Meaning of Numbers: The Number 56
The English phrase "fifty and six," used for the number 56, is recorded 4 times in 4 King James Bible verses.
The possible meaning of the number 56 is derived from Biblical history
In 56 A.D., the Apostle Paul is in the middle of his long stay at Ephesus (Acts 19). His sojourn in the city, however, ends when he is chased out by a riot encouraged by an Ephesian silversmith named Demetrius in 57 A.D.
Paul is 56 years old in 58 A.D. As part of his third evangelistic journey, he travels from Macedonia to Troas where he has to resurrect a man back from the dead who had fallen asleep during one of his long late night messages (Acts 20:6 - 11)! The apostle then continues his travels until he arrives in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost that occurs on May 21 this year.
Appearances of Number Fifty-Six
The Hebrew word zara, Strong's Concordance #H2232, is recorded 56 times in 54 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in Leviticus (9 times) followed by Isaiah (7) and then the books of Genesis and Jeremiah (6 each). The word, which means "to sow or scatter seed" or "disseminate," is usually translated as "yielding," "sow," or "sown" in the King James.
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding (zara) seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so (Genesis 1:11, KJV).
Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow (zara) the land (Genesis 47;23, KJV).
Book number 56, in most modern translations, is Titus. It was written by the Apostle Paul in 63 A.D. and represents, along with 1Timothy, his last writings before his final letter in 67.
The version of Scripture originally canonized by Ezra and the Apostle John does not have a fifty-sixth book as it contains only 22 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New for a total of 49 (the square of 7).
Nadab's name (Strong's Concordance #H5070) in Gematria (adding the numeric value of each Hebrew letter in his name) is 50 + 4 + 2 or 56. Nadab was the son of the Kingdom of Israel's first ruler named Jeroboam I. Nadab's own reign lasted roughly a year, from 909 to 908 B.C., due to him being murdered by Baasha who would become the kingdom's third sovereign.
The English word "honey" is found 56 times in 56 verses in the King James Bible. It occurs the most in Deuteronomy (8 times) then Ezekiel (6). God labeled the Promised Land the "land of milk and honey" due to it abundance of flowers and pastureland fit for grazing animals.
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey . . . (Exodus 3:8, KJV).
Chapters, Verses and Words
There are 10 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 56 times.
In the Old Testament, the only Biblical chapter to contain 56 verses in the King James translation is Numbers 33.
In the New Testament, the chapters Mark 6, Luke 8 and 23 have 56 verses in the KJV.
The book of Habakkuk, one of the Minor Prophets, has only three chapters and 56 verses.
Fleeing Enemies and Number 56
Psalm 56 was written by King David prior to becoming Israel's king. After fleeing King Saul's wrath (see 1Samuel 20:31), he finds himself at Nob where the High Priest and God's tabernacle was located. Famished and tired after his long journey, he requests and receives bread dedicated to worshipping God (the showbread), a merciful act later referenced by Jesus (1Samuel 21:1 - 6, Matthew 12:2 - 4).
After David takes the holy bread, as well as the sword of Goliath kept by the High Priest Ahimelech (1Samuel 21:8 - 9), he continues to flee Saul. He travels to the Philistine city of Gath where he feigns madness in order to avoid the city's king arresting him (verses 10 - 15). It is during his stay in Gath that he composes Psalm 56.
When I cry out to You, then my enemies will be turned back. This I know because God is for me. In God - I will praise His word; in the Lord - I will praise His word.
In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (verses 9 to 11).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 56
The Hebrew word amah, Strong's Concordance #H519, is recorded 56 times in 49 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in 1Samuel (10) followed by Exodus (9) and then Deuteronomy (8). The word, which means "maidservant" or female slave, is usually translated as "maidservant," "bondwoman," or "handmaid" in the King James.
The Old Testament did permit slavery (servitude) but only under special circumstances and with restrictions. Slavery within Israel was meant to be far more humane compared to the rest of the world. The Bible commanded that those who were slaves receive good treatment (Leviticus 25:43 - 46). They were allowed to have a wife, children, and even their own money (Exodus 21).
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant (amah), nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's (Exodus 20:17, KJV).
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant (amah) . . . (Deuteronomy 5:14, KJV).
The English phrase "fifty and six," used for the number 56, is found in the book of Ezra (3 times) and 1Chronicles (once).
56 is the product of 2 x 2 x 2 (2 cubed) x 7. Both 2 and 7 are prime numbers.
56 can also be arrived at by adding the six consecutive primes of 3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13 + 17.
"Mary" is the most frequently occurring name for a woman in Scripture. It is written 54 times in the King James. The name Sarah is found 39 times. If, however, we include Sarai, which was Sarah's name before God changed it (Genesis 17:15), we end up with Sarah / Sarai appearing 56 times.
The seventh verse of Isaiah 56 is referenced three times in the New Testament (Mark 11:17, Matthew 21:13 and Luke 19:46). The verse itself is the following.
Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer . . . for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people (verse 7).
The English word "chariot" is recorded 64 times in 56 King James Bible verses. It is written the most in 2Kings (16 times) followed by 1Kings (11). Solomon, because of God's blessing, not only grew exceedingly wealthy but also powerful due in part to the chariots he owned.
And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem (2Chronicles 1:14, KJV).