The number 40
Testing, trial, probation, preparation
Testing and judgment — seasons of trial
Forty is the number of testing, trial, and probation. The flood lasted 40 days. Moses was on Sinai 40 days. Israel wandered 40 years. Jesus fasted and was tempted 40 days. It represents a complete period of testing before a new beginning.
In Hebrew and Greek
Hebrew
Arbaim (אַרְבָּעִים) - forty
Greek
Tessarakonta (τεσσαράκοντα) - forty
First occurrence
And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
The pattern in Scripture
- 40 days of flood (Gen 7:17)
- Moses on Sinai 40 days (Exod 24:18)
- Israel in wilderness 40 years (Num 14:33)
- Jesus tempted 40 days (Matt 4:2)
- 40 days before ascension (Acts 1:3)
- Eli judged 40 years
- Saul, David, Solomon each reigned 40 years
Key verses
And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughte...
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and ever...
And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it w...
And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had ma...
40:40 verses
And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the...