Biblical Significance:

The number 127 holds particular significance in the Bible, primarily in the context of the lifespan of Sarah, the wife of Abraham. It is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, which is the first book of the Bible and part of the Pentateuch or Torah. The number is not frequently referenced elsewhere in the Scriptures, making its occurrence notable in the narrative of the patriarchs.

Genesis 23:1 :
"Now Sarah lived to be 127 years old."

This verse marks the beginning of Genesis chapter 23, which details the death of Sarah and the subsequent purchase of the cave of Machpelah by Abraham as a burial site. Sarah's age at the time of her death is significant as it underscores her role as a matriarch in the biblical narrative. Her lifespan is recorded with precision, highlighting her importance in the lineage of the Israelites.

Contextual Analysis:

1. Sarah's Role: Sarah is a central figure in the Abrahamic narrative. Her life and actions are pivotal in the unfolding of God's covenant with Abraham. Her age at death, 127 years, is specifically noted, which is relatively rare in the biblical text, as the ages of women are not often recorded. This emphasizes her prominence and the respect accorded to her as the mother of Isaac, through whom the covenantal promises would continue.

2. Cultural and Historical Context: In the ancient Near Eastern context, the recording of a woman's age at death, especially in such a detailed manner, is unusual. This reflects the high regard in which Sarah was held. The purchase of the burial site in Hebron also signifies the beginning of a permanent inheritance in the Promised Land, a key theme in the biblical narrative.

3. Numerological Considerations: While the Bible does not explicitly assign symbolic meaning to the number 127, numerology in biblical texts often carries significance. The number 127 could be seen as a combination of the Numbers 100, 20, and 7, each of which has its own symbolic meanings in biblical numerology. The number 100 often symbolizes completeness or fullness, 20 can represent a period of waiting or testing, and 7 is frequently associated with divine perfection or completion.

Related Themes and Concepts:

· Mortality and Legacy: The mention of Sarah's age at her death invites reflection on themes of mortality and legacy. Her life and death are integral to the account of the Israelite people, and her legacy is carried on through her son Isaac.

· Faith and Promise: Sarah's life is a testament to faith and the fulfillment of God's promises. Despite initial doubt and challenges, Sarah becomes a mother in her old age, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.

· Patriarchal Narratives: The account of Sarah's death and the purchase of the burial site is part of the larger patriarchal narratives in Genesis, which lay the foundation for the identity and history of the Israelite people.

Cross-References:

· Genesis 17:17 : "Then Abraham fell facedown and laughed, saying to himself, 'Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?'"

· Genesis 21:1-3 : "Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised. And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him."

These cross-references provide additional context to Sarah's life and the fulfillment of God's promises, further emphasizing the significance of her age and her role in biblical history.127 (3 Occurrences)

Esther 1:1
Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
(See NAS NIV)

Esther 8:9
Then the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language.
(See NAS NIV)

Esther 9:30
He sent letters to all the Jews, to the hundred twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
(See NAS NIV)

127 (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance 127 (3 Occurrences). Esther 1:1 Now it happened
in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned ...
/num/127.htm - 7k

Report (127 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Report (127 Occurrences). Matthew 2:8 He sent them to
Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child. ...
/r/report.htm - 38k

Belong (127 Occurrences)
... by the parish or town. 6. (vt) To be deserved by. Multi-Version Concordance
Belong (127 Occurrences). Matthew 20:23 "You shall drink ...
/b/belong.htm - 35k

Belongs (127 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Belongs (127 Occurrences). Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the
poor in spirit, for to them belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens. (WEY). ...
/b/belongs.htm - 35k

Signs (127 Occurrences)
... SIGNS OF THE HEAVENS. See ASTRONOMY, sec. I, 4. SIGNS, NUMERICAL. nu-mer'-i-kal.
See NUMBER. Multi-Version Concordance Signs (127 Occurrences). ...
/s/signs.htm - 38k

Base (127 Occurrences)
... certain vile fellows of the rabble." T. Rees. Multi-Version Concordance
Base (127 Occurrences). Luke 6:49 But he who gives hearing ...
/b/base.htm - 45k

Isaac (127 Occurrences)
... IV, 3. Multi-Version Concordance Isaac (127 Occurrences). Matthew 1:2 Abraham
became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. ...
/i/isaac.htm - 60k

Quiver (9 Occurrences)
... The sheath for arrows. The Hebrew word (aspah) thus commonly rendered is found in
Job 39:23; Psalm 127:5; Isaiah 22:6; 49:2; Jeremiah 5:16; Lamentations 3:13. ...
/q/quiver.htm - 11k

Relationships (1 Occurrence)
... Children were looked upon as a blessing from God (Psalm 127:3) and the defenders
of the home (Psalm 127:4, 5). In early life a child was more directly under ...
/r/relationships.htm - 38k

Ascents (21 Occurrences)
... Psalm 127 A Song of Ascents; of Solomon. (ASV). Psalms 127:1 A Song of Ascents.
By Solomon. Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. ...
/a/ascents.htm - 12k

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