Meaning of Numbers: The Number 223
The possible meaning of the number 223 is derived from the occurrence of certain words and Biblical history.
One of God's Jubilee years, which occurs every 50th year and runs from one Day of Atonement to the next, ended on September 13 in 223 A.D. The Jubilee was meant to be a happy time in ancient Israel as land was to be returned to their original Israelite owners and all Israelite slaves employed by their brethren were to be set free.
And you shall number seven Sabbaths of years to you, seven times seven years. And the time of the seven Sabbaths of years shall be forty-nine years to you . . . And you shall make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee to you, and you shall return each man to his possession, and you shall return each man to his family (Leviticus 25:8, 10, HBFV).
Appearances of Number Two Hundred Twenty-Three
One of the Hebrew names for God, Jehovah (Strong's #H3068), is recorded 223 times in the original language of the book of Joshua. Referred to as the Tetragrammaton since the word is composed of four consonants (YHVH), its first use in the book is in chapter 1.
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord (Jehovah) it came to pass, that the Lord (Jehovah) spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying . . . (Joshua 1:1, KJV).
The English word "ten" is written 249 times in 223 King James Bible verses. It is penned the most in 1Kings (21 times) followed by both the books of Genesis and Numbers with 18 occurrences each.
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? (Luke 15:8, KJV).
Returning Captives and Number 223
The Bible takes great pains to tell us which and how many descendants of Judah's Babylonian captives returned home. Two sets of families had 223 descendants return to Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:1).
The children of Hashum, two hundred and twenty-three (223, Ezra 2:19).
The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred and twenty-three (223, Ezra 2:28).
When and how did those in Judah end up in Babylon? The Kingdom of Judah, ruled by King Jehoiakim, experienced its first attack from Babylon in 605 B.C. The attack caused the prophet Daniel, his three friends, and others to be taken captive (Daniel 1:1 - 3, 2Kings 24:1).
Babylon attacked a second time in 597 B.C. This time they took Judah's eighteen-year-old King Jehoiachin (2Kings 24:8) captive as well as his family and their servants. They also took as prisoners all others of the royal court, all the governing officials, all the men of war and even the craftsmen and smiths (2Kings 24:14 - 16).
The last time Babylon attacked, in 586 B.C., Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple burned to the ground. Still more captives were taken out of the land and only the poorest were allowed to stay (2Kings 25:11 - 12). All the Babylonian captives, including the 223 men from the families mentioned above, were not allowed to return until King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree allowing them to do so in 539 B.C. (Ezra 1:1 - 4).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 223
The Hebrew word moed, Strong's #H4150, is written 223 times in the Old Testament's original languages. It is written the most in Numbers (65 times) followed by Leviticus (49) and then Exodus (38).
The word moed means an appointed time, or an appointed or fixed season. It is commonly used to refer to God's annual Holy (Feast) days. Its first use shows that God intended, from the start, for the heavens to denote when humans were to keep his Holy Days.
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons (moed), and for days, and years (Genesis 1:14, KJV).
The Hebrew word kathab, Strong's #H3789, is recorded 223 times in 212 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of 2Kings (30 times), followed by 2Chronicles (27) and then Deuteronomy (22). It is a word that means to write or record something.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Write (kathab) this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven (Exodus 17:14, KJV).
The English word "law" is recorded 223 times in 172 King James New Testament verses. It appears the most in the book of Romans (78 times) followed by Galatians (32) then the book of Acts (22).
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (Matthew 5:17, KJV).
For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified . . . (Romans 2:13, KJV).