Lexical Summary arbaim: Forty Original Word: אַרְבָּעִים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fortyMultiple of arba'; forty -- -forty. see HEBREW arba' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as arba Definition forty NASB Translation 1,247* (2), 140* (1), 148* (1), 242* (1), 245* (3), 345* (2), 40,000* (5), 40,500* (3), 41,500* (2), 42* (2), 42,000* (1), 43,730* (1), 44,760* (1), 45* (1), 45,400* (1), 45,600* (1), 45,650* (2), 46,500* (2), 642* (2), 648* (1), 743* (2), 745* (1), 845* (1), 945* (1), fortieth (3), forty (73), forty times (1), forty-eight* (2), forty-first* (1), forty-five* (2), forty-nine* (1), forty-one* (4), forty-seven* (1), forty-two* (3), twenty-two* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַרְבָּעִים136 plural noun indeclinable a forty; — 1 sine num. al.: a. usually apposition before noun, especially שָׁנָה, יוֺם (singular): אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה Judges 3:11; 1 Samuel 4:18; Amos 2:10; Amos 5:25 29t.;יוֺם ׳א Genesis 7:17; 1 Kings 19:8; Jonah 3:4 6t.,יוֺם ׳א לַיְלָה ׳וְא Genesis 7:4,12; Exodus 24:18 7t.; also בַּת ׳א 1 Kings 7:38, גָּמָל ׳א 2 Kings 8:9, אַמָּה ׳א Ezekiel 41:2 and (אַמָּה omitted) Ezekiel 46:22, but בָּאַמָּה ׳א 1 Kings 6:17 (v: אַמָּה); אֶלֶף ׳א Numbers 1:33; Numbers 2:19; Numbers 26:18; Joshua 4:13; Judges 5:8; 2 Samuel 10:18; 1 Kings 5:6; 1 Chronicles 12:37 (van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:36), 1 Chronicles 19:18 (see also below); rarely followed by plural noun, בָּנִים ׳א Judges 12:14, אֲדָנִים ׳א Exodus 26:19,21; Exodus 36:24,26 (P). — (As round number Genesis 7:17; Judges 3:11; Judges 5:31; Judges 8:28; 1 Samuel 4:18 +). b. after plural noun, ׳מָּרוֺת א Genesis 32:16 (E), ׳שְׁקָלִים א Nehemiah 5:15. c. noun omitted Genesis 18:29, ׳הָא Genesis 18:29; יַכֶּנּוּ ׳א Deuteronomy 25:3 forty (blows) may he smite him. 2 with other numbers: a. before unit, + singular noun:, 40 1שָׁנָה 1 Kings 14:21; 1 Kings 15:10; 2 Kings 14:23; 402שָׁנָה2Chron 22:20, אִישׁ 2 Kings 10:14, עִיר Numbers 35:6, + אֶלֶף Judges 12:6; 405שָׁנָה Joshua 14:10 (JE), etc. (12 t.); + plural noun יְלָדִים 2 Kings 2:24; after plural noun הָעַמּוּדִים405 1 Kings 7:3; noun omitted 40 5 Genesis 18:28, compare Ezra 2:24 = Nehemiah 7:28. b. after unit, 9 40שָׁנָה Leviticus 25:8 (H); 1 40אֶלֶף Numbers 1:41; Numbers 2:28, etc. (9 t. Numbers, P). c. with hundreds, 40 שָׁנָה800שָׁנָה Genesis 5:18 (P); 100 40שָׁנָה Job 42:16; + units, 7 שָׁנִים40100שָׁנָה Genesis 47:28 (P); but (Ezra Nehemiah, mostly predicate, without noun), 900 405 Ezra 2:8, compare Ezra 2:25; Nehemiah 7:62, and (׳א without וְ) 600, 40 2 Ezra 2:10, see also "" Nehemiah 7:15; Ezra 2:34 = Nehemiah 7:36; Ezra 2:66 = Nehemiah 7:68 (ver. omitted Baer Gi), Nehemiah 7:13,29,44; Nehemiah 1000, 200, 40 7 Ezra 2:38 = Nehemiah 7:41; plural noun 200 405 Nehemiah 7:67, plural noun 200, 40 + 2; Nehemiah 11:13; also singular noun נֶפֶשׁ 700, 40 5 Jeremiah 52:30. 3 as ordinal, שָׁנָה ׳בְּא Deuteronomy 1:3 in the fortieth year; also ׳בִּשְׁנַת הָא Numbers 33:38; 1 Chronicles 26:31; וְאַחַת ׳בִּשְׁנַת א2Chronicles 16:13 in the forty-first year Topical Lexicon Overview ארבעים (ʾarbāʿîm, “forty”) appears about one hundred thirty-five times in the Hebrew Scriptures, most frequently designating units of time (days or years), sometimes counting people, measures, or lashes. The number marks transitional moments in redemptive history, framing eras of testing, judgment, preparation, and completion. Biblical Symbolism of Forty The pattern of forty in Scripture