New American Standard Bible 1995

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Acts

Note Journal Prayer

23

:

21

“

"So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you."

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
"So therefore, then, (and) so Conj H3767 οὖν oun
do not listen to persuade, to have confidence V-ASP-2S H3982 πεισθῇς peisthēs
to them, for more much, many H4183    
than 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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of them are lying in wait to lie in wait for, to plot V-PIA-3P H1748 ἐνεδρεύουσιν enedreuousin
for him who whoever, anyone who RelPro-NMP H3748 οἵτινες oitines
have bound to declare anathema, devote to destruction V-AIA-3P H332 ἀνεθεμάτισαν anethematisan
themselves of himself, herself, itself RefPro-AM3P H1438 ἑαυτοὺς eautous
under a curse to declare anathema, devote to destruction V-AIA-3P H332    
not to eat to eat H2068    
or neither, nor Conj H3383 μήτε mēte
drink to drink V-ANA H4095 πιεῖν piein
until till, until Prep H2193 ἕως eōs
they slay to take up, take away, make an end V-ASA-3P H337 ἀνέλωσιν anelōsin
him; and now now, the present Adv H3568 νῦν nun
they are ready prepared Adj-NMP H2092 ἕτοιμοι etoimoi
and waiting to receive to oneself V-PPM/P-NMP H4327 προσδεχόμενοι prosdechomenoi
for the promise a summons, a promise N-AFS H1860 ἐπαγγελίαν epangelian
from you."      

People

Put

a son of Ham, also his desc. and their land

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 "So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you."
King James Bible "So But do not listen to them, thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who men, which have bound themselves under a curse not to with an oath, that they will neither eat or nor drink until till they slay him; have killed him: and now are they are ready and waiting ready, looking for the a promise from you."thee.
Berean Bible "So do You therefore should not listen to them, for be persuaded by them. For more than forty of them are lying their men lie in wait for him him, who have bound put themselves under a curse not an oath neither to eat or nor to drink until they slay have killed him; and now they are ready and waiting for ready, awaiting the promise from you."”
Hebrew Greek English "So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you."