The Hebrew word mêʼâh, represented by H3967, is a primitive numeral for a hundred. It appears 581 times across 512 unique verses, serving as a foundational unit for counting large quantities. Beyond a simple number, it is used as a multiplicative, such as "hundredfold," and to structure groups, measure wealth, and define significant periods of time.
The Hebrew word H3967 functions not merely as a simple numerical value but as a critical increment within the decimal system prevalent in ancient Semitic languages. Its consistent use in forming compound numbers, such as "one hundred and twenty" or "four hundred," reveals a systematic approach to quantifying that extended beyond basic counting, establishing H3967 as a stable base for expressing larger, yet still comprehensible, quantities. This structured numerical usage underscores a practical and administrative precision in biblical records, whether detailing census figures, architectural dimensions, or the scale of provisions necessary for armies or large households.
This numerical stability allows H3967 to serve as a benchmark for comparison and proportion within the narrative. It often anchors discussions of size, value, or duration, providing a relatable scale against which other quantities are measured or understood. Thus, H3967 acts as a linguistic tool that facilitates the comprehension of magnitude, enabling the biblical authors to convey both the mundane details of daily life and the grand scope of historical and prophetic events with clarity.
In the biblical narrative, H3967 is used to denote significant quantities and ages. It marks the measure of human life, such as the LORD H3068 setting man's H120 days H3117 at an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 years H8141 Genesis 6:3 or Moses H4872 dying at the age of an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 Deuteronomy 34:7. It is also used to structure society and armies, as when Jethro advises Moses H4872 to appoint rulers H8269 of hundreds H3967 Exodus 18:21. The word quantifies wealth and offerings, from the four H702 hundred H3967 shekels H8255 of silver H3701 Abraham H85 weighed to purchase a field H7704 Genesis 23:16 to the hundredfold H3967{H8180} blessing H1288 Isaac H3327 received from the LORD H3068 Genesis 26:12. It frequently appears in large-scale counts, both of people and provisions (1 Samuel 22:2, 2 Samuel 16:1).
H3967 is extensively used in detailing military organization and the outcomes of battles, illustrating the sheer scale of ancient warfare. David's retinue, for instance, fluctuated significantly, yet H3967 consistently marks its size, from the "four hundred men" who gathered to him in distress 1 Samuel 22:2 to the "six hundred men" with whom he fled to Achish 1 Samuel 27:2 and later pursued raiders 1 Samuel 30:9. The devastating toll of conflict is also quantified by H3967, such as when "three hundred" men were slain by David's mighty warriors 1 Chronicles 11:11 or when Pekah slew "an hundred and twenty thousand" valiant men of Judah in a single day 2 Chronicles 28:6.
Beyond human and animal counts, H3967 frequently specifies dimensions in architectural descriptions, particularly for sacred structures. The precise measurements of the tabernacle court, with its "hundred cubits long" hangings on the south and north sides, emphasize the meticulous design commanded by God Exodus 27:9, Exodus 38:9. Similarly, Ezekiel's visionary temple is described with numerous sections measuring "an hundred cubits" in length or breadth, reinforcing the divine standard for sacred space Ezekiel 40:19, Ezekiel 40:47, Ezekiel 41:13. The word also appears in records of significant economic transactions and tributes, from the "hundred talents of silver" paid as tribute by the Ammonites to King Jotham 2 Chronicles 27:5 to the "hundred talents of silver" Amaziah paid for Israelite mercenaries 2 Chronicles 25:6, marking substantial sums in the ancient economy.
Several related words provide context for how H3967 is used:
- H505 'eleph (thousand): As a larger numeral, 'eleph is often combined with mêʼâh to express vast numbers, particularly of armies or populations. For instance, in Midian H4080, an army was reduced after a battle where an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 men H376 fell H5307 Judges 8:10.
- H8255 sheqel (shekel): This commercial standard of weight is frequently quantified in hundreds, indicating significant value in transactions. Abraham H85 purchased a field from Ephron H6085 for four H702 hundred H3967 shekels H8255 of silver H3701 Genesis 23:16.
- H376 'îysh (man): This word for a man or person is often counted by the hundred, establishing the size of groups, companies, and armies. David H1732 became a captain H8269 over about four H702 hundred H3967 men H376 who gathered to him 1 Samuel 22:2.
- H3947 lâqach (take, receive): This verb frequently appears in contexts where quantities of "hundreds" are taken or received, whether as dowry (e.g., David taking "an hundred foreskins" to wed Michal, 2 Samuel 3:14), tribute, or spoils of war. The numerical unit H3967 often specifies the measure of what is acquired.
