FORTY

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 6
Remarkable coincidences in the number
DAYS
Of rain, at the time of the flood
And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. (Genesis 7:1717And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. (Genesis 7:17))
Of flood, before sending forth the raven
And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: (Genesis 8:66And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: (Genesis 8:6))
For embalming
And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. (Genesis 50:33And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. (Genesis 50:3))
Of fasting
By Moses
And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. (Exodus 24:1818And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. (Exodus 24:18))
And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. (Exodus 34:2828And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. (Exodus 34:28))
When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: (Deuteronomy 9:99When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: (Deuteronomy 9:9))
Thus I fell down before the Lord forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the Lord had said he would destroy you. (Deuteronomy 9:2525Thus I fell down before the Lord forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the Lord had said he would destroy you. (Deuteronomy 9:25))
By Elijah
And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. (1 Kings 19:88And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. (1 Kings 19:8))
By spies in the land of promise
And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. (Numbers 13:2525And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. (Numbers 13:25))
Of probation, given to the Ninevites
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. (Jonah 3:44And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. (Jonah 3:4))
By Jesus
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. (Matthew 4:22And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. (Matthew 4:2))
Christ's stay after the resurrection
To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:33To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:3))
Symbolical
And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. (Ezekiel 4:66And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. (Ezekiel 4:6))
YEARS
Wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness
And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. (Exodus 16:3535And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. (Exodus 16:35))
After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. (Numbers 14:3434After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. (Numbers 14:34))
Peace in Israel
And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died. (Judges 3:1111And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died. (Judges 3:11))
So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years. (Judges 5:3131So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years. (Judges 5:31))
Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon. (Judges 8:2828Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon. (Judges 8:28))
Egypt to be desolated
No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years. (Ezekiel 29:1111No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years. (Ezekiel 29:11))
To be restored after
Yet thus saith the Lord God; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: (Ezekiel 29:1313Yet thus saith the Lord God; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: (Ezekiel 29:13))
STRIPES
Administered in punishing criminals
Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. (Deuteronomy 25:33Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. (Deuteronomy 25:3))