Meaning of Numbers: The Number 50
The English word "fifty" used for the number 50 is recorded 157 times in 138 King James Bible verses. 151 of these appearances show up in the Old Testament while 6 of them are written in the New Testament.
The number 50 derives its meaning primarily from its relationship to the coming of God's Holy Spirit and to the High Holy day known as Pentecost.
After Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene on Sunday morning, April 9 in 30 A.D., he ascended to the Father in heaven (John 20:17). His ascension, as a type of firstfruit from the dead (Revelation 1:5), occurred on the day God told the Israelites they were to wave a sheaf composed of the firstfruits of their harvest (Leviticus 23:9 - 11). It is on this day that the count of 50 days to the Feast of Pentecost begins.
Jesus, as mankind's new High Priest in heaven, had to first offer the blood of his sacrifice (30 symbolizes this sacrifice) to God upon the heavenly atonement altar (which 20 represents) before the Holy Spirit could be available to all. This all adds up to 50, which points directly to the Feast of Pentecost.
Appearances of the Number Fifty
Of the five longest books in God's word, the book of Genesis has fifty chapters.
Noah's Ark was 300 cubits long, 30 cubits high, and 50 cubits deep (Genesis 6:15). If we assume the cubit used was 18 inches (.45 meters), we get a ship that is 450 feet (137 meters) long, 45 feet (13.7 meters) high and 75 feet (22.8 meters) wide. If we assume a 19 inch (.48 meters) cubit, the ship would be 475 feet (144.8 meters) long, 47.5 feet (14.4 meters) high and 79.1 feet (24.1 meters) wide.
The gallows which Haman built to use on his enemy Mordecai was fifty cubits high (Esther 5:14, 7:9). Haman's plans, however, to murder Mordecai and have the Jewish people exterminated was thwarted by Esther. Ironically, Haman himself hung from the gallows!
The Hebrew word rechabam, Strong's Concordance #H7346, is written 50 times in 41 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found in only three books, 2Chronicles (28 times), 1Kings (21) and 1Chronicles (1). The word, which means "a people has enlarged," is translated as the name Rehoboam.
The only known son of King Solomon, Rehoboam was king over a united Israel for only the briefest of periods. His refusal to lower the heavy tax burden his father placed on the people resulted in the kingdom splitting into two entities in 930 B.C. The northern 10 tribes became known as the Kingdom of Israel while the three southern tribes (Levi, Benjamin and Judah) became the Kingdom of Judah.
And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem . . . (1Kings 14:21, KJV).
Saving the Unworthy
Abraham was told directly by Jesus, who appeared to him as a man, that Sodom and Gomorrah's sins were grievous (Genesis 18:20 - 21). The patriarch, who understood the serious nature of the Lord's fact finding mission, sought to possibly save the cities from destruction. He immediately began to reason that it would not be right to destroy these places if 50 righteous folks were found in them.
And Abraham drew near and said, "Will You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city. Will You also destroy and not spare the place . . . Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
And the Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes." (Genesis 18:23- 26, KJV).
Abraham eventually got the Lord to agree to spare the cities of the plain if only 10 righteous were found (Genesis 18:32). Even this low number proved to be too high as only 3 people ultimately survived (Genesis 19:30).
Number 50 and God's Temple
The work of maintaining God's tabernacle in the wilderness was so laborious that only men who were under 50 years old were allowed to serve (Num. 4:1 - 3).
The number 50 is woven into the details God gave to ancient Israel regarding the curtains, customs and size required for His tabernacle in the wilderness.
A set of ten curtains were commanded to be made (Exodus 26:1) with each one constructed from fine linen and colored blue, purple and scarlet with cherubim on them. Each curtain was to have fifty loops (verse 5) and have fifty taches (clasps or hooks) of gold used to connect the curtains together (verse 6).
A set of eleven other curtains, made of goat's hair (Exodus 26:7), were also to be crafted for the tabernacle. They, too, were to be made with fifty loops but the fifty clasps were to be of brass (verses 10 - 11).
The east and wide side of the tabernacle's rectangular court was to be fifty cubits wide. If we assume the cubit used was 18 inches (45.7 centimeters), this meant each side was roughly 75 feet (22.85 meters) in width (Exodus 27:12 - 13).
Birth of the Church
In the New Testament, the word Pentecost comes from the Greek word for fiftieth (Strong's Concordance #G4005) which is pentekoste. Also known as the Feast of Weeks or Firstfruits, it was on this special Holy Day that God first poured his Holy Spirit upon about 120 believers who had gathered to keep the day. They became the firstfruits of God's spiritual harvest of humans.
Interestingly, the Greek word glossa (Strong's Concordance #G1100) is recorded 50 times in the original Greek of the New Testament. Although it is found the most in 1Corinthians (21 times) it is most importantly used in the book of Acts in relation to Pentecost. While the word can reference a literal tongue (Mark 7:33, 35) it usually is a synonym for a language or dialect spoken by a person.
And when the day of Pentecost (pentekoste) was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues (glossa) like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit), and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1 - 4, KJV).
It should be noted that those at Pentecost were inspired to speak in known human languages so that others could understand what they said (see Acts 2:5 - 11). The Apostle Paul made it clear that being inspired to speak in a known language was far better than speaking something unknown.
The one who speaks in an unknown language is edifying only himself; but the one who prophesies (teaches) is edifying the church (1Corinthians 14:4, HBFV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 50
The Old Testament writings that use "fifty" the most are the book of Number (33 times) followed by 2Kings (21) then Exodus (20). The three New Testament books that use the word are Luke, John and the book of Acts (used twice each).
There are 28 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 38 times.
50 is the product of 2 x 5 x 5 (5 squared). Both 2 and 5 are prime numbers.
50 is also equal to (3 x 3) + (4 x 4) + (5 x 5). It is also equal to (1 x 1) + (2 x 2) + (3 x 3) + (6 x 6).
The number 50 also symbolizes deliverance or freedom from a burden. God commanded ancient Israel that every fiftieth year, on the Day of Atonement, that a Jubilee was to be declared with the sound of a trumpet (Leviticus 25).
During the Jubilee year, all debts were settled in favor of the debtor and inheritances were returned to their rightful owners. Also, those who worked as slave laborers in order to repay a debt were granted their freedom to return home to their families and land.
Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan (Leviticus 25:10, NIV).
The Greek makarios (Strong's #G3107) is written 50 times in the New Testament's original Greek. It is found the most in the book of Luke (15 times) followed by Matthew (13) then the book of Revelation (7). The word means happy, blessed, fortunate or well off. Jesus used the word several times in his famous Sermon on the Mount.
Blessed (makarios) are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed (makarios) are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed (makarios) are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:3 - 5, KJV).