Meaning of Numbers: The Number 79
The English phrase "threescore and nineteen," used for the number 79, is not recorded in the King James Bible.
The possible meaning of the number 79 is derived from facts related to Scripture and the use of certain words.
General Titus began his rule as Roman Emperor in 79 with the death of his father Emperor Vespasian. Titus, as General in 70 A.D., led the Roman army to capture and destroy both Jerusalem and its Temple. The leveling of the city and its magnificent temple to God was predicted twice by Jesus (Matthew 24:1 - 2, Luke 19:41 - 44).
The city of Pergamos is located 79 kilometers (49 miles) from Smyrna. The two cities are famous for their respective churches receiving a spiritual assessment by Jesus in the book of Revelation.
Pergamos is both commended for being faithful in the face of persecution but also chastised for certain entrenched sins (Revelation 2:12 - 17). Smyrna, on the other hand, is not corrected at all. The church receives encouragement from the Lord along with a warning of future trials (verses 8 - 10).
Appearances of Number Seventy-Nine
Found 79 times in 70 verses in the Old Testament's original language, the Hebrew otsar (Strong's #H214) is recorded the most in 1Chronicles (13 times) followed by Jeremiah (11) then 2Chronicles (10). It is usually translated as "treasure" or "treasury." It can refer either to that which is considered valuable or to the place where things that are valued are stored. King Solomon used this word to warn that ill-gotten gains are meaningless and even sometimes deadly.
Treasures (otsar) of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death . . . The getting of treasures (otsar) by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro by those who seek death (Proverbs 10:2, 21:6).
Occurring 79 times in 77 Old Testament verses, the Hebrew oth (Strong's #H226) is recorded the most in Exodus (16 times) followed by Deuteronomy (12) and then Isaiah (11). The word is utilized to denote a sign, mark or token that sets something or someone apart.
For example, oth is first used in Genesis 1:14 to reveal the sun and moon were created as signs (oth) so that days, years and seasons (the correct time to keep God's Feast Days) could be determined. An oth or sign was placed on Cain so that he would not be killed (Genesis 4:15). God gave Noah the sign (oth) of a rainbow as proof of His covenant with him (9:12 - 13).
The Greek word hudor, Strong's #G5204, is found 79 times in 70 Greek New Testament verses. It is found the most in the gospel of John (24 times) followed by Revelation (18). The word is used to refer to water no matter its location.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water (hudor): and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him (Matthew 3:16, KJV).
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water (hudor) of life freely (Revelation 22:17, KJV).
Iniquity and Vanity
The Hebrew word aven (Strong's Concordance #H205) is found 79 times in 79 verses in the original language of the Old Testament. It is used the most in the Psalms (29 times) followed by Job (13). The word means nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness or iniquity. It is usually translated in the King James Bible as "iniquity" or "vanity."
They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity (aven), and their belly prepareth deceit (Job 15:35, KJV).
The word aven is used in one of the most famous rebukes in the Old Testament. God commanded King Saul to wipe the Amalekites, including their animals, off the face of the earth (1Samuel 15:1 - 3). This act was foretold as punishment for them ambushing and raiding the Israelites soon after they left Egyptian slavery (Deuteronomy 25:17 - 19).
Saul, however, spared not only the best animals but also the life of the Amalekite king. Furious at Saul's rebellion, the prophet Samuel harshly rebuked him and declared God rejected him as king.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity (aven) and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king (1Samuel 15:23, HBFV).
The English word "vanity" is written 86 times in 79 King James Bible verses. It is found the most in Ecclesiastes (33 times) followed by the Psalms (15). In the Old Testament it is usually derived from the Hebrew shav (Strong's Concordance #H7723) which means emptiness, falsehood, desolation, uselessness, idolatry (figuratively) and, of course, vanity.
The word "vanity," in the New Testament, comes from the Greek mataiotes (Strong's #G3153) which means moral depravity, perverseness or something that is devoid of truth.
Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity (shav): for vanity (shav) shall be his recompence (Job 15:31, KJV).
For the creature (a better translation is "creation," meaning the universe) was made subject to vanity (mataiotes), not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope (Romans 8:20, KJV).
Number 79 and Vesuvius
The Apostle Paul, in the summer of 58 A.D., is a Roman prisoner in Caesarea. While awaiting his trial he is given a chance to preach the gospel to Felix, the Roman Procurator of Judea, and Drusilla his wife (Acts 24:24). Drusilla, one of Herod the Great's great-granddaughters, was interested in Paul as she had converted to Judaism. It is unknown what affect Paul's preaching had on the couple.
Felix and Drusilla produced a son named Marcus Agrippa. In 79 A.D., according to Josephus in his Antiquities of the Jews (Book 20, Chapter 7, Section 2), Marcus and his wife were killed when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The eruption destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as other cities and settlements. Marcus became one of the few people who died in the eruption whose name is known. Drusilla herself dies in August of the same year of unknown causes.
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 79
There are 8 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 79 times.
The Hebrew word choshek, Strong's #H2822, is recorded 79 times in 76 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of Job (23 times) followed by Isaiah (14) and the Psalms (10). The word, which refers to literal darkness, can also figuratively reference misery, destruction, sorrow and death.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness (choshek) was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2, KJV).
Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness (choshek), O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms (Isaiah 47:5, KJV).
79 is the 22nd prime number. Those that come before it include 67, 71 and 73, and those who come after it are 83, 89 and 97.
Psalm 79 is a rather short song at 13 verses. The average length, in the King James, of a Psalm is a little more than 16 verses. If, however, we remove Psalm 119, which contains the most verses of any Biblical chapter at 176, then the average is slightly more than 15. If we minus out the other unusually large song, Psalm 78 with 72 verses, the average becomes less than 15 verses.
Psalm 79 is one of twelve Psalms written by or for Asaph. The others, written by or for him, are Psalm 50, 73 through 78, and 80 through 83.
Only four chapters have at least 79 verses in the King James Bible. They are Numbers 7 (89 verses), Psalm 119 (176), 1Chronicles 6 (81) and Luke 1 (80).