back in the "bible days" it was common to use the term "40 days and 40 nights" basically to describe a "long time" but that some things weren't necessarily that certain number of days/nights...anyone else ever heard that? Also, ever notice how many things in the gospel have to do with the number 7?
2007-03-23 08:47:16 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
good point Justin S
2007-03-23 08:55:44 · update #1
"40 days and 40 nights" is used in the bible as a time of preparation (Moses before receiving the commandments, Jesus in the wilderness) or as a time of testing (the flood, Ninevah). Generally it precedes a major change. 40 is also the number associated with mem in kabbalah.
It's use was to signify a long time. It's origins are lost to antiquity. It may have stemmed from a poor estimation of one and a half lunar months or twice the number of a man's fingers and toes.
7 was considered the number of perfection beginning with god resting on the seventh day.
2007-03-23 09:11:54 · answer #1 · answered by Dave P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes ... noticed it. But in order to understand whether it was literal 7 or literal 40, you need to look for time texts. For example, the words 'days' and 'nights' tells you the parameter involving the number 40. It tells you that Noah heard the rain coming down for 40 days and nights. But in the book of Revelation we see the Seven Spirits around the throne, most commentators say this is a number of perfection and refers to the Holy Spirit.
Always look in the context to find out what the numbers mean. Also, the Hebrews counted any number of hours within the day as the whole day. So, three days in the grave for Jesus didn't mean 72 hours, but meant that he was put in sometime during the first day, all of the second day, then rose sometime on the third. Maybe more like 48 hours than anything.
2007-03-23 15:54:06 · answer #2 · answered by justin singleton 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't forget 3 and 12. I don't know about 40 or 7, but 3 and 12 are all over the place.
2007-03-23 21:45:29 · answer #3 · answered by Beast8981 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many uses of 40:
-Days and nights of rain creating Noah's flood;
-Years wandering in the wilderness for the Jews with Moses;
-Days Jesus spent in the wilderness prior to his ministry.
I also once heard that the ancient Hebrew translation of 40 was "many"
2007-03-23 15:56:23 · answer #4 · answered by b_steeley 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
40 days and nights was a literal 40 days and nights....
Concerning the flood.....
And 7 is the perfect, complete number of the Lord
2007-03-23 15:50:07 · answer #5 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
40 days and 40 nights was how long Noah was on the ark because it rained for that long.
2007-03-23 15:50:16 · answer #6 · answered by huckypeep2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A fortnight is 2 weeks, what is your point?
7 Is the number of perfection. God's number.
God (trinity) 777
Mark of Beast 666
I guess that is as close as Satan can get.
2007-03-23 15:52:17 · answer #7 · answered by RedE1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