New American Standard Bible 1995

Back to Reader

Deuteronomy

8

:

2

"You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
"You shall remember remember Verb H2142 וְזָכַרְתָּ֣ ve·za·char·ta
all the whole, all Noun H3605 כָּל־ kol-
the way way, road, distance, journey, manner Noun H1870 הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ had·de·rech
which who, which, that Particle H834 אֲשֶׁ֨ר a·sher
the LORD the proper name of the God of Israel Noun H3068 יְהוָ֧ה Yah·weh
your God God, god Noun H430 אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ e·lo·hei·cha
has led to go, come, walk Verb H1980 הֹלִֽיכֲךָ֜ ho·li·cha·cha
you in the wilderness wilderness Noun H4057 בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר bam·mid·bar;
these this, here Pronoun H2088 זֶ֛ה zeh
forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֥ים ar·ba·'im
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. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

years, a year Noun H8141 שָׁנָ֖ה sha·nah
that He might humble to be bowed down or afflicted Verb H6031 עַנֹּֽתְךָ֜ an·no·te·cha
you, testing to test, try Verb H5254 לְנַסֹּֽתְךָ֗ le·nas·so·te·cha
you, to know to know Verb H3045 לָדַ֜עַת la·da·'at
what who, which, that Particle H834 אֲשֶׁ֧ר a·sher
was in your heart, inner man, mind, will, heart Noun H3824 בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֛ bil·va·ve·cha
whether you would keep to keep, watch, preserve Verb H8104 הֲתִשְׁמֹ֥ר ha·tish·mor
His commandments commandment Noun H4687 (מִצְוֹתָ֖יו mitz·vo·tav
or if Conjunction H518 אִם־ im-
not.      

People

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 "You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
King James Bible "You shall And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD your thy God has led you in the wilderness thee these forty years, that He might years in the wilderness, to humble you, testing you, thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in your thine heart, whether you would thou wouldest keep His commandments his commandments, or not.no.
Hebrew Greek English "You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.