Meaning of Numbers: The Number 55
The English word "fifty and five" used for the number 55 is recorded 3 times in 3 King James Bible verses. This phrase is found only in the books of 2Kings, 2Chronicles and Nehemiah.
One meaning of number 55 is linked to King Manasseh of Judah. He was the longest reigning monarch of either the Kingdom of Judah or Israel at 55 years (2Kings 21:1, 2Chronicles 33:1). He first co-ruled with his father, the righteous Hezekiah, from 696 to 686 B.C. He then became sole king from 686 until his death in 642.
Manasseh's reign of 55 years marks one of the most evil and violent periods in the history of God's people. The king indulges in a litany of evil such as rebuilding the pagan altars torn down by his father (2Kings 21). He also builds idolatrous altars within the confines of Jerusalem's temple! As if that were not enough, He also indulges in the abominable practice of offering his son, alive, as a burnt offering to a pagan deity!
For he built up again the high places which his father Hezekiah had destroyed . . . And he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. And he built altars in the house of the Lord of which the Lord said, "In Jerusalem I will put My name." Then he built altars for all the host of the heavens in the two courts of the house of the Lord
And he made his son pass through the fire and observed times and used witchcraft. And he dealt with familiar spirits and wizards. He worked much wickedness in the sight of the Lord . . . (2Kings 21:3 - 6, HBFV).
Manasseh was so unique in his bloodiness during his 55 year reign that God's word states the following.
Manasseh also shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Judah to sin in doing the evil in the sight of the Lord (2Kings 21:16, HBFV).
Psalms and Number Fifty-Five
Psalm 55 is a heartfelt chapter written by King David. In it, he cries out to God to save him from his enemies who are oppressing him.
Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not Yourself from my supplication. Attend to me, and answer me; I am distraught in my trouble and moan in my complaint because of the voice of the enemy; because of the oppression of the wicked - for they cast mischief upon me, and in anger they hate me (Psalm 55:1 - 3, HBFV).
Isaiah 55 is a prophetic chapter that alludes to not only Jesus' ministry and his reign during the Millennium, but also to his words at the Last Great Day festival held in Jerusalem.
Now in the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink . . ." (John 7:37).
Apostle Paul and Number 55
In 55 A.D., the Apostle Paul is staying in Ephesus preaching the gospel during his third missionary journey. He will be chased out of the metropolis in late 57 when a pagan silversmith stirs up worshippers of Diana to riot against the apostle and what he teaches (Acts 19). Paul's destination after fleeing Ephesus is Macedonia (Acts 20:1 - 3).
It is in 57 A.D. that the Apostle Paul turns 55 years old.
The Apostle Paul wrote 100 chapters in his fourteen Biblical books. The last eleven of these (Galatians - 6, Ephesians - 6, Philippians - 4, Colossians - 4, 1 and 2Thessalonians - 8 total, 1 and 2Timothy - 10 total, Titus - 3, Philemon - 1 and Hebrews - 13) adds up to 55 chapters.
Esther and Haman
The Hebrew word ester, Strong's Concordance #H635, is recorded 55 times in 45 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found exclusively in the book of Esther (55 times). The word, which means "star," is translated in the King James as the name "Esther."
Esther's Jewish name was Hadassah. She is raised by a relative named Mordecai after her parents died when she was young. She ultimately attracts the attention of Persian King Ahasuerus who makes her Queen to replace the previous one (Queen Vashti) whom he dismissed (Esther 1 - 2).
Esther and Mordecai work together to thwart the plan of Haman the Prime Minister (see below) to murder all the Jews within Persia-controlled territories. Their efforts to save the Jewish people from being wiped out are celebrated each year in the holiday called Purim.
And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther (ester), his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter (Esther 2:7, KJV).
To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther (ester) the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry (Esther 9:31, KJV).
The Hebrew word haman, Strong's Concordance #H2001, is recorded 55 times in 45 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It, like the word for Esther's name, is found exclusively in the book of Esther (55 times). The word, which means "magnificent," is untranslated in the King James as the name Haman.
Haman, after years of service, rises to the position of Persia's Prime Minister (Esther 3:1). His fragile ego, however, is soon damaged when Mordecai refuses to bow before him as if he were a god (Esther 3:1 - 2). His revenge for the perceived slight entails tricking the king, through lies, to declare a death sentence on all Jews (3:10 - 11).
Haman's plot, however, unravels when Esther uses her influence to reveal the truth to the king. Haman ends up being hanged on the same gallows he had prepared for Mordecai!
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified (Esther 7:10, KJV).
Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them (Esther 9:24, KJV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 55
There are 14 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 55 times.
55 is the product of 5 x 11, both of which are prime numbers.
Interestingly, the number 55 is equal to adding the first ten positive integers or 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10.
55 is the tenth number in a Fibonacci sequence. A Fibonacci sequence is a special set of integers where each number is the sum of the two that precede it. This sequence is 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233 and so on.
The only books to number 55 or more chapters are the Psalms and the book of Isaiah. The book of Malachi, a minor prophet whose writing is the last Old Testament book in most translations, has four chapters and 55 verses.
The fifty-fifth book found in most modern Bible translations is 2Timothy, the last writing of the Apostle Paul before dying a martyr's death.
The name "Jehu" is recorded in 55 verses in the King James Bible. Jehu is the 11th ruler over the Kingdom of Israel since its division after Solomon's death in 930 B.C.
Jehu, a fierce military commander, is anointed Israel's new King by one of the prophets serving at the time of Elisha (2Kings 9:1 - 10). God tasks Jehu with destroying the entire house of Ahab (which included his 70 sons), as well as killing Jezebel his evil wife. After Jehu fulfills God's will he is given the unique blessing of having four generations of his family rule over the nation. Jehu's reign runs from 841 to 814 B.C.
Verse 55 of Matthew 13 undeniably reveals that Mary, through Joseph, had several children after Christ was born. This verse names four half-brothers of Christ (James, Joses, Simon and Judas (or Jude)). Verse 56 reveals that he had at least two half-sisters. Altogether, the family of Mary of Joseph was composed of at least seven children!
In the Old Testament, the Biblical chapters of Genesis 31, Leviticus 25 and 1Chronicles 2 contain 55 verses in the King James translation. The are no New Testament chapters that contain 55 verses.