The number thirty-nine appears in various contexts within the Bible, often symbolizing trial, judgment, or punishment. It is a number that holds significance in both the Old and New Testaments, reflecting themes of suffering and divine order.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the number thirty-nine is not explicitly mentioned as frequently as other numbers, but it can be inferred in certain contexts. For example, the number forty is often associated with periods of testing or judgment, such as the forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33-34) or the forty days and nights of rain during the flood (Genesis 7:12). Thirty-nine, being one less than forty, can symbolize the completion of a period of trial just before reaching fulfillment or divine intervention.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the number thirty-nine is most notably associated with the Apostle Paul's sufferings. In 2 Corinthians 11:24, Paul recounts, "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one." The practice of administering thirty-nine lashes was a Jewish custom based on Deuteronomy 25:3, which limits the number of lashes to forty to prevent excessive punishment. The Jews, to avoid accidentally exceeding this limit, would administer only thirty-nine lashes. This practice underscores the severity of the punishment while adhering to the law's constraints.

The "forty lashes minus one" that Paul endured is emblematic of the trials and persecutions faced by early Christians. It highlights the physical and spiritual endurance required to spread the Gospel amidst opposition. Paul's sufferings, including the thirty-nine lashes, serve as a testament to his unwavering faith and commitment to Christ.

Symbolic Interpretation

From a symbolic perspective, thirty-nine can represent the culmination of suffering or trial just before divine deliverance or completion. It is a reminder of the endurance required in the face of adversity and the hope of eventual relief or fulfillment. The number serves as a poignant reminder of the trials faced by God's people throughout biblical history and the perseverance required to remain faithful.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the number thirty-nine can be seen as a reflection of God's justice and mercy. While it represents judgment and punishment, it also signifies restraint and compassion, as seen in the limitation of lashes to prevent excessive harm. This balance between justice and mercy is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, illustrating God's righteous nature and His desire for repentance and restoration.

In summary, the number thirty-nine, while not as prominent as other biblical numbers, carries significant weight in its association with suffering, endurance, and divine justice. It serves as a powerful symbol of the trials faced by believers and the hope of redemption through faith.1520. heis -- one
... 1), nothing* (1), one (282), one another (1), one man (2), one thing (5), one*
(2), person (1), single (1), smallest (1), someone (2), thirty-nine* (1), unity ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1520.htm - 7k

3844. para -- from beside, by the side of, by, beside
... beyond (2), contrary (5), give (1), had (1), rather than (2), reason (2), riverside*
(1), sent (1), side (1), sight (2), than (12), thirty-nine* (1), together ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3844.htm - 8k

5065b. tesserakonta -- forty
... Origin from tessares and a modified form of deka Definition forty NASB Word Usage
forty (14), forty-four* (3), forty-six* (1), forty-two* (2), thirty-nine* (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5065b.htm - 5k

American Revision of the Thirty-Nine Articles, AD 1801.
... V. THE ANGLICAN ARTICLES OF RELIGION. 82. American Revision of the
Thirty-nine Articles, AD 1801. William White, DD (first Bishop ...
/.../ 82 american revision of.htm

Where the Joy Is
... TALK THIRTY-NINE. WHERE THE JOY IS. A sister wrote to me recently desiring me
to tell her how she might find sweetness and joy in her trials. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk thirty-nine where the joy.htm

American Board of Foreign Missions.
... of secular superintendents, two; of printers, eleven; of bookbinders, one; of female
helpers, married and unmarried, one hundred and thirty-nine;"making a ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/american board of foreign missions.htm

The Elizabethan Articles. AD 1563 and 1571.
... [1174] They were superseded by the Thirty-nine Articles. THE LATIN EDITION, 1563. ...
Thirteen Articles. 1538 Forty-two Articles. 1553 Thirty-nine Articles. ...
/.../ 80 the elizabethan articles.htm

Saved by Grace Alone.
... WHAT THE THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES SAY. ... At that time I had never read the
Thirty-Nine Articles; if I had I should have been ready to meet him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sovereign grace/chapter ii saved by grace.htm

The Articles of the Reformed Episcopal Church. AD 1875.
... of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; and in the doctrines of grace
substantially as they are set forth in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion. ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 86 the articles of.htm

The English Reformation.
... I. Works on the Thirty-nine Articles. ... Gilbert Burnet (Bishop of Salisbury; b.1643,
d.1715): An Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England. ...
/.../ 76 the english reformation.htm

The Irish Articles of Religion. AD 1615.
... Episcopal Church, and approved by the Viceroy in 1615, four years before the Synod
of Dort"although practically superseded by the Thirty-nine Articles, are ...
/.../the irish articles of religion.htm

Methodist Creeds.
... 1. The Twenty-five Articles of Religion. [1692] They were prepared by John Wesley,
from the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England (together with an ...
/.../ 110 methodist creeds.htm

Analysis of Arminian Methodism
... England. They are an abridgment of the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion,
with a view to simplify and to liberalize them. Wesley ...
/.../ 111 analysis of arminian.htm

Thirty-nine (2 Occurrences)
Thirty-nine. Thirty-four, Thirty-nine. Thirty-ninth . Multi-Version
Concordance Thirty-nine (2 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians ...
/t/thirty-nine.htm - 7k

Leviticus (1 Occurrence)
... They are not named in Leviticus a few weeks after the departure from Egypt; but
after the people were thirty-nine years in the desert they are named, a strong ...
/l/leviticus.htm - 42k

Lash (2 Occurrences)
... hence, a snare. 3. (n.) A stroke with a whip, or anything pliant and tough;
as, the culprit received thirty-nine lashes. 4. (n.) A ...
/l/lash.htm - 8k

Godhead (5 Occurrences)
... In this usage the word has long held the rank of a technical term, eg the
Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England, 1571, Art. ...
/g/godhead.htm - 22k

Whip (7 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To punish with a whip, scourge, or rod; to flog; to beat; as, to whip a
vagrant; to whip one with thirtynine lashes; to whip a perverse boy. ...
/w/whip.htm - 11k

Fortieth (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Following the thirty-ninth, or preceded
by thirty-nine units, things, or parts. 2. (a.) Constituting ...
/f/fortieth.htm - 8k

Forty (142 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Four times ten; thirty-nine and one more.
2. (n.) The sum of four tens; forty units or objects. ...
/f/forty.htm - 38k

Thirty-ninth (3 Occurrences)
Thirty-ninth. Thirty-nine, Thirty-ninth. Thirty-one . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEB BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV). Thirty-nine, Thirty-ninth. Thirty-one . ...
/t/thirty-ninth.htm - 7k

Thirty-four (2 Occurrences)
Thirty-four. Thirty-fold, Thirty-four. Thirty-nine . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEB BBE DBY RSV). Thirty-fold, Thirty-four. Thirty-nine . Reference Bible
/t/thirty-four.htm - 7k

Talmon (5 Occurrences)
... of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub,
the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine...
/t/talmon.htm - 9k

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