Meaning of Numbers: The Number 888
The profound meaning of the number 888 is directly linked to the manifestation of God in the flesh to save mankind of its sins. As Joseph ponders whether to divorce his new but pregnant wife Mary, an angel appears in his dreams to alleviate his concerns. This messenger informs him that his wife, ". . . shall give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus" (Matthew 1:21).
Jesus' name, in the original Greek language from which the New Testament was written, is spelled Ι (Iota), η (Eta), σ (Sigma), ο (Omicron), υ (Upsilon) and σ (Sigma) or Ιησουσ (Strong's Concordance #G2424). Their numeric equivalents of 10, 8, 200, 70, 400 and 200 add up to 888.
Surprisingly, other 888 related Bible names used for Jesus also have a factor of eight within them when we add the numeric equivalents of the Greek letters. These include Christ (1480 or 8 times 185), Lord (800 or 8 times 100), Messiah (656 or 8 times 82) and others.
Appearances of Multiple Number Eights
Listing 888 in the Hebrew section of Strong's Concordance (#H888) is the word beesh. The word, of Chaldee origin, appears only once in the Old Testament's original language. The word means "to displease" and is translated as such in the King James.
Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased (beesh) with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him (Daniel 6:14, KJV).
The Hebrew Gematria for the names Noah (58), Shem (340) and Japheth (490) add up to 888. The Bible labels Noah as a righteous man (Ezekiel 14:14). Shem and Japheth, two of Noah's sons, honored their father when they covered his body after he got drunk, stripped off all his clothes, and fell asleep on the floor (Genesis 9). Noah blessed them when he awoke and was sober (Genesis 9:26 - 27).
Ham, however, was not blessed by his father Noah. It was Ham's son Canaan who performed a grisly castration on his grandfather while he slept and was cursed!
Number 888 and Prophecy
The number 888 has an interesting link to King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue symbolizing world-ruling empires starting with Babylon (Daniel 2). The king challenges his magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers to both reveal what he dreamt and what it means (Daniel 2:2 - 11).
The Babylonian "wise men" respond to Nebuchadnezzar by stating no ruler has ever made such a demand as his that is impossible to fulfill. Angered by their response, the king commands all wise men, which includes the prophet Daniel and his three friends, to be killed.
Daniel, after requesting additional time, seeks out his friends so that they can all pray about the situation.
Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might pray for the mercies of God in heaven concerning this secret . . . (Daniel 2:17 - 18, HBFV).
The Hebrew spelling of Daniel's name, using Gematria, adds to 95. Hananiah adds to 120, Misael's equals 381 and Azariah's is 292. Together they total 888. God ultimately answered their prayers, revealing both the dream and its meaning.
The prophet Ezekiel received a vision involving 888 of what is commonly referred to as the Millennial Temple (Ezekiel 40). This temple had three gates (south, east and north) which led from the inner court of the temple to its outer court (Ezekiel 40:28 - 37). Each of these three gates had its jambs decorated with palm trees and each gate possessed 8 steps (Ezekiel 40:31, 34, 37) for 888.
And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate. And he measured the south gate . . . And the arches all around were twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide. And its arches were toward the outer court; and palm trees on its pillars. And its stairway had eight steps (Ezekiel 40:28, 30 - 31, HBFV).
Prophetic Power!
Three eights, or 888, also symbolize the mighty prophetic power of God through his prophet Elijah and his successor Elisha.
The first 8 of 888 represents the number of major miracles performed by Elijah (1Kings 17:1, 14 - 16, 17 - 23, 18:37 - 38, 41 - 45, 2Kings 1:10, 12, 2:8). Elisha, before Elijah was taken away in a chariot of fire, asked to receive a double portion of the same spirit that was in his mentor. His request was granted through God allowing him to perform sixteen (8 + 8, a double portion) significant signs and wonders.
The first set of eight Elisha miracles are his dividing the Jordan River (2Kings 2:14), healing bitter waters (verse 21), having two she-bears punish mockers (verses 23 - 24) and providing water for three kings (3:16 - 17). He also miraculously produced oil that was sold to pay a debt (4:1 - 7), raised a widow's son from the dead (verses 32 - 37), healed a pot of deadly food (verses 38 - 41) and fed 100 men (verses 42 - 44).
Elisha's second set of eight miracles, representing the third 8 of number 888, is the healing of Naaman's leprosy (2Kings 5:1 - 19), causing his servant to have leprosy after he pursued forbidden money (verses 20 - 27) and causing a heavy iron axe head to float (6:1 - 7).
Elisha also made it possible for one of his servants to see spiritual horses and chariots (verses 15 - 17), caused the Syrian army to be blind (2Kings 6:18) then restored their sight (verse 20). He lastly foretold Samaria's famine would end (chapter 7) and his bones brought a dead man back to life (13:20 - 21). All this makes for 888.
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 888
888 is equal to 2 x 2 x 2 (2 cubed) x 3 x 37. The numbers 2, 3 and 37 are all primes.
There are no Biblical original language words (Hebrew / Greek) that occur 888 times.
Listing 888 in the Greek section of Strong's Concordance (#G888) is the word achreios. It is found only in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The word means useless or good for nothing, and is translated as "unprofitable" in the King James.
And cast ye the unprofitable (achreios) servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30, KJV).
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable (achreios) servants: we have done that which was our duty to do (Luke 17:10, KJV).