The number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial, probation or judgement appearing 145 times in Scripture.
Here are some more interesting references to FORTY:
After the flood waters had receded, and the tops of the mountains were visible, Noah waited another 40 days to open the window of the Ark (Genesis 8:6). Isaac was 40 years old when he took Rebekah as his wife (Genesis 25:20). Esau, Isaac’s son, also got married when he was 40 (Genesis 26:34). Embalming took 40 days in early Bible times (Genesis 50:3). Moses was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (twice!) (Exodus 24:18) (Exodus 34:28)( Deuteronomy 9:9,11,18,25)( Deuteronomy 10:10). The spies that Moses sent to spy out the Promised Land were there for 40 days (Numbers 13:25)(Numbers 14:34). One of those spies was Joshua, and he was forty years old when he went (Joshua 14:7). Moses died when he was 120 years old (Deuteronomy 34:7). His life can be divided into 3 sections of 40 years: (first 40) being born and growing up in Pharaoh’s house in Egypt (Acts 7:20-23), (middle 40) fleeing to Midian after killing the Egyptian, and living there for 40 years (Acts 7:29-30), (last 40) returning to Egypt, the exodus, and the events that followed (Acts 7:36)(Exodus 7:7). Aaron died 40 years after the Israelites had left Egypt (Numbers 33:38). Three different times in Judges, the land had rest for 40 years (Judges 3:11)(Judges 5:31)(Judges 8:28). Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Samuel 4:18). Ishbosheth became king over Israel when he was 40 years old (2 Samuel 2:10). Three kings reigned for 40 years: David (1 Kings 2:11)(2 Samuel 5:4-5), Solomon (1 Kings 11:42), and Joash (2 Chronicles 24:1)(2 Kings 12:1). (Saul may also be a part of this group [Acts 13:21], but this is controversial [1 Samuel 13:1].) The 10 lavers in the Temple each held “40 baths” (about 230 gal.) of water (1 Kings 7:38). The time period between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension was 40 days (Acts 1:3). The book of Exodus has 40 chapters. The average length of a woman’s pregnancy is 40 weeks. Lent is the 40 days before Easter (not counting Sundays).
Forty appears 145 times in Scripture.The number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial, probation or judgement.This certainly seems to be borne out in a number of places in the Bible, however, it also is used for more than that. Let’s first look at the ways it could be taken as a number signifying trial, testing, or judgment, then we will look some other significant uses.
Here are some interesting references to FORTY:
When God destroyed every living thing on the Earth by flood, it rained 40 days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:4,12,17). Three men in the Bible fasted 40 days and 40 nights: Moses (Exodus 34:28)(Deuteronomy 9:9,18,25)(Deuteronomy 10:10), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), and Jesus (Matthew 4:2)(Luke 4:2)(Mark 1:13). Because Israel refused to enter the Promised Land, God condemned them to wander in the “wilderness” for 40 years (Numbers 14:33-34)(Numbers 32:11-13)( Deuteronomy 8:2)(Joshua 5:6). God also kept their clothing and sandals from wearing out for the whole 40 years: (Deuteronomy 29:5, Deuteronomy 8:4.) The Israelites were given manna in the desert for 40 years to “test” and “humble” them (Exodus 16:35)( Deuteronomy 8:3,16) When scourging someone, they could not receive more than 40 lashes (Deuteronomy 25:3)(2 Corinthians 11:24). The Israelites were in captivity to the Philistines for 40 years for doing evil (Judges 13:1). Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days and nights (1 Samuel 17:16), until David defeated him. Ezekiel laid on his right side for 40 days to “bear the iniquity” of Judah’s sins (Ezekiel 4:6). God proclaimed judgment against Egypt, saying it would be desolate for 40 years (Ezekiel 29:10-12). God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent or be overthrown (Jonah 3:4).
