Dear Catholic Exchange:
My husband and I have been studying Dr. Hahn's Bible Study program for over 2 years now. We have been noting down all of the “40 years, 40 days” etc. in the Bible.
Our question is: Is there a name for 40 in either Hebrew or Greek, and does 40 have a particular meaning in the Old Testament? It seems to be significant.
Thank you for taking the time to answer our question.
In the arms of the Holy Family may you rest,
Mrs. M.A. Hutcheson
Dear Mrs. Hutcheson:
I am aware of no particular name or title for 40 days or years. Generally, “40” denotes the completion of a generation or of a “fullness of time.” So Israel spends 40 years in the wilderness and Jesus spends 40 days there in token of His identification with Israel. Likewise, Saul rules for 38 years, but the sacred writer rounds it up to 40 to indicate that Saul served out the fullness of his reign as king. And Jesus warns that “this generation” shall not pass away before all He has warned of will be fulfilled (concerning the coming destruction of the Temple by the Romans). He warned of this c. 30 AD and the Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 AD.
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
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