consistently signals a divinely appointed period that brings an old order to an end and ushers in a new beginning. Whether describing days of rain, years of wilderness wandering, or seasons of royal rule, forty underscores both the faithfulness of God and the responsiveness He seeks in His people. Foundations in Primeval History • Genesis 7:4 records the first forty: “For seven days from now, I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights”. The deluge both judged wickedness and provided a fresh start through Noah. Covenantal Testing: Exodus and Wilderness • Exodus 24:18; 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9-18—Moses remained on Sinai forty days and nights, receiving covenant law. Cycles of Judges and Monarchy • Judges alternates between forty years of oppression and forty years of peace or leadership (Judges 3:11; 5:31; 8:28; 13:1). The number structures Israel’s history, highlighting covenant blessings when the nation repents and burdens when it turns away. Prophetic Declarations and Warnings • Ezekiel lay on his right side forty days to bear Judah’s iniquity (Ezekiel 4:6). Legal and Ritual Boundaries • Deuteronomy 25:3 fixes the maximum judicial beating at forty lashes, safeguarding human dignity. Military and Warfare Contexts • 1 Samuel 17:16—Goliath taunted Israel “morning and evening for forty days,” heightening the dramatic tension before David’s victory. Literary and Poetic Employment Wisdom literature occasionally uses forty as a round number denoting abundance or totality (e.g., Job 42:16 records Job living another forty years after his restoration). Christological Trajectory Although Greek τεσσεράκοντα appears in the New Testament, the Old Testament use of ארבעים foreshadows key gospel events: The continuity of forty across covenants highlights God’s unchanging method of preparing servants and revealing His kingdom. Pastoral and Devotional Insights 1. Seasons marked by forty remind believers that trials are purposeful and time-bounded. For study and ministry, tracing each instance of ארבעים unveils a tapestry of divine order, reinforcing confidence that God completes what He begins—often in fortieth-shaped increments. Forms and Transliterations אַרְבָּ֘עִ֤ים אַרְבָּעִ֑ים אַרְבָּעִ֔ים אַרְבָּעִ֖ים אַרְבָּעִ֣ים אַרְבָּעִ֤ים אַרְבָּעִ֥ים אַרְבָּעִ֨ים אַרְבָּעִים֙ ארבעים בְּאַרְבָּעִ֣ים בְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים בארבעים הָֽאַרְבָּעִ֗ים הָֽאַרְבָּעִ֜ים הָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃ הארבעים הארבעים׃ וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים וְאַרְבָּעִ֤ים וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעִים֙ וארבעים כְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים כארבעים ’ar·bā·‘îm ’arbā‘îm arbaIm bə’arbā‘îm bə·’ar·bā·‘îm bearbaIm hā’arbā‘îm hā·’ar·bā·‘îm haarbaIm kə’arbā‘îm kə·’ar·bā·‘îm kearbaIm vearbaIm wə’arbā‘îm wə·’ar·bā·‘îmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 5:13 HEB: אֶת־ מַֽהֲלַלְאֵ֔ל אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה NAS: eight hundred and forty years after KJV: hundred and forty years, INT: became of Mahalalel and forty years eight Genesis 7:4 Genesis 7:4 Genesis 7:12 Genesis 7:12 Genesis 7:17 Genesis 8:6 Genesis 18:28 Genesis 18:29 Genesis 18:29 Genesis 25:20 Genesis 26:34 Genesis 32:15 Genesis 47:28 Genesis 50:3 Exodus 16:35 Exodus 24:18 Exodus 24:18 Exodus 26:19 Exodus 26:21 Exodus 34:28 Exodus 34:28 Exodus 36:24 Exodus 36:26 Leviticus 25:8 135 Occurrences |
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