New American Standard Bible 1995

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Acts

Note Journal Prayer

7

:

23

“

"But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
"But when as, like as, even as, when, since, as long as Adv H5613 Ὡς ōs
he was approaching to make full, to complete V-IIM/P-3S H4137 ἐπληροῦτο eplērouto
the age time N-NMS H5550 χρόνος chronos
of forty, of forty years H5066    
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
it entered to go up, ascend V-AIA-3S H305 ἀνέβη anebē
his mind heart N-AFS H2588 καρδίαν kardian
to visit to inspect, by ext. to go to see V-ANM H1980 ἐπισκέψασθαι episkepsasthai
his brethren, a brother N-AMP H80 ἀδελφοὺς adelphous
the sons a son N-AMP H5207 υἱοὺς uious
of Israel. Israel, the name of the Jewish people and their land N-GMS H2474 Ἰσραήλ israēl
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel

Locations

Israel

ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF" I. THE FIRST PERIOD1. The Two Kingdoms2. The Ist Dynasty3. The IInd Dynasty4. Civil WarII. PERIOD OF THE SYRIAN WARS1. The IIIrd Dynasty2. World-Politics3. Battle of Karkar4. Loss of Territory5. Reform of Religion6. Revolution7. The IVth Dynasty8. Renewed Prosperity9. AnarchyIII. DECLINE AND FALL1. Loss of Independence2. Decline3. Extinct... View Details

People

Age

the father of one of David's heroes

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 "But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.
King James Bible "But And when he was approaching the age of forty, full forty years old, it entered came into his mind heart to visit his brethren, brethren the sons children of Israel.
Berean Bible "But Now when he his period of forty years was approaching the age of forty, fulfilled, it entered came into his mind to visit his brethren, brothers, the sons of Israel.
Hebrew Greek English "But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.