Biblical Meaning of the Figure 40

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Cordenify

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Sep 10, 2017
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This question got to me this morning and I am looking for someone to help unravel the answer . If you have time answer me (why) Noah made the Arch in 40 days the rains/storm lasted for 40days the Israelites walked through the desert for 40 years the tower of barbel was built in 40 days
Jesus Christ fasted for 40days He ascended to heaven after 40 days Easter is celebrated after 40 days. Life begins at 40. Pass mark starts at 40. Why 40?
If you don't have an answer, please send to others we might get an answer.
www.cordenify.blogspot.com
 
The number 4, from what little I know concerning "biblical numerology", means something like "probation, or trial/s." Then, there is, or can be an "applied factor", used. Such as a "times 10", or a "times 100", etc.

And then, there is the actual number "40", which means something entirely different...I think! :)

I've also come to realize that, some, or perhaps, even all, the ancient Hebrew letters had some numerical designation assigned to them. But, like I said, I don't know a whole lot, and from what I've heard tossed about, even what each number, or group of numbers may mean, seems to change somewhat, depending on who, or what is being talked about, debated, or discussed.

Meaning, for me, anyway, it's just "too fluxy", for me, so I'm not into it very much.
 
I would say that 40 means "completness" or "fullness of time" in ancient Hebrew thinking.
Similar to 12.

For me, its difficult to distinguish when events were really in 12/40 portions and when the scribe made it to be 12/40 to look better. I would say that genealogies are made to be symbolic, for example.
 
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40 in reference to time (i.e. 40 days/nights, etc.) is an idiomatic expression in Hebrew (and subsequently Aramaic) - it just means an unknown amount of time - "I/We don't know exactly how long it was, but definitely longer than a week, but not mush longer than a month, tops."

In this case, there's really no special significance to the number 40; it's just idiomatic, meaning roughly about a month, give or take a few weeks. It's not literally 40 days/nights.

Unfortunately, we really don't have anything similar in English to compare it to.
 
40 is a time of testing. Moses left Egypt at 40 then spent 40 years as a shepherd in Midian.
3 means victory. 5 means Spirit. 6 means war. 7 could mean Jesus. 8 could mean God. 9 is the last. 1 is the first. Zero is one before 1 thus the beginning and 10 could be the end. The Jews and Romans did not know about zero. The Arabs were the first to know of zero. There is no 0 AD. Our calendar goes from 1 BC to 1 AD.
There are 9 kings of Judah whose deeds are labeled first and last in Chronicles starting with David.
The God of Israel is called first and last in Isaiah 41-44 as is Jesus in Revelation 1.
Solomon's salary was 666 talents of gold.
 
I would suggest that there is far more speculation on the meanings of numbers in Scripture than is warranted. Offhand, I'm not aware of a single place in Scripture where it says, "number 'X' means/represents/stands for concept 'Y'." Therefore, it's often an argument from silence.

Certainly, the Bible is replete with numbers, and '7' shows up most frequently. Further, the Hebrew language assigned numbers to letters, such that a word had a meaning as well as a numerical value, and study of this can reveal some surprises.
 
In numerology, the number 40 indicates transition or change; the concept of renewal; a new beginning.

Some scholars believe the number 40 was originally sacred to the Jews and Muslims due to the fact that the planet Venus forms a pentagram in the night sky every eight years and returns to its original point every 40 years with a 40 day regression.

Possibly one of the reasons '40' was chosen (as opposed to another number), but idiomatically, it just refers to a long period of time.
 
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Cordenify said:
This question got to me this morning and I am looking for someone to help unravel the answer . If you have time answer me

(why) Noah made the Arch in 40 days
Click to expand...

where?

the rains/storm lasted for 40 days the Israelites walked through the desert for 40 years
Click to expand...

a time of judgment before God

Similarly Goliath's forty days


the tower of barbel was built in 40 days
Click to expand...

where does it say that?

Moses was forty days with God in the mountain.

A time of waiting on God

Elijah was forty days waiting on God

Jesus Christ fasted for 40days


Both waiting on God


He ascended to heaven after 40 days

A time of waiting on God


Thus forty represents waiting on God, often for judgement.
 
2 is the number for buffeting by Satan. Jacob was in Laban's service for 20 years. This number also has a positive side as in Father and Son.
 
Enoch987 said:
40 is a time of testing. Moses left Egypt at 40 then spent 40 years as a shepherd in Midian.
3 means victory. 5 means Spirit. 6 means war. 7 could mean Jesus. 8 could mean God. 9 is the last. 1 is the first. Zero is one before 1 thus the beginning and 10 could be the end. The Jews and Romans did not know about zero. The Arabs were the first to know of zero. There is no 0 AD. Our calendar goes from 1 BC to 1 AD.
There are 9 kings of Judah whose deeds are labeled first and last in Chronicles starting with David.
The God of Israel is called first and last in Isaiah 41-44 as is Jesus in Revelation 1.
Solomon's salary was 666 talents of gold.
Click to expand...

Probation.
 
