Meaning of Numbers: The Number 303
The possible meaning of the number 303 is derived from secular history which greatly impacted Christians and from the occurrence of certain words.
The last in a long series of Roman state-sponsored persecutions of Christians, which first started under Emperor Nero, began in 303 A.D. Diocletian became Emperor over the Roman Empire in 284 A.D. In 303, as Emperor over Rome's eastern provinces, he issued edicts that ordered the full power of the state be used to eradicate Christianity.
"Believing that the old Roman religion would reinforce the unity of the empire, Diocletian issued four edicts in 303 which brought the most vicious of all persecutions upon the Christians of the empire . . .
"On February 23, 303, the day of the Roman feast of Terminalia, Diocletian issued an edict that all copies of Scripture were to be burned, all churches destroyed and their property confiscated.
"Diocletian (also) ordered the army purged of all Christians . . . (and) the prohibition of Christian worship . . . Bishops were arrested, imprisoned, tortured and in many cases killed. In addition, thousands of Christians were tortured and killed" (Complete Book of When and Where: In the Bible).
Appearances of Number Three Hundred Three
Entry 303 in the Hebrew definition portion of Strong's Concordance is the word achlab. It is found only once in the Bible and is translated as "Ahlab" in the King James. Ahlab, which means "fertile place" or "fatness," was one of the towns the tribe of Asher was given as an inheritance in the Promised Land. Unfortunately, the tribe of Asher was not able to take possession of what God had given them.
Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob (Judges 1:31, KJV).
Entry 303 in the Greek definition portion of Strong's Concordance is the word ana. It is found 15 times in 14 verses of the original Greek version of the New Testament. It is a word which means "into the midst" or amidst, among or between something.
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between (ana) his brethren? (1Corinthians 6:5, KJV).
For the Lamb which is in (ana) the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes (Revelation 7:17, KJV).
Number 303 and Words
The Hebrew word paqad (Strong's #H6485) occurs 303 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. It is recorded the most in the book of Numbers (103 times) followed by Jeremiah (49). The word means to visit someone (or a group) with either a friendly or hostile intent, or it can reference someone with responsibility or power over someone.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit (paqad) you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (Genesis 50:24, KJV).
The Hebrew word mishpachah (Strong's Concordance #H4940) is recorded 303 times in the original language of the Old Testament. It is found the most in the book of Numbers (159 times) followed by Joshua (47) and 1Chronicles (19). The word refers to a family (either human or animal), or a group of relatives and, by extension, to a clan, tribe, people or a nation.
Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds (mishpachah), went forth out of the ark (Genesis 8:19, KJV).
These are the families (mishpachah) of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood (Genesis 10:32, KJV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 303
The book of Hebrews contains 13 chapters and 303 verses in the King James Bible translation. The Apostle Paul wrote this book early in 61 A.D. at the end of his fourth missionary journey when he arrived in Rome to await his first trial (Acts 28:16 - 30, Hebrews 13:24 - 25).
303 is the product of 3 x 101. Both 3 and 101 are prime numbers.
The Hebrew Gematria of Sheba, one of the thirteen sons of Joktan (Genesis 10:25 - 29), is 303 (300 + 2 + 1).