Meaning of Numbers: One Half
The symbolic meaning of one half (1/2 or 50% of something, including numbers) in the Bible is primarily linked to prophecy. For example, the Two Witnesses will be killed in Jerusalem at the end of their 42 month ministry. Three and a half days after their demise, they will be miraculously brought back to life in front of an astonished and fearful world audience.
Then after the three and a half days, the spirit of life from God entered into them (Two Witnesses) and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them (Revelation 11:11).
Zechariah 12 references the prophetic Day of the Lord and the time of Jesus' return. Jerusalem, before the Lord's Second Coming, will be conquered. She will then be plundered of her wealth, with half her number forced to leave.
For I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem; and the city shall be taken, and the houses plundered, and the women raped. And half of the city shall go into exile, and the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city (Zechariah 14:2).
Jesus, with a huge army of righteous angels and resurrected Christians, will battle the world's greatest military power led by Satan the devil. The power of God's Kingdom coming to the earth will split Mount Olivet in two.
And the Lord shall go out and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives . . . and the Mount of Olives shall split in two, from the east and to the west, and make a very great valley. And half of the mountain shall move toward the north, and half of it toward the south (Zechariah 14:3 - 4).
Healing and One Half
An east-west river of "living waters," which will be fed from Jerusalem, will appear after Jesus makes the city his millennial capital. Half of this river will flow toward the Dead Sea. This miraculous water, possibly following the valley created in Zechariah 14:3 - 4, will heal the Dead Sea of its saltiness that currently makes it impossible for animal or plant life to flourish.
And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them shall go toward the eastern (Dead) sea, and half of them toward the western (Mediterranean) sea . . . (Zechariah 14:8, see also Ezekiel 47:8 - 10).
Hidden References to Half a Number
In the parable of the ten virgins, only 50% of them bring enough extra oil for the journey to meet the bridegroom at night (Matthew 25:1 - 13). The purpose of the parable is to warn Christians to always be spiritually prepared to "meet Jesus," which for the overwhelming majority occurs at death where they will then await their resurrection.
Jesus gave a parable of two sons, one of which agreed to work in their father's vineyard but then later did not. The other son initially refused to work but later repented and went to the vineyard. The lesson is that the person who actually worked, though he first refused, was the one who did the father's will (Matthew 21:28 - 31).
The famous parable of the prodigal son involves a man with two sons. One of them gets his inheritance early and wastes it while the other stays loyal to the father (Luke 15:11 - 32).
Jesus warned, using three sets of two people, that in the end time 50% of the people would be taken while the other 50% would be left alone.
"I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two men shall be in the field; one shall be taken, and the other shall be left." (Luke 17:34 - 37, HBFV, see also Matthew 24:40 - 42).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of One Half
God commanded that ancient Israelite males, twenty or older, pay a yearly half shekel for the maintenance and support of his tabernacle (later the temple in Jerusalem, Exodus 30:11 - 16).
The Israelites, under Moses, fought and overcame the Midianites (Numbers 31). One of the spoils of their victory was the confiscation of 675,000 sheep (verse 32), one half of which was given to those who fought while the remaining number was divided among the people and the Lord.
Zaccheus was one of a number of unscrupulous tax collectors for Rome. Jesus' visit to Jericho, however, caused him to repent. It also led him to pledge he would give 1/2 of what he owned to the poor.
Then Zaccheus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, the half of my possessions, Lord, I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I return fourfold." (Luke 19:8, HBFV).
Herodias' daughter's dance before Herod Antipas so pleased the king that he offered to give her up to half of his kingdom. The daughter, however, settled for receiving John the Baptist's head on a platter (Mark 6:21 - 28).