40 Is an Important Number in the Bible

In short

I found 13 events that lasted 40 days or 40 years. In some cases, the two are plainly connected. There may be more.

Why it is important

You know, I’m not really sure. But it sure is hard to ignore.

Examples (completely out of order)

1. It rained on Noah 40 days and nights (Gen 7:12)
2. Jesus fasted 40 days while being tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-2)
3. After the resurrection, Jesus appeared for 40 days (Acts 1:3)
4. The first three kings of Israel (and they are the only kings of the unified kingdom)

• Saul reigned 40 years (Acts 13:21)
• David reigned 40 years (1KI 2:11)
• Solomon reigned 40 years (1Ki 11:42)

5. Moses’ life is in three sections of 40 years:

• 40 years in pharaoh’s house (Acts 7:23)
• 40 years in hiding in Midian (Ex 7:7)
• 40 years from going to Pharaoh till his death (Deut 34:7)

6. Moses was on the mountain 40 days (Ex 34:28)
7. Joshua, one of the spies, was 40 when he spied out Canaan (Josh 14:7)
8. The spies were in the land 40 days (Num 13:25)
9. Wandering in the wilderness 40 years (Num 14:33-34), and the LORD explicitly says that it is because of the 40 days of spying (and lying about it)
10. There are others, of course. Issac’s wedding day; Esau’s wedding day; four times in the book of Judges as a judgment; Eli’s judging reign, etc.

Theology and doctrine

I’m not in a position to speculate on what is the meaning of all this. But due to the sheer volume of occurrences of this number, I’d say let’s just pay attention to it and keep our eyes and ears open.