Enoch987 said:
40 is a time of testing. Moses left Egypt at 40 then spent 40 years as a shepherd in Midian.
3 means victory. 5 means Spirit. 6 means war. 7 could mean Jesus. 8 could mean God. 9 is the last. 1 is the first. Zero is one before 1 thus the beginning and 10 could be the end. The Jews and Romans did not know about zero. The Arabs were the first to know of zero. There is no 0 AD. Our calendar goes from 1 BC to 1 AD.
There are 9 kings of Judah whose deeds are labeled first and last in Chronicles starting with David.
The God of Israel is called first and last in Isaiah 41-44 as is Jesus in Revelation 1.
Solomon's salary was 666 talents of gold.
Click to expand...

Do not forget that 40 is not just testing but also trials. Jesus was tested and trialed in the wilderness 40 days and Goliath tested and trialed Israel for 40 days, it rained on the earth for 40 days, the children spent 40 years in the wilderness, the spies spent 40 days spying the land the Philistines held Israel for 40 years,
 
I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the mire and clay

I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song
How long, how long, how long

He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear

I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song
How long, how long, how long


[video=youtube;EqRzKy3zk1g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqRzKy3zk1g[/video]
 
Cordenify said:
This question got to me this morning and I am looking for someone to help unravel the answer . If you have time answer me (why) Noah made the Arch in 40 days the rains/storm lasted for 40days the Israelites walked through the desert for 40 years the tower of barbel was built in 40 days
Jesus Christ fasted for 40days He ascended to heaven after 40 days Easter is celebrated after 40 days. Life begins at 40. Pass mark starts at 40. Why 40?
If you don't have an answer, please send to others we might get an answer.
www.cordenify.blogspot.com
Click to expand...


Trial,probation,testing
 
Kavik said:
In numerology, the number 40 indicates transition or change; the concept of renewal; a new beginning.

Some scholars believe the number 40 was originally sacred to the Jews and Muslims due to the fact that the planet Venus forms a pentagram in the night sky every eight years and returns to its original point every 40 years with a 40 day regression.

Possibly one of the reasons '40' was chosen (as opposed to another number), but idiomatically, it just refers to a long period of time.
Click to expand...

Seemed important enough in the geno.

(40) ~ generations ~ Lk3:23
Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old, when he began his ministry. [Baptism]
He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, and the son of (40th) Heli, "or Eli" [Mary’s father?]


Lk3:24
the son of (39th) Matthat,
the son of (38th) Levi,
the son of (37th) Melki,
the son of (36th) Jannai,
the son of (35th) Joseph,
Lk3:25
the son of (34th) Mattathias,
the son of (33rd) Amos,
the son of (32nd) Nahum,
the son of (31st) Esli,
the son of (30th) Naggai,
Lk3:26
the son of (29th) Maath,
the son of (28th) Mattathias,
the son of (27th) Semein,
the son of (26th) Josech,
the son of (25th) Joda,
Lk3:27
the son of (24th) Joanan,
the son of (23rd) Rhesa,
the son of (22nd) Zerubbabel,
the son of (21st) Shealtiel,
the son of (20th) Neri,
Lk3:28
the son of (19th) Melki,
the son of (18th) Addi,
the son of (17th) Cosam,
the son of (16th) Elmadam,
the son of (15th) Er,
Lk3:29
the son of (14th) Joshua,
the son of (13th) Eliezer,
the son of (12th) Jorim,
the son of (11th) Matthat,
the son of (10th) Levi,
Lk3:30
the son of (9th) Simeon,
the son of (8th) Judah,
the son of (7th) Joseph,
the son of (6th) Jonam,
the son of (5th) Eliakim,
Lk3:31
the son of (4th) Melea,
the son of (3rd) Menna,
the son of (2nd) Mattatha,
the son of (1st) Nathan,
the son of David,
 
Enoch987 said:
2 is the number for buffeting by Satan. Jacob was in Laban's service for 20 years. This number also has a positive side as in Father and Son.
Click to expand...

Mt1:2c: (3rd) Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Lk3:34a: the son of Jacob,
Mt1:2b: (2nd) Isaac the father of Jacob, Lk3:34b: the son of Isaac,
Mt1:2a: (1st) Abraham was the father of Isaac, Lk3:34c: the son of Abraham,

(20) ~ generations
Lk3:34d: the son of (20th) Terah,
Lk3:34e: the son of (19th) Nahor,

Lk3:35
the son of (18th) Serug,
the son of (17th) Reu,
the son of (16th) Peleg,
the son of (15th) Eber,
the son of (14th) Shelah,
Lk3:36
the son of (13th) Cainan,
the son of (12th) Arphaxad,
the son of (11th) Shem,

the son of (10th) Noah,
the son of (9th) Lamech,
Lk3:37
the son of (8th) Methuselah,
the son of (7th) Enoch,
the son of (6th) Jared,
the son of (5th) Mahalalel,
the son of (4th) Kenan,
Lk3:38
the son of (3rd) Enosh,
the son of (2nd) Seth,
the son of (1st) Adam,
the son of God.
 
1 Kings 19:8

So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
 
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