King James Bible

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Psalm

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95

:

10

“

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּ֘עִ֤ים 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 שָׁנָ֨ה sha·nah
long was I grieved begrieved Verb H6962 אָ֘ק֤וּט a·kut
with [this] generation age Noun H1755 בְּדֹ֗ור be·do·vr
and said answer Verb H559 וָאֹמַ֗ר va·'o·mar
It [is] a people folk Noun H5971 עַ֤ם am
that do err go astray Verb H8582 תֹּעֵ֣י to·'ei
in their heart heart Noun H3824 לֵבָ֣ב le·vav
and they have not known acknowledge Verb H3045 יָדְע֥וּ ya·de·'u
my ways along Noun H1870 דְרָכָֽי׃ de·ra·chai.

Parallel Verses

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Added text
King James Bible Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
Hebrew Greek English Forty "For forty years long was I grieved with this loathed that generation, and said, It is And said they are a people that do who err in their heart, and And they have do not known my ways:know My ways.
New American Standard Bible 1995 Forty "For forty years long was I grieved with this loathed that generation, and said, It is And said they are a people that do who err in their heart, and And they have do not known my ways:know My ways.