Meaning of Numbers: The Number 44
The English phrases "forty and four" and "four and forty," used for the number 44, are recorded 5 times in 5 King James Bible verses. They are found once in the book of 1Chronicles and four times in Revelation. The phrase "forty forth" for 44th is not found in the KJV Bible.
Part of the meaning of the number 44 comes from Jesus' earthly ministry. The Lord was crucified and killed on Wednesday, April 5 in 30 A.D. He appears, after being resurrected, several times to different sets of people.
His ninth and last appearance in the flesh takes place on Thursday, May 18. On this day he gives his final instructions to his disciples and then ascends to God's right hand (Acts 1:4 - 12). The period between his crucifixion and his ascension is 44 days.
Isaiah 44 begins an interesting stretch of Scriptural text. Starting in verse 6 and running until 45:22, the Lord proclaims eight times that he alone is God.
"Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer even the Lord of hosts, 'I AM THE FIRST, AND I AM THE LAST; and besides Me there is no God . . .
" 'Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time; and have declared it? So you are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Yea, there is no other Rock; I know not one.' " (Isaiah 44 verses 6, 8, HBFV, see also 45:5 - 6, 14, 18, 21 - 22).
Verse 44 of John 6 reveals that a person must be drawn to faith in Jesus by God the Father. Once they are drawn, they have the opportunity of becoming a true Christian and, upon being faithful until death, be resurrected from the dead at Jesus' Second Coming.
No one can come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44, HBFV).
Appearances of Number Forty-Four
Some words, in the original language text of the King James Bible, appear exactly forty-four times. These include the Hebrew words okel (Strong's #H400), which is usually translated as "food" or "eating" (Genesis 41:35 - 36) and chalab (#H2461) which is translated as "milk" (Genesis 18:8).
The Greek word dioko (#G1377), translated as "persecute" or variation, is found 44 times in the Greek New Testament (Matthew 5:10 - 12). Also appearing forty-four times is Ioudaia (#G2449) for Judea. Judea is the most frequently referenced Roman province in the New Testament (Matthew 2:1, 5).
The 44th book in most modern translations is the book of Acts. The book is unique in that it was written in pieces. Luke, "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14), wrote chapters 1 to 13 from 58 to 60 A.D. He finished the remaining chapters of Acts in early 63 A.D. prior to the Apostle Paul's acquittal and release from a Roman prison (HBFV, second edition, Chronology V). Another interesting fact is that Luke never mentions his own name in Acts!
Verse 44 of Daniel 2 makes the glorious announcement that God's Kingdom will come to the earth after mankind's final attempt to rule himself fails miserably. It will subdue all the human-based kingdoms that came before it. It will be governed by Jesus Christ who will righteously rule with the aid of resurrected saints. This kingdom, unlike all those that came before it on earth, will last forever.
Now in the days of these kings, the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44, HBFV).
Biblical History and Number 44
The year 44 A.D. is one of the most eventful years in the early New Testament church's history. Other than what is mentioned above, it is the year Paul and Barnabas deliver much needed relief to those in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. The relief is needed as a three-year famine, predicted by the prophet Agabus, has come upon the land.
And one from among them, named Agabus, stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be a great famine throughout the whole world, which also came to pass under Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:28, HBFV).
Paul and Barnabas, after arriving back at their base in Syrian Antioch, are ordained as apostles by the local church in late spring of 44 A.D. (Acts 13:1 - 3). They then embark on an evangelistic tour that will become the first of Paul's five missionary journeys he will carry out during his ministry (Acts 13:4 - 52, 14:1 - 25). This journey will take the men roughly two and one-half years to complete.
Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, rules over Galilee and Perea as Roman tetrarch starting in 39 A.D. Two years later, he is declared king of Judea. In 44 he decides to have James, one of the original twelve disciples and brother of the Apostle John, put to death (Acts 12). James is the first apostle, called personally by Christ, to die for the faith.
Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to persecute some of those of the church; And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. (Acts 12:1 - 2, HBFV).
Herod, witnessing how much it pleased the Jews to persecute Christians, arrests Peter. An angel, however, miraculously frees Peter from prison.
Herod Agrippa, later in 44, gives a speech to ambassadors from Tyre and Sidon. His oration is lauded, with the crowd shouting that he spoke like God. Failing to reject the praise and give the true God glory, Herod is killed by the angel of the Lord who allows him to be eaten by worms and perish.
