What significance does the number 40 hold in the Bible?

Question

This number is often used in the Bible, is there a reason why?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

Biblical numerology is the study of numbers in the Bible. Two of the most commonly repeated numbers in the Bible are 7 and 40. The number 7 signifies completion or perfection (Genesis 7:2-4; Revelation 1:20). It is often called “God’s number” since He is the only One who is perfect and complete (Revelation 4:5; 5:1, 5-6). 40 is often understood as the “number of probation or trial.” For example: the Israelites wandered for 40 years (Deuteronomy 8:2-5); Moses was on the mount for 40 days (Exodus 24:18); 40 days were involved in the story of Jonah and Nineveh (Jonah 3:4); Jesus was tempted for 40 days (Matthew 4:2); there were 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:3).

Answer 3

Yes: A time of testing and traing for A change is about to take Place.Jesus fasted 40 days before going to work/Moses 40 days on Mount Siani. Reign of Saul 40 yrs --David reigned 40 yrs--Soloman Reigned 40 yrs.Israel marched around 40 yrs,then Moved on the Cananites. Possesed the Land God gave to them. Modern Israel1967 build the Temple,No delay of 40 yrs.It will happen.The Flood 40 days/Their is another one that is of Great Interest,--It has been 40 (Jubilees) Since the Birth of the Kinsman Redeemer.

Answer 4

The Bible is clear that God considers 40 days a spiritually significant time period. Wherever God wanted to prepare someone for his purposes, he took 40 days:
Noah's life was transformed by 40 days of rain.
Moses was transformed by 40 days of Mount Sinai.
The spies 4o days in the Promised Land.
David by Goliath's 40 day challenge.
Elijah when God gave him 40 days of strength from a single meal.
The entire city of Nineveh was transformed when God gave the people 40 days to change.
Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness.
The disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection.

Answer 5

The book "God, the Master Mathematician" may help better than me (and I'm not a theologian). But here goes:

40 = the number of days of the flood
AND
the number of days of Christ's temptation. (I believe that the "40 days of Lent" comes from the latter).

Not sure what significance it has. Perhaps it's a sacred number to the Jews of the Old Testament.
--Jake

Answer 6

Noah built the ark and preached for 40 years

Nineveh was given 40 days to repent

Both Moses and Christ experienced 40 days of fasting.

Answer 7

Apocalypse Explained (Whitehead) Passage 633:

Forty-two months, signifies even to the end of the old church and the beginning of the new.
[2] In the Word mention is sometimes made of "forty," sometimes days, sometimes months, sometimes years, and that number signifies either the full vastation of the church, or a complete temptation.
[4] The "forty days" of the flood have a similar signification in Genesis:
For yet seven days I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy all ......

Answer 8

A time of trial or probation if you will .. Great question btw !