Appears 394 times (352 Old Testament) in the KJV and most of the time it refers to amount of Money, men in army, people who died, people in a tribe, animals, cubits, chariots, number of angles for example. The New Testament has 42 occurrences of thousand. Two unique occurrences are found in the Book of Psalm: Psalm 84:10For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 90:4For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Peter, in his 2nd epistle, to Jewish believers, he reminds them of Psalm 90:4. 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
John has 20 references in Revelation: These verses are only where “thousand” is mentioned. The first reference: he tells of the number of angels in heaven: Revelation 5:11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; The remainder of the references occur during the Tribulation (7 years) and into the millilumen (1000 years). He reports on the number of Jewish young men who will preach the kingdom of God during the Tribulation: Revelation 7:4-8And I heard the number of them which were sealed: He then names each tribe and 12,000 from each one = 144,000. Then the size of an army released during the 6th trumpet: Revelation 9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. He then gives the number of days the two witnesses who will have power to on earth (3 1/2 years): Revelation 11:3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Continuing with the destruction and tragedy during Tribulation. Revelation 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. Another mention of time, 3.5 years. The length of time Israel will hide from the Antichrist, while God protects her: Revelation 12:6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Another reference to the young Jewish men who will Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom during the Tribulation: Revelation 14:1And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written … Revelation 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. Just think, blood 4-5 feet deep (in the valley of Megiddo: Revelation 14:20And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. Events at the end of Tribulation and the tart of millilumen (God’s kingdom reign on earth) Revelation 20:2-7 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. …. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And the last reference is to the size of the new Jerusalem. Revelation 21:16And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs…
In Genesis 1:21 on the 5th day God created fish and on the 6th day (1:28) He created Man and gave man dominion over them. But it would appear that until after the flood man did not eat flesh. Genesis 9:2-4And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. Since then fish have played an important part both for food and of the economy. As the Lord Jesus began his earthly ministry the first two of his disciples (later called Apostles) were fishermen. Matthew 4:18-19, Mark 1:16-17And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
In Luke 5:2-10 The Lord used fishing to show His disciples His power and what He was calling them to do: Look again at Luke 5:4-6 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. In his teachings he often used fish as an example. Matthew 7:9-10, Luke 11:11Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Twice He used fish in a miracle feeding a great multitude: Matthew 14:17-19, Mark 6:38, Mark 6:41, Mark 6:43, Luke 9:13, Luke 9:16, John 6:9-11 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. Matthew 15:34, Matthew 15:36, Mark 8:7And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And instructing Peter to obey those in authority he used a fish: Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
After the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and even though He had presented Himself to the Apostles, they seemed confused, not knowing what to do. They turned to what they had done all their lives, Fish. John 21:3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But the Lord was not done with them, He had a few more things to teach them.
John 21:6-13 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. … Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. Luke 24:42-43And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. Why did Luke record this? This took place after the Resurrection, the Lord had His new glorified body, the body he now resides in heaven with. Yet he ate fish and honeycomb. John did not say the Lord ate with them but recorded: John 21:15So when they had dined, …
Luke recorded another event where it appears the Lord ate: (The two disciples on the road to Emmaus) Luke 24:29-30 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. Later, Peter witnessing to Cornelius Acts 10:40-41Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
It would appear that WE will be eating when we get our new bodies.1 Corintians 15:50-54.
God uses insects to punish His people when they disobey His instructions.
Joel 1:4That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Amos 4:9 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
The Lord Jesus uses the destruction of the Moth to teach us where our values should be placed.
Matthew 6:19-21Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
God promised His people (Hebrews) that He would use HORNETS to Help and protect them IF they would obey Him.
Exodus 23:28 And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
Deuteronomy 7:20 Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.
Joshua 24:12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.
1 Samuel 24:14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
1 Samuel 26:20Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
Usually mentioned when there are bad times in the land.
1 Kings 8:37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;
2 Chronicles 6:28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:
Psalm 78:46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust. Psalm 105:34 He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
Isaiah 33:4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
Jeremiah 51:14 The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee. Jeremiah 51:27 Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.
Joel 1:4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Today they are referred to as inch worms. They become Moths.
Mentioned in 2 books of Scripture: Joel and Nahum.
Joel 1:4That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Nahum 3:15 There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts. Nahum 3:16 Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and fleeth away.
