Meaning of Numbers: The Number 53
The English phrase "fifty and three," used for the number 53, is recorded 4 times in 4 King James Bible verses.
The possible meaning of the number 53 is derived from Biblical history and the occurrence of certain original language words.
In 53 A.D., the Apostle Paul, after residing in Syrian Antioch for less than a year, embarks on his third missionary campaign. His travels, which begin in the summer, will take him to cities within the province of Galatia, as well as Antioch in Pisidia, Ephesus, Philippi, Berea, Thessalonica, Corinth, Troas and other destinations.
The Apostle Paul, before embarking on his third evangelistic journey, writes the book of Galatians in 53 A.D. likely in the late spring. Galatians, the apostle's third writing included in Scripture, is written from Syrian Antioch.
Appearances of Number Fifty-Three
Paul's third missionary journey took place from 53 to 58 A.D. During this period he will write 1Corinthians from Ephesus, 2Corinthians from Philippi, and the book of Romans while visiting the church in Corinth.
The Apostle Paul turned 53 years old in 55 A.D.
Book number 53, in most modern Bible translations, is 2Thessalonians. This writing, penned by the Apostle Paul in 51 A.D., was his second of fourteen books that would ultimately be included as a part of Scripture.
The English word "yoke" is written 59 times in 53 King James Bible verses. It is recorded the most in the book of Jeremiah (14 times) followed by 1Kings (10).
Yokes were pieces of wood used to connect two animals together, each with their own collar, so that their combined abilities could more easily perform a particular task. Oxen, horses, donkeys, and mules paired in this fashion were good for pulling a load, plowing a field and so on.
Yokes were also used in Scripture as a figure of speech to represent a burden or difficulty a person or nation had to endure. Jesus promised those who believe in and obey him would carry the same light load he does.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are overly burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28 - 30, HBFV).
Prophecies
Isaiah 53 offers several profound prophecies concerning the Messiah's ministry and his death. Some of these include the following.
He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not (verse 3, fulfilled in John 12:37 - 38).
He was oppressed, and He was afflicted; yet He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before its shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth (verse 7, fulfilled in Mark 15:3).
Therefore I will divide to Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He has poured out His soul to death (verse 12 of Isaiah 53 fulfilled in Luke 23:33 - 34).
Fools and the Number 53
Written by King David, Psalm 53 gives us a true definition of a fool! It also reveals the real life consequences of humans refusing, despite the overwhelming evidence (Romans 1:19 - 22), to acknowledge God exists and deserves to be obeyed.
The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and have worked out abominable wickedness; there is no one who does good.
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who understand, who are seeking after God. Every one has turned away; they have altogether become corrupt; no one is doing good, no, not even one (verses 1 - 3 of Psalm 53).
Righteous People
The Hebrew word yoshiyah, Strong's Concordance #H2977, is recorded 53 times in 48 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of Jeremiah (18 times) followed by 2Chronicles (17) and then 2Kings (13). The word, which means "founded of Jah" or "whom Jehovah heals," is translated as the name "Josiah" in the King James.
Judah's King Josiah, who took the throne at the age of eight, ruled over God's people for 31 years starting in 640 B.C. He was a righteous king who obeyed God. He purged the nation of its idolatry and stopped those who were indulging in demonic practices. He also cleansed and repaired Jerusalem's temple. Unfortunately, he was also the last of Judah's righteous rulers before the nation was conquered and taken captive in 586 B.C.
Josiah (yoshiyah) was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath (2Kings 22:1, KJV).
Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah (yoshiyah) put away, that he might perform the words of the law . . . (2Kings 23:24, KJV).
The Hebrew word tsadoq, Strong's Concordance #H6659, is recorded 53 times in 50 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in 1Chronicles (15 times) then 2Samuel (14) and 1Kings (11). The word, which means "righteous," is translated in the King James as the name "Zadok."
The most famous of eight or so Zadoks found in the Old Testament was the High Priest who served under Kings David and Solomon. Zadok was a faithful and righteous priest. He played his part in foiling David's son Adonijah's plot to take his father's throne by anointing Solomon as King (1Kings 1). God, as a reward for his faithfulness, promised him that his descendants alone would be allowed to serve as High Priests.
And let Zadok (tsadoq) the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon (1Kings 1:34, KJV).
It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok (tsadoq); which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray (Ezekiel 48:11, KJV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 53
There are 20 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 53 times.
The English phrase "fifty and three," used for the number 53, is recorded in the book of Numbers (3 times) followed by the gospel of John (once).
53 is the 16th prime. The prime numbers that occur immediately before it are 41, 43 and 47, and those immediately after it are 59, 61 and 67.
The book of Zephaniah was written by the minor prophet in 626 B.C. The book has three chapters and 53 verses.
In the Old Testament, the Biblical chapters of 1Kings 1 and 22 contain 53 verses in the King James translation.
In the New Testament, the chapters Luke 24 and John 7 have 53 verses in the KJV.
The English word "Canaanites" is recorded 55 times in 53 King James verses. It is found the most in the book of Judges (16 times) followed by Joshua (12). Ham, who survived the great flood in Noah's Ark, had a son named Canaan (Genesis 9:18). It was Canaan's descendants who populated an area frequently referred to as "the land of Canaan" that would become the Promised Land.
I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God (Leviticus 25:38, KJV).