The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 160
The possible meaning of the number 160 is derived from the occurrence of certain words in Scripture's original languages.
The Greek kardia (Strong's #G2588) is recorded 160 times in the New Testament's original language. It is found the most in the book of Luke (24 times) followed by Acts (21). It is almost always translated as "heart" in the King James as a figuratively reference to a person's thoughts, feelings and intentions. Its first New Testament appearance is in Jesus' beatitudes.
Blessed are the pure in heart (kardia), for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8, HBFV).
The word nus (Strong's #H5127) appears 160 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. It is recorded the most in the book of 2Samuel (16 times) then the book of Joshua, Judges and Isaiah with 13 matches each. Nus means to flee, vanish away, escape or hastily depart. Its first of 160 uses is utilized to describe the consequences of Sodom's failed attempt to lure Chedorlaomer's army into a battlefield full of sticky tar pits.
And the valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits. And the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled (nus), and fell into them; and those who remained alive fled to the mountains (Genesis 14:10, HBFV).
Number One Hundred Sixty and Freedom
Judas (Judah) Maccabee, along with his four brothers and father Mattathias, start a revolt in Judea against the Seleucids in 167 B.C. When Mattathias dies a year later, his son Judah becomes the military commander of the rebellion. His ferocity in battle quickly earns him the title of "Judah the Hammer."
Judah, after a series of stunning victories against four Seleucid generals, in 164 B.C. enters Jerusalem and cleanses the temple. He dies in battle in 160 where his brother Jonathan succeeds him as army commander. The efforts of the Maccabees will lead Judea to become a fully independent kingdom for a short period of time (roughly 110 to 63 B.C.).
Number 160 and the Sun
The most studied star in astronomy, the sun, is found 160 times in the King James Bible. Its first two mentions in Scripture are related to prophecies concerning Abraham's descendants and a unilateral covenant made with the patriarch.
And it came to pass, as the sun was going down, that a deep sleep fell upon Abram. And, behold, a horror of great darkness fell upon him! And He (God) said to Abram, "You must surely know that your seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, (and shall serve them and they shall afflict them) four hundred years.
"And also I will judge that nation whom they shall serve. And afterward they shall come out with great substance . . ."
And it came to pass - when the sun went down and it was dark - behold, a smoking furnace and a burning lamp passed between those pieces (of Abraham's sacrifices, verse 9). In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates . . ." (Genesis 15:12 - 14, 17 - 18, HBFV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 160
The English word "praise" or its plural is recorded 304 times in the King James Bible. It shows up the most in the book of Psalms, where it occurs 160 times in its singular form and 28 times as a plural.
160 is equal to 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 (2 to the fifth power) x 5. The number 160 is also the sum of the first eleven primes (2 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13 + 17 + 19 + 23 + 29 + 31).
160 is also, surprisingly, the sum of the first three prime numbers cubed (2 x 2 x 2) + (3 x 3 x 3) + (5 x 5 x 5).