Meaning of Numbers: The Number 147
The English phrase "hundred and forty and seven," used for the number 147, is not recorded in the King James Bible.
The possible meaning of the number 147 is derived from Biblical history and the occurrence of certain words in the original text of Scripture.
The Greek word aphiemi, Strong's Concordance #G863, occurs 147 times in 133 Greek New Testament verses. It is written, by far, the most in the gospel of Matthew (48 times) followed by Mark (37) and Luke (33).
Aphiemi means "to send away" or to leave (depart) from someone or something. One of its first uses describes what happened after Jesus overcame the devil's 40 days of temptations in the Judea wilderness.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth (aphiemi) him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him (Matthew 4:10 - 11, KJV).
And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer (aphiemi) their dead bodies to be put in graves (Revelation 11:9, KJV).
Appearances of Number One Hundred Forty Seven
The Greek word charis, Strong's #G5485, is written 156 times in 147 Greek New Testament verses. It appears the most in the book of Romans (25 times) followed by 2Corinthians (18) and then the book of Acts (16). The word is usually translated "grace" or "favor" in the King James translation.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor (charis) with God (Luke 1:30, KJV).
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace (charis) and truth (John 1:14, KJV).
Jeremiah's name is the 13th most written personal name in the King James Bible translation. It is recorded 147 times in 133 verses. It is found the most in the book of the same name (131 times) followed distantly by the books of 1 and 2Chronicles, along with Nehemiah, which each list it 4 times.
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin . . . (Jeremiah 1:1, KJV).
The patriarch Jacob (renamed Israel by God), in 1653 B.C., dies in Egypt at the age of 147. His body is embalmed and laid to rest in a family cave near Hebron. He is buried is the same place as his grandfather Abraham and father Isaac (Genesis 49:29 - 50:13).
Number 147 and Infinity
Psalm 147 is a song that rejoices in God's power and extolls his mercy toward humans.
O praise the Lord for it is good to sing praises to our God, for praise is pleasant and becoming. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names (verses 1 to 4 of Psalm 147, HBFV).
Psalm 147 is also one of only three places in the Bible where the word "infinite" is found in the King James translation (the other two are Job 22:5 and Nahum 3:9).
This English word "infinite" is, fascinatingly, derived from two Hebrew words. The first, ayin (Strong's Concordance #H369) means "nothing" or "not exist" and refers to something that is a non-entity. The second, mispar (Strong's #H4557), refers to any number whether it be small or incredibly large (innumerable).
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite (ayin mispar) The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground (verses 5 - 6 of Psalm 147, KJV).
Psalm 147 is additionally unique in that it is one of only six places where ayin mispar is translated as a single King James translation word!
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 147
There are 2 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 147 times.
147 is equal to 3 x 7 x 7 (or 7 squared). Both 3 and 7 are prime numbers.
Macedonia, with its capital city of Thessalonica, became a Roman province in 147 B.C. It was one of the primary provinces the Apostle Paul focused most of his evangelistic efforts.
It is also in 147 B.C. that Judea gains its independence but only for a relatively brief period of time. Jerusalem falls, in 63 B.C., at the hands of the Romans with Judea occupied by troops.