "verily," out of its 124 New Testament uses, is recorded twice in a single verse in John 1:51, 3:3, 5, 11, 5:19, 24 - 26, 6:32, 47, 53, 8:34, 51, 58, 10:1, 7, 12:24, 13:16, 20 - 21, 38, 14:12, 16:20, 23 and 21:18.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man (John 1:51, KJV).
The Hebrew word naphal, Strong's Concordance #H5307, is written 124 times in the Major Prophets. The book of Ezekiel records it the most with 54 mentions, followed by Jeremiah (45) and Isaiah (25).
Naphal word can mean to fall, to cast down, to fail, to overthrow or to smite. God uses the word in Isaiah to reveal his punishment against the Kingdom of Judah for their rejection of Him and His laws.
For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water . . .
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen (naphal): because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory (Isaiah 3:1, 8, KJV).
But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down (naphal); and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt (Ezekiel 30:25, KJV).