Meaning of Numbers: The Number 216
The English phrase "two hundred and sixteen," used for the number 216, is not recorded in the King James Bible.
The possible meaning of the number 216 is derived from the occurrences of certain words in Scripture.
The Hebrew word paroh, Strong's #H6547, occurs 216 times in 185 verses in the Pentateuch. The word means "great house" and is translated as "Pharaoh" in the King James. It is utilized as the common title of the king of Egypt. It is used the most in the book of Exodus (115 times) followed by Genesis (94).
The first six of paroh's 216 uses occur in just four verses of Genesis 12. The word appears when Abraham and Sarah (who are roughly 75 and 65 years old respectively) are entering Egypt in order to escape a severe famine.
Sarah's striking beauty so impresses the Egyptians that they tell Pharaoh about it! His desire to have Sarah, however, gets him in trouble with God. He ends up having to expel Abraham and Sarah out of the country in order to stop God's judgment from coming upon him.
And it came to pass, that, when Abram (Abraham) was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman (Sarah) that she was very fair. The princes also of Pharaoh (paroh) saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh (paroh): and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's (paroh) house
And the Lord plagued Pharaoh (paroh) and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. And Pharaoh (paroh) called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? . . .
And Pharaoh (paroh) commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had (Genesis 12:14 - 15, 17 - 18, 20, KJV).
Appearances of Number Two Hundred Sixteen
The Hebrew word yom, Strong's Concordance #H3117, is used in 216 verses in what is known as the wisdom books of Scripture (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon). It is used the most in the Psalms (115 times) followed by the book of Job (59).
Yom, in the 216 verses in which it is used, is frequently translated as "day," "days," "time," or "daily." The book of Job, written more than 200 years before Moses wrote the Pentateuch, uses yom to offer some wise insights.
For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days (yom) upon earth are a shadow . . . With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days (yom) understanding . . . Man that is born of a woman is of few days (yom), and full of trouble . . .
If a man die, shall he live again? all the days (yom) of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come (Job 8:9, 12:12, 14:1, 14, KJV).
Moses' name appears in 216 verses in the King James Bible book of Numbers. His last appearance in this book is in the last verse of the last chapter. Interestingly, his name is also recorded in the first verse of chapter one!
And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying . . . (Num. 1:1, HBFV).
These are the commandments and the judgments which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to the children of Israel on the plains of Moab beside Jordan at Jericho (Num. 36:13, HBFV).
A Host of Angels and Number 216
The Hebrew word machaneh, Strong's #H4264, occurs 216 times in 190 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is a word that refers to an encampment, camp, company, host (either of humans or angels) or body of people. It is written the most, 49 times, in the book of Numbers followed by Judges (28) and then 1Samuel (22).
Machaneh's first use out of its 216 occurrences is in Genesis. The patriarch Jacob, after serving 20 years for Laban, leaves to go back home to Canaan with his huge family. He travels fearing he will run into his brother Esau who vowed to kill him for cheating him out of his birthright blessing (Genesis 27).
God, as Jacob journeys, allows him to see a group of angels in order to encourage him and assure him that he is being protected.
And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host (machaneh): and he called the name of that place Mahanaim (Genesis 32:1 - 2, KJV).
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands (machaneh); And said, If Esau come to the one company (machaneh), and smite it, then the other company (machaneh) which is left shall escape (Genesis 32:7 - 8, KJV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 216
There is only one word in the Bible's original languages that is recorded exactly 216 times.
216 is unique in that it is the cube of the number 6 (6 x 6 x 6).
216 can be arrived at by adding the cubes of 3, 4 and 5 (27 + 64 + 125). It can also be reached by multiplying 2 cubed (8) by 3 cubed (27).
216 in the binary system is represented as 11011000.
The tenth most frequently recorded personal name in the King James Bible is Joshua. His name is found in 197 verses for 216 total occurrences. Joshua is mentioned the most, 168 times, in the book named after him.