The number forty-nine holds significance in the biblical narrative, primarily in its connection to the concept of the Jubilee and the counting of time in the Hebrew calendar. It is a number that symbolizes completion and preparation for a new beginning, as it is the product of seven times seven, with seven being a number of spiritual perfection and completion in the Bible.

Jubilee Year

The most prominent biblical reference to the number forty-nine is found in the context of the Jubilee Year. According to Leviticus 25:8-10, the Israelites were instructed to count seven sabbatical years, which is seven times seven years, totaling forty-nine years. The fiftieth year was to be proclaimed as a Jubilee year, a time of liberation and restoration. The Berean Standard Bible states: "You are to count off seven sabbaths of years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to forty-nine years. Then you shall sound the ram’s horn everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall sound the horn throughout your land. So you are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you, when each of you is to return to his property and each of you to his clan."

The Jubilee year was a time when debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and land was returned to its original owners. This period of restoration and freedom was a profound expression of God's mercy and justice, emphasizing the importance of rest, renewal, and the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over the land and His people.

Symbolism of Completion and Renewal

The number forty-nine, as a multiple of seven, carries the symbolism of completion and spiritual perfection. In biblical numerology, the number seven is often associated with God's creation and divine order, as seen in the seven days of creation (Genesis 1). Therefore, forty-nine, being seven times seven, represents a complete cycle of time leading to a new beginning, as seen in the transition to the Jubilee year.

Pentecost

Another significant connection to the number forty-nine is found in the counting of the Omer, which leads to the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. According to Leviticus 23:15-16, the Israelites were to count seven full weeks, or forty-nine days, from the day after the Sabbath following Passover. On the fiftieth day, they celebrated the Feast of Weeks, a time of thanksgiving for the harvest and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. The Berean Standard Bible records: "From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you are to count off seven full weeks. You shall count off fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD."

This period of counting and anticipation culminates in a celebration of God's provision and revelation, further underscoring the themes of completion and renewal associated with the number forty-nine.

Conclusion

In summary, the number forty-nine in the Bible is deeply connected to themes of completion, renewal, and divine order. It serves as a preparatory period leading to significant events such as the Jubilee year and the Feast of Weeks, both of which highlight God's provision, mercy, and the call to holiness and justice among His people.705. arbaim -- forty
... 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 ...
/hebrew/705.htm - 6k

8672. tesha -- a nine
... derivation Definition a nine NASB Word Usage 139* (1), 29* (2), 3,930* (1), 59,300*
(2), 928* (1), 945* (1), 956* (1), 973* (2), forty-nine* (1), nine (21 ...
/hebrew/8672.htm - 6k

Two Sunsets
... TALK FORTY-NINE. TWO SUNSETS. We stood on the brow of the hill gazing out
over the valley beneath us. In the distant west the sun ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk forty-nine two sunsets.htm

Heart Talks
... TALK FORTY-SEVEN. "BUT JESUS SENT HIM AWAY" (LUKE 8: 38). TALK FORTY-EIGHT. GETTING
THE KERNEL. TALK FORTY-NINE. TWO SUNSETS. TALK FIFTY. THE SCULPTOR'S WORK. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/

Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
... for the year ending April 20, 1842, is one hundred and five thousand two hundred
and eighty-one dollars; expended, one hundred and forty-nine thousand and sixty ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/missions of the methodist episcopal.htm

Psalm CL.
... complete the number of fifty. For seven times seven make forty-nine, whereto
one is added to make fifty. And this number fifty is ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cl.htm

The Declaration of Faith of the Reformed Church in France. AD 1872 ...
... It consisted of one hundred and eight delegates (forty-nine ministers and
fifty-nine laymen), the legitimate descendants of those few humble but enthusiastic ...
/.../ 63 the declaration of.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... Book of Jubilees," a very fitting designation of a treatise which divided the history
of which it treated into periods of Jubilees, ie of forty-nine years, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

Historical Notice of the Church in the United States.
... of the Church for many years, his life having been prolonged to the age of 88, and
the discharge of his Episcopal functions having continued forty-nine years. ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/historical notice of the church.htm

Daniel
... seven weeks (=forty-nine years), sixty-two weeks, and one week (=seven years).
[Footnote 1: Another incidental proof that the book is late. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/daniel.htm

Travel. A Personal Experience.
... We sailed to Boston and returned to Chicago by way of Montreal and Detroit, having
spent forty-nine days"the intensest and delightfullest of our lives. ...
/.../ix travel a personal experience.htm

Appendix i. Pseudepigraphic Writings
... The name, Book of Jubilees,' is derived from the circumstance that the
Scripture-chronology is arranged according to Jubilee periods of forty-nine years, ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix i pseudepigraphic writings.htm

Forty-nine (1 Occurrence)
Forty-nine. Forty-four, Forty-nine. Forty-one . Multi-Version
Concordance Forty-nine (1 Occurrence). Leviticus 25:8 ...
/f/forty-nine.htm - 6k

Forty-four (5 Occurrences)
Forty-four. Forty-five, Forty-four. Forty-nine . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEB BBE DBY RSV). Forty-five, Forty-four. Forty-nine . Reference Bible.
/f/forty-four.htm - 8k

Forty-one (6 Occurrences)
Forty-one. Forty-nine, Forty-one. Forty's . Multi-Version Concordance ... (WEB BBE
DBY NAS RSV NIV). Forty-nine, Forty-one. Forty's . Reference Bible.
/f/forty-one.htm - 8k

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)
... From the sixteenth of the month of Nisan (the second day of the Passover), seven
complete weeks, ie, forty-nine days, were to be reckoned, and this feast was ...
/p/pentecost.htm - 21k

Nine (55 Occurrences)
... 8 "'You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there
shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. ...
/n/nine.htm - 22k

Weeks (17 Occurrences)
... 8 "'You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there
shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. ...
/w/weeks.htm - 16k

Sabbaths (53 Occurrences)
... 8 "'You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there
shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. ...
/s/sabbaths.htm - 24k

Numbered (209 Occurrences)
... 25:8 And let seven Sabbaths of years be numbered to you, seven times seven years;
even the days of seven Sabbaths of years, that is forty-nine years; (BBE YLT). ...
/n/numbered.htm - 35k

Amount (66 Occurrences)
... 8 "'You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there
shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. ...
/a/amount.htm - 27k

Namely (81 Occurrences)
... 8 "'You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there
shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. ...
/n/namely.htm - 31k

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