Meaning of Numbers: The Number 150
The English phrase "hundred and fifty," used for the number 150, is recorded 38 times in 34 King James Bible verses.
The possible meaning of the number 150 is derived primary from the Psalms and the use of certain original language words.
The Bible relates the fascinating story of how a King of Israel was dramatically shown, through the number 150, that rejecting God comes with consequences!
King Ahaziah, after seriously injuring himself in the second year of his reign, sends messengers to a pagan deity to inquire if he will recover (2Kings 1:2). The messengers are intercepted by Elijah the prophet, however, who informs them that the king's rejection of God will cost him his life.
Ahaziah, infuriated at Elijah's response, will ultimately send 150 armed soldiers (not including their captains) to arrest him. The first two sets of men disrespect the prophet, which earns them fire from heaven that kills them instantly (2Kings 1:9 - 10). The third set of soldiers, however, humbly request their lives be spared and are allowed to escort the prophet to Samaria. Elijah, once in the capital, tells Ahaziah he will die for rejecting God's healing. The king dies in 852 B.C.
Appearances of Number One Hundred Fifty
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. Seven cycles of these sets of seven years (49 years total) were needed before the Jubilee year (50th year) could be celebrated.
A Sabbatical year began on September 26 in 151 B.C. (Tishri 1 on the Hebrew calendar) and ended on September 16 in 150.
One of the many ways King Solomon got wealthy was through trade. He would buy a chariot from Egypt for 600 silver shekels and a horse for 150 then resell many of them to the Hittites and the Syrians for a profit (1Kings 10:28 - 29).
And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt and out of Kue. The king’s merchants received linen yarn from Kue at a price. And a chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty (150) . . . (1Kings 10:28 - 29, HBFV).
At an assumed weight of .4 U.S. ounces per shekel, 150 shekels are equivalent to 60 U.S. ounces or just under 55 troy ounces. If we assume a modern price of $20 U.S. for a troy ounce of silver, Solomon paid roughly $1,100 U.S. in today's money for a horse. He kept many horses for himself (2Chronicles 9:25), however, which was a clear violation of God's law (Deuteronomy 17:14 - 16).
Lions are mentioned 150 times in the King James translation. They are considered an apex predatory of land animals (Job 38:39) and the king of beasts. They possess not only strength and power (Proverbs 30:30), but also ferocity (Psalm 7:2), and stealth (Psalm 10:9, Lamentations 3:10).
The Psalms and Number 150
Collectively, all 150 chapters of the Psalms constitute the largest book in the entire Bible. Its popularity is such that the New Testament quotes it more than 75 times!
Psalm 150 mentions two unique Biblical musical instruments. The first one, called an ugab (Strong's #H5748), was a flute-like wind instrument made by Jubal (Genesis 4:16 - 21).
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs (ugab, verse 4, KJV).
The second one, called a tselatsal (Strong's #H6767), was a percussion instrument that produced a loud clanging sound. Its only other Old Testament reference was when King David played it while attempting to escort the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (2Samuel 6:5).
Praise him upon the loud cymbals (tselatsal): praise him upon the high sounding cymbals (tselatsal, verse 5, KJV).
This Psalm is additionally unique in that, in its only six verses, it calls upon people to praise the Lord thirteen times!
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 150
Definition 150 in the Hebrew section of Strong's Concordance is the word adarkon. The word, of Persian origin, is found only twice in the original languages of the Old Testament. It is translated in the King James as "drams."
The use of drams in 1Chronicles reveals how much was given, under the reign of King David, for Jerusalem's temple to be built by his son Solomon. Ezra's use of the word delineates the weight of materials people offered for the rebuilding of Jerusalem's temple. One dram is roughly equal to .3 U.S. ounces (8.5 grams).
And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams (adarkon), and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron (1Chronicles 29:7, KJV).
Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams (adarkon); and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold (Ezra 8:27, KJV).
The English phrase "hundred and fifty," used for the number 150, is found the most in the book of Numbers (11) followed by Genesis, 1Kings, 2Chronicles and Ezekiel (4 times each).
There is 1 word in the Bible's original languages that is recorded exactly 150 times.
The Hebrew word naga, Strong's #H5060, is the only original language word that is recorded exactly 150 times. It is written the most in the book of Leviticus (28 times) followed by Numbers and Isaiah (10 times each).
The word naga means to touch, strike, reach or draw near something. Its first use is in Genesis 3:3 where Eve tells the devil that God forbade her and Adam from even touching the tree of good and evil (Genesis 3:3).
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch (naga) it, lest ye die (Genesis 3:3, KJV).
Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched (naga) me about the time of the evening oblation (Daniel 9:21, KJV).
150 is equal to 2 x 3 x 5 x 5 (or 5 squared). The number 150 is also the sum of the primes 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29 and 31.