- H3950 lâqaṭ (gather, glean): While primarily meaning "to glean," this root can extend to the act of gathering people or resources in large quantities. The enumeration of individuals or supplies by "hundreds" (e.g., Saul gathering "two hundred thousand" footmen, 1 Samuel 15:4) underscores the collective effort and the scale of what is brought together.
- H4013 mibtsâr (fortress): The strength and dimensions of fortifications or cities, often described in terms of "hundreds" of cubits for walls (e.g., the "four hundred cubits" of Jerusalem's wall broken down, 2 Chronicles 25:23), are closely associated with H3967. This highlights the numerical unit's role in measuring defensive infrastructure and the strategic implications of such large-scale construction or destruction.
The number H3967 carries significant weight in scripture, often highlighting divine standards and actions:
- Measure of Divine Power: Large numbers involving hundreds are used to demonstrate the scale of God's power, both in blessing and judgment. He promises that a hundred H3967 of his people H5971 will put ten thousand H7233 enemies H341 to flight H7291 Leviticus 26:8, and His angel H4397 smote H5221 a hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 and five H2568 thousand H505 Assyrians H804 in one night Isaiah 37:36.
- Standard for Human Lifespan: A hundred years marks a significant milestone of life. Abraham H85 questions how he can father a child at an hundred H3967 years H8141 old H1121 Genesis 17:17, and the LORD H3068 sets the days H3117 of man H120 at an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 years H8141 Genesis 6:3. In a future time of blessing, dying at an hundred H3967 will be considered the death of a child H5288 Isaiah 65:20.
- Basis for Societal Order: The organization of Israel H3478 into units of hundreds for both civil and military purposes reflects a structured society. This is seen in the appointment of "rulers H8269 of hundreds H3967" to judge the people Exodus 18:21 and the organization of military captains H8269 over hundreds H3967 2 Kings 11:4.
- Divine Abundance and Multiplication: H3967 serves to express God's abundant provision and the exponential growth He can grant, often far beyond human expectation. Elisha's miraculous feeding of "an hundred men" with limited provisions, with some left over, illustrates divine sufficiency and the Lord's ability to multiply resources 2 Kings 4:43. Similarly, Joab's prayer for David's people to be "an hundred times so many more" reflects a desire for vast, God-given prosperity and strength, acknowledging God as the source of such increase 2 Samuel 24:3.
- The Scale of Judgment and Devastation: The number H3967 frequently marks the magnitude of loss or the severe consequences of divine judgment or human conflict. Amos's prophecy of a drastic reduction of population, where a city sending out a thousand will leave only "an hundred," and one sending out "an hundred" will leave only ten, vividly portrays utter devastation for Israel as a result of their sin Amos 5:3. This numerical decline underscores the severity of God's disciplinary actions and the destructive power unleashed through disobedience.
- Precision in Sacred and Royal Administration: H3967 often delineates specific numbers in the organization of sacred service and royal governance, reflecting a commitment to order and accountability. The presence of "an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets" during the dedication of Solomon's temple signifies a meticulously ordered and grand worship service, emphasizing the structured nature of Israel's religious life 2 Chronicles 5:12. In the realm of secular rule, the vastness of King Ahasuerus's empire is defined by its "hundred and seven and twenty provinces," emphasizing a structured, if sprawling, administrative domain under a single monarch Esther 1:1.
The Hebrew word H3967 (mêʼâh) is a fundamental numerical unit in the biblical lexicon, representing "a hundred." Far from being a mere quantity, it functions as a versatile building block for expressing significant magnitudes across the breadth of the Old Testament narrative. From structuring the lifespan of patriarchs like Moses at "an hundred and twenty years" Deuteronomy 34:7 to organizing societal and military divisions through "rulers of hundreds" Exodus 18:21, H3967 grounds abstract concepts in concrete, understandable terms.
This numerical anchor extends to the realm of economics and construction, quantifying wealth in "shekels of silver" for land transactions Genesis 23:16 and defining the majestic dimensions of the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple in "hundreds of cubits" Exodus 27:9, 1 Kings 7:2. Furthermore, H3967 plays a crucial role in portraying the scale of both divine blessing and judgment, whether in promises of "hundredfold" increase Genesis 26:12 or prophecies of severe population reduction, where cities are reduced from "a thousand" to "an hundred" Amos 5:3. It also provides a measure for God's miraculous provision, as seen in Elisha feeding one hundred men with a small supply and having food left over 2 Kings 4:43.
Ultimately, H3967 is instrumental in conveying the detailed reality of biblical history, prophecy, and theology. It helps readers grasp the immense scale of armies, the meticulous planning of sacred spaces, the weight of financial transactions, and the profound impact of God's actions on individuals and nations. By establishing units of "a hundred," the biblical text effectively communicates the scope and order within creation, human society, and divine interaction, making H3967 an indispensable element in understanding the quantitative aspects of the scriptural record.
TRV