Meaning of Numbers: The Number 123
There are 2 words in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 123 times.
The possible meaning of the number 123 is derived from Bible history and the occurrence of certain words.
Aaron, like his brother Moses, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:22 - 24). He died on Mount Hor, in the middle of July in 1406 B.C., at the age of 123 (33:39). He passed away a few months after his sister Miriam perished (20:23 - 28).
God commanded ancient Israel to observe what is known as a Sabbatical year (Exodus 23:10 - 11, Leviticus 25:1 - 7, 19 - 23). The beginning of this special period was proclaimed on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) at the start of every seventh year (Deuteronomy 15:1 - 4). A Biblical Sabbatical year ran from September 17 in 123 A.D. to October 5 in 124.
Isaac's name is recorded in 123 verses in the King James translation. It is found the most in Genesis (74 verses) followed by Exodus (9) and then Deuteronomy (7). It is, however, a long way from being the most frequently mentioned name in Scripture. The most mentioned name in God's word is David which appears in 968 verses!
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him (Genesis 17:19, KJV).
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian (Genesis 25:20, KJV).
Appearances of Number One Hundred Twenty Three
The Greek archiereus (Strong's #G749) appears 123 times in 120 verses of the original manuscripts of the New Testament. It appears the most in the book of Matthew (25 times) followed by Mark and Acts (both 22 times). It usually is used as a reference to Jerusalem's High Priest, although the word can be used to refer to chief priests as well.
And when he (Herod the Great) had gathered all the chief priests (archiereus) and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born (Matthew 2:4, KJV).
And Annas the high priest (archiereus), and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem (Acts 4:6, KJV).
The Hebrew word qahal, Strong's Concordance #H6951, is found 123 times in 116 verses. It is found the most in 2Chronicles (26 times) followed by Ezekiel (15). It means an assemblage, company or congregation of people. While it usually is translated "congregation" or "assembly" in the KJV, its first two uses are as "multitude" and "company."
And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan . . . And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude (qahal) of people . . . (Genesis 28:1, 3, KJV).
And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company (qahal) of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins . . . (Genesis 35:9 - 11, KJV).
Number 123 and the Psalms
Psalm 123 is one of the tiniest psalms with four verses. Still smaller chapters are Psalms 131, 133 and 134 with three verses and Psalm 117 with only two!
Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You Who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to the Lord our God until He shall have mercy upon us.
Be gracious unto us, O Lord, be gracious unto us; for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud oppressors (Psalm 123, HBFV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 123
The English phrase "sixscore and three," used for the number 123, is not recorded in the King James translation.
God commanded ancient Israel, ever seven years, to observe what is known as a Sabbatical year (Leviticus 25:1 - 7, 19 - 23). One of these special years began on September 17 in 123 B.C. and ended on September 7 in 122 B.C.
123 is the product of 3 x 41. Both 3 and 41 are prime numbers.
123 has a subtle appearance in the King James Bible. The first chapter of Ephesians has 23 verses.
The English word "money" is recorded 140 times in 123 King James Bible verses. It is found the most in Genesis (32 times) followed by 2Kings (19). Its first two uses occurred when God made a covenant with Abraham which required that he, all the males in his household, and even all of his male descendants, to be circumcised.
And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:12 - 13, HBFV).
The Parthian Empire reached its peak of the land it controlled during the reign of Mithridates II from 123 to 88 B.C. At its height, the empire governed 1.1 million square miles (2.848 million square kilometers).