New American Standard Bible 1995

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Acts

Note Journal Prayer

13

:

21

“

"Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
"Then and, even, also Conj H2532 καὶ kai
they asked to ask, request V-AIM-3P H154 ᾐτήσαντο ētēsanto
for a king, a king N-AMS H935 βασιλέα basilea
and God God, a god N-NMS H2316 θεὸς theos
gave to give (in various senses lit. or fig.) V-AIA-3S H1325 ἔδωκεν edōken
them Saul Saul, the first Isr. king, also the Jewish name of Paul N-AMS H4549 Σαοὺλ saoul
Analysis:
Read more about: Saul, Saul
the son a son N-AMS H5207 υἱὸν uion
of Kish, Kish, the father of King Saul N-GMS H2797 Κίς kis
a man a man N-AMS H435 ἄνδρα andra
of the tribe a clan or tribe N-GFS H5443 φυλῆς phulēs
of Benjamin, Benjamin, one of the twelve Isr. tribes N-GMS H958 Βενιαμίν beniamin
for forty forty H5065    
Analysis:

Forty: Transition or change

Often people will speak of the number forty as a generational number. There is no evidence for such an interpretation from the Scripture. The number 40 expresses a change or transition. The examples for such a view are seen throughout both the Old and New Covenants. 

  • It rained for 40 days in the days of Noah (see Genesis 7:12). These rains brought about a transition; HaShem would begin the world again with the family of Noah. 
  • Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (see Exodus 34:28). Although this was the second time Moses went up to the mountain, it was this time that the Law was actually given to the Children of Israel and a transition was made to Israel being commanded to observe the Law.
  • Yeshua was tested in the mountains of Judah for 40 days and 40 nights (see Matthew 4:2) and afterwards He began His ministry. Hence, a transition was made from when Yeshua did not minister to the time when He began to fulfill His Father's will in a formal way.
  • After the resurrection, Yeshua appeared for 40 days (Acts 1:3) and He ascended into the heavens. Yeshua's earthly ministry had finished and there was a transition to His disciples carrying on His work.
  • In the account of Absalom, the reader is told that at the end of 40 years (see 2 Samuel 15:7), Absalom requested permission to go to Hebron from his father. Although he said that he wanted to pay his vows, this was said so he could depart and begin his rebellion against David, his father. Why is 40 years mentioned? To what does the 40 years refer? Some commentaries say the 40 years was from when Saul began the monarchy. Whether this is true or not is undetermined. However, what is for sure is that there was a transition in the leadership of Israel. The number 40 appears in verse 7 to assist the reader in identifying this change in leadership.

Numerous other examples could be provided, but these few sufficiently demonstrate the meaning and use of the number 40 in the Scriptures. 

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years. a year N-ANP H2094 ἔτη etē

People

Saul

Saul [N] [H] [S] asked for.  A king of Edom ( Genesis 36:37  Genesis 36:38 ); called Shaul in  1 Chronicles 1:48.    The son of Kish (probably his only son, and a child of prayer, "asked for"), of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Jewish nation. The singular providential circumstances connected with his election as king are recorded in  1 ... View Details

Saul

Saul [N] [H] [S] asked for.  A king of Edom ( Genesis 36:37  Genesis 36:38 ); called Shaul in  1 Chronicles 1:48.    The son of Kish (probably his only son, and a child of prayer, "asked for"), of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Jewish nation. The singular providential circumstances connected with his election as king are recorded in  1 ... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 "Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
King James Bible "Then And afterward they asked for desired a king, king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for by the space of forty years.
Berean Bible "Then Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
Hebrew Greek English "Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.