Meaning of Numbers: The Number 73
The English phrase "threescore and thirteen," used for the number 73, is recorded 2 times in 2 King James Bible verses.
The possible meaning of the number 73 is derived partly from history, the book of Psalms and from the occurrences of certain words.
One of God's Jubilees, proclaimed every 50th year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 25), started on September 3 in 73 B.C. and completed on September 23 the following year. The Jubilee was a joyous time when the land was allowed to rest, slaves were set free, and all land that was sold or lost due to debt was returned to its original owners.
Appearances of Number Seventy-Three
The Greek word Abraam, Strong's Concordance #G11, is found 73 times in 69 Greek New Testament verses. It is found the most in the gospel of Luke (15 times) followed by John (11) and then Hebrews (10). The word, which means "father of a multitude," is translated as the name "Abraham" in the King James.
Abraham is the eighth most mentioned male name in the King James translation. His name appears 250 times in 230 Biblical verses.
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham (Abraam) believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God (James 2:23, KJV).
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham (Abraam) returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him . . . (Hebrews 7:1, KJV).
The book of Joel numbers 3 chapters and 73 total verses. Joel, one of the Minor Prophets, is the only Old Testament prophetic book to mention the moon turning to blood before the return of Jesus Christ.
And also I will pour out My Spirit upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth - blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord (Joel 2:29 - 31, see also Revelation 6:12).
Asaph, Psalms and the Number 73
The songs that compose the Book of Psalms, in their original inspired order, were divided into five sections. Song 73 is in a set that contains the fewest writings at seventeen.
"In the original Hebrew apportionment of the Book of Psalms, the 150 psalms are assorted among five major divisions. These five "books" are not discernible in the ordinary King James Version, but they are evident in the Hebrew manuscripts" (Restoring the Original Bible by E. Martin, Appendix One).
Psalm 1 to 41 was the first section of this book in the originally inspired Old Testament, 42 to 72 the second, 73 to 89 the third, 90 to 106 the fourth and 107 to 150 the last.
It is no accident that Psalm 73 begins the third major division of the Psalms. It, as well as others in this third set, all share a general common theme centering on Jerusalem's temple. Additionally, several of them also comment on themes surrounding its destruction.
If I say, "I will speak thus;" behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. When I thought to understand this, it was too painful for me until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end (Psalm 73, verses 15 - 17).
Psalm 73 is one of twelve psalms believed to be written by or for Asaph. The other songs by him are Psalms 50 and 74 through 83.
Asaph's songs were so cherished, partly because he possessed the gift of prophecy (1Chronicles 25:1 - 2), that King Hezekiah sung them after cleansing and rededicated Jerusalem's temple for the worship of God.
Then Hezekiah the king and the rulers commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped (2Chronicles 29:30, HBFV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 73
The English phrase "threescore and thirteen," used for the number 73, is found only in the book of Numbers.
The Hebrew word hebel, Strong's #H1892, is recorded 73 times in 64 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in Ecclesiates (38 times) followed by the Psalms (9). The word refers to emptiness and vanity as is usually translated as "vanities" or "vain."
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity (hebel) and vexation of spirit (Ecclesiates 1:14, KJV).
Are there any among the vanities (hebel) of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things (Jeremiah 14:22, KJV).
There are 8 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 73 times.
There are 73 books in the Catholic Bible.
73 is the 21st prime. The prime numbers that come immediately before it are 61, 67 and 71, and those immediately after it are 79, 83 and 89.
In the Old Testament, the Biblical chapter of Nehemiah 7 is the only one that contains 73 verses in the King James translation. This chapter is also the fourth largest in the Old Testament in terms of number of verses. Only 1Chronicles 6, Numbers 7 and Psalm 119 has more verses in the King James Bible.
There are no chapters in the KJV New Testament that have 73 verses.
The Hebrew shalal (Strong's Concordance #H7998) is recorded 73 times in 64 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in 1Samuel (10) followed by 2Chronicles (8). The word refers to booty, prey, spoil or plunder usually taken by the victors of a battle or war. The Israelites under Moses, when they conquered the Midianites, took their possessions, including animals, as the spoils of war.
Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil (shalal) (Genesis 49:27, KJV).
And they took all the spoil (shalal), and all the prey, both of men and of beasts. And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest . . . (Numbers 31:11 - 12, KJV).