King James Bible

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Genesis

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25

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20

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And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
And Isaac Isaac Noun H3327 יִצְחָק֙ yitz·chak
Analysis:
Read more about: Isaac
was forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֣ים 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. 

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years whole age Noun H8141 שָׁנָ֔ה sha·nah,
old afflicted Noun H1121 בֶּן־ ben-
when he took accept Verb H3947 בְּקַחְתֹּ֣ו be·kach·tov
Rebekah Rebekah Noun H7259 רִבְקָ֗ה riv·kah
the daughter apple Noun H1323 בַּת־ bat-
of Bethuel Bethuel Noun H1328 בְּתוּאֵל֙ be·tu·'el
Analysis:
Read more about: Bethuel, Bethuel
the Syrian Syrian Adjective H761 הָֽאֲרַמִּ֔י ha·'a·ram·mi,
of Padanaram Padan Noun H6307 אֲרָ֑ם a·ram;
the sister other Noun H269 אֲחֹ֛ות a·cho·vt
to Laban Laban Noun H3837 לָבָ֥ן la·van
Analysis:
Read more about: Laban
the Syrian Syrian Adjective H761 הָאֲרַמִּ֖י ha·'a·ram·mi
to wife ess Noun H802 לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ le·'i·shah.

People

Aram

Ram, an ancestor of Christ

Aram

Syria and its inhab., also the names of a son of Shem, a grandson of Nahor, and an Israelite

Bethuel

perhaps |man of God,| a nephew of Abraham

Bethuel

a place in Simeon

Laban

Laban [N] [H] [S] Father-in-law of Jacob The son of Bethuel, who was the son of Nahor, Abraham's brother. He lived at Haran in Mesopotamia. His sister Rebekah was Isaac's wife ( Genesis 24 ). Jacob, one of the sons of this marriage, fled to the house of Laban, whose daughters Leah and Rachel (ch. 29) he eventually married. (See JACOB .)    A city in the Arabian desert in the route of th... View Details

Isaac

Isaac, the son of Abraham and Father of Jacob and Esau

Parallel Verses

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King James Bible And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
Hebrew Greek English And and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian Aramean of Padanaram, Paddan-aram, the sister to of Laban the Syrian.Aramean, to be his wife.
New American Standard Bible 1995 And and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian Aramean of Padanaram, Paddan-aram, the sister to of Laban the Syrian.Aramean, to be his wife.