King James Bible

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Nehemiah

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9

:

21

“

Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Yea forty forty Noun H705 וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים ve·'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 שָׁנָ֛ה sha·nah
didst thou sustain can Verb H3557 כִּלְכַּלְתָּ֥ם kil·kal·tam
them in the wilderness desert Noun H4057 בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר bam·mid·bar
[so that] they lacked be abated Verb H2637 חָסֵ֑רוּ cha·se·ru;
nothing their clothes clothes Noun H8008 שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ sal·mo·tei·hem
waxed not old consume Verb H1086 בָל֔וּ va·lu,
nor before Adverb H3808 לֹ֣א lo
and their feet be able to endure Noun H7272 וְרַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם ve·rag·lei·hem
swelled swell Verb H1216 בָצֵֽקוּ׃ va·tze·ku.

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
King James Bible Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
Hebrew Greek English Yea, "Indeed, forty years didst thou sustain You provided for them in the wilderness, so that wilderness and they lacked nothing; their were not in want; Their clothes waxed did not old, and wear out, nor did their feet swelled not.swell.
New American Standard Bible 1995 Yea, "Indeed, forty years didst thou sustain You provided for them in the wilderness, so that wilderness and they lacked nothing; their were not in want; Their clothes waxed did not old, and wear out, nor did their feet swelled not.swell.