Meaning of Numbers: The Number 97
The English phrase "ninety and seven," used for the number 97, is not recorded in the King James Bible.
The possible meaning of the number 97 is derived primarily from Biblical history and the occurrence of certain original language words.
Friday, April 7 is day 97 (31 + 28 + 31 + 7) of Roman year 30 A.D. On this day Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome purchase and prepare spices for Jesus' dead body. The Lord has been in his tomb since just before sunset on April 5. The women run out of time and are unable to apply the spices as the Biblical weekly Sabbath begins at sunset Friday (Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56).
Roman Catholic tradition states Timothy, who worked alongside Apostle Paul, died in Ephesus when he was over 80 years old (1913 Catholic Encyclopedia). According to Foxe's Book of Martyrs, however, he died in 97 A.D. Foxe's also writes that he was the bishop of Ephesus and was martyred by pagans after stating their idolatrous celebrations were ridiculous.
Appearances of Number Ninety-Seven
The Hebrew qatseh (#H7097) is written 97 times in 87 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is recorded the most in the book of Joshua (15 times) followed by Isaiah (12). It is used to reference an extremity or limit of something. It is often translated as "the end," "border," "edge" and other related words in the King James Bible.
And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders (qatseh) of the land of Canaan (Exodus 16:35, KJV).
Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end (qatseh) of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him (Isaiah 62:11, KJV).
The Greek word gennao (Strong's #G1080) appears 97 times in 65 Greek New Testament verses. It is written the most in Matthew (45 times) followed by John (18) and 1John (10). The word means to bear or beget a child (for a female) or to father a child (males). The word can also metaphorically reference the conversion of a person through the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit.
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered (gennao) of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world (John 16:21, KJV).
If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born (gennao) of him (God) (1John 2:29, KJV).
The Greek phago (Strong's #G5315) is utilized 97 times in 90 Greek verses of the New Testament. It is written the most in the gospel of Luke (21 times) followed by Mark (18) and then John (15). It is a word that references the act of literally or figuratively eating. It is often translated as "meat" in the King James.
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he (Jesus) did eat (phago) nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered (Luke 4:2, KJV).
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat (phago), or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:25, KJV).
Esau and Dragons
Jacob and Esau, twin brothers, are born in 1800 B.C. Jacob, when the brothers are 77, steals Esau's birthright blessing from their father Isaac. Fearing for his life he then flees the country (Genesis 27). Twenty years later the brothers meet and are reconciled when they are both 97 (Genesis 33:1 - 16).
The Hebrew esav (Strong's #H6215) is recorded 97 times in 82 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in Genesis (97 times) followed by Obadiah (7). The word means "rough to handle" and is used as a basis for the name Esau, Jacob's twin brother.
And the boys grew: and Esau (esav) was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents (Genesis 25:27, KJV).
God mentions the mythical beast known as a dragon to highlight his dislike of Esau compared to his love for Jacob.
I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau (esav) Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau (esav), and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness (Malachi 1:2 - 3, KJV).
Number 97 and the Psalms
Psalm 97 can be divided into four sets of three verses each. The first set describes the Lord's coming, with the second set revealing its effect on the earth. The third set, from verses 7 to 9, foretells the influence of his coming on the pagans and His people. The last set exhorts those who love God and reiterates the promise that their lives will be preserved (The Treasury of David).
The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of islands be glad . . . The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory. All those who serve graven images are ashamed who boast themselves in idols; bow down to Him, all you gods . . .
You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked (Psalm 97:1, 6 - 7, 10, HBFV).
Verse 97 of Psalm 119 is the first verse in a section labeled with the 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet called Mem. This section, from verses 97 to 104, praises God's laws and the wisdom they bring. Such laws, if meditated upon, can make a person far wiser than their enemies.
O how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation (verses 97 - 99 of Psalm 119, HBFV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 97
There are 6 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 97 times.
97 is the 25th prime number. The primes, which are greater than one and only divisible by one and themselves, are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29 and so on.
The English word "God" appears in sixty-four of sixty-six books or ninety-seven percent of all Bible books. For comparison, the word "Lord" shows up in ninety-two percent of all books. The books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, all written by Moses, contain 97 chapters and 3,106 verses in the King James.
The English word "Lord" is written 106 times in 97 verses of the King James translation of the gospel of Luke. The word's first appearance is in the book's first chapter.
And they (Zacharias and Elizabeth) were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Luke 1:6, KJV).