Now there was bitter hostility between Herod and the people of Tyre and Sidon . . .
And on a set day, Herod, who had put on royal apparel, sat down on the tribunal and made an oration to them. And the people cried out, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"
And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him because he did not give the glory to God; and he was eaten of worms, and died. (Acts 12:20 - 23, HBFV).
Parables and Forty Four
Chronologically, the 44th parable Jesus gave during his ministry is the parable of the great supper (banquet). He gave it between January and February of 30 A.D. Only the gospel of Luke records this parable.
"A certain man made a great supper, and invited many. And he sent his servants at supper time to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But everyone with one consent began to excuse himself . . .
"And that servant came and reported these things to his lord. Then the master of the house was angry; and he said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.' . . .
" 'For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited shall taste of my supper.' " (Luke 14:16 - 18, 21, 24, HBFV).
Kings of Israel and Judah
Jesse, the name of King David's father, is recorded in 44 verses for 47 times total in the KJV Bible. In the New Testament, he is mentioned in Matthew 1:5 - 6, Luke 3:32, Acts 13:22 and Romans 15:12.
Jesse produced a total number of eight sons (David was the youngest) and two daughters (1Samuel 17:12 - 13, 1Chronicles 2:13 - 16). His name is referenced in prophecies that predict the Messiah would come someday and ultimately rule over the world (Isaiah 11:1, 10, Romans 15:12).
Both King Jehoram and King Jotham of Judah died at the age of 44. Jehoram (sometimes called Joram in the King James, 2Kings 8:21 - 24) assumed the throne at age 32 and ruled for twelve years (853 to 841 B.C.).
Jotham co-reigned, at the age of twenty-five, with his father Azariah (Uzziah). He turned thirty-six when his dad died at which time he became sole ruler. A few years later Ahaz took the throne from him but allowed him to live until he died at the age of 44 in 732 B.C.
The longest bloodline to rule the Kingdom of Israel (northern ten tribes) began with Jehu and ended with Zechariah. This chain of five rulers lasted for 88 years (841 to 753 B.C.). This ruling dynasty fulfilled God's promise to Jehu for fulfilling his will.
And the Lord said to him, "Jehu, because you have done well in doing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in My heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel." (2Kings 10:30, HBFV).
The second longest ruling dynasty over Israel began with Omri and ended with Joram, four kings who ruled a total of only 44 years (885 to 841 B.C.).
Multiple Herods
The Greek word Herodes, Strong's #G2264, is recorded 44 times in 41 Greek New Testament verses. The word is written the most in Luke (14 times) followed by Matthew (13). Herodes, which means "heroic," is translated as the name "Herod" in the King James.
Amazingly, and rather confusingly, the New Testament lists seven different "Herods!" They are Herod (the Great, Matthew 2:1), Herod (Agrippa I, Acts 12:1), Herod (Antipas, Matthew 14:3), Herod (Philip II also called Philip the Tetrarch, Luke 3:1) and Herod (Herod II also translated in some Bibles as Herod Philip I, Mark 6:17). The two other Herods where the New Testament uses only their last name is Agrippa (Acts 25:22) and Archelaus (Matthew 2:22).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 44
There are 25 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 44 times.
The Hebrew word zebulun, Strong's Concordance #H2074, appears 44 times in 42 Hebrew Old Testament verses. The word, left untranslated in the King James, means "habitation" or "exalted." Zebulun is the name of the tenth son born to Jacob.
And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun (Genesis 30:20, KJV).
In the Old Testament, the Biblical chapters of Leviticus 23, 1Samuel 25, 2Kings 4, 1Chronicles 9, Ezra 10 and Jeremiah 32 contain 44 verses in the King James translation.
In the New Testament, the chapters Mark 12, Luke 4 and Acts 27 have 44 verses in the KJV.
The Greek word Ioudaia, Strong's #G2449, is used 44 times in 44 Greek New Testament verses. It is written the most in the book of Acts (12 times) followed by Luke (9) and Matthew (8). The word, which means "he shall be praised," is translated in the King James as "Judaea" (Judea in other translations).
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea (Ioudaia) in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1, KJV).