Is it it like his 3rd favorite number after 3 and 7?
2007-05-30 06:32:11 · 14 answers · asked by LawDork 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
40 in the bible is just used to represent a really really long time.
2007-05-30 06:35:07 · answer #1 · answered by John C 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Interesting! I like it when it comes to moses and the children of Israel!
Moses at age 40, he left the comforts of Egypt and became a shepherd.
After spending 40 years as a shepherd (now 80), he saw a bush burning but not being consumed.
He took two consecutive 40 day - fastings.
He spent 40 years in the wilderness with the children of Israel (dying at age 120).
There are a lot of other 40's in the Bible.
I agree with you, it seems to be God's special number.
2007-05-30 13:46:46 · answer #2 · answered by RealArsenalFan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God felt that it was an ample amount of time to finish something. Actually, it was very close to the historical month of ancient times. Thus, Noah was rained upon for forty days and nights. It was to represent that it was a long time.
The Hebrews wandered through the wilderness for 40 years. The significance was that everyone of the first generation had to die before they could enter Canaan.
2007-05-30 13:37:54 · answer #3 · answered by rescueman91 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
40 is probation...ie: 40 years in the desert to get rid of the bums that came out of egypt and still complained....one of the numbers associated with generations.
no clue what his favorite numbers are otherwise.
2007-05-30 13:37:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ancient people couldn't fathom a number higher than 40...
That's was an immensity...
40 days and 40 nights.... its like if I said it rained for 1,000 years...
That's a long-*** time....
2007-05-30 13:37:27 · answer #5 · answered by Julian X 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Hebrew, 40 was used to mean "many." It's like how we say "a million" when we don't really mean a literal million in number; it just means a lot!
2007-05-30 13:36:13 · answer #6 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
40 you see in the bible as time for purification
40 days raining in the flood
40 years (Moses in the desert)
40 years the Jews throught the desert.
40 days (Jesus in the desert after baptism)
2007-05-30 13:38:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
40 is the number often associated with judgment in the Bible.
2007-05-30 13:38:48 · answer #8 · answered by Bobby Jim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I prefer the number 50 myself.
2007-05-30 13:35:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's the biggest number he can think of off the top of his head.
2007-05-30 13:37:03 · answer #10 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