τεσσαράκοντα (tessarakonta)
tessarakonta
forty
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word tessarakonta simply means forty. It appears twenty times in the New Testament, functioning as a straightforward numeral without complex grammatical shifts. You will find it describing concrete periods or quantities, such as the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2) or the forty years Israel wandered in the desert (Acts 13:21).
Its significance lies not in linguistic nuance but in biblical pattern. The number often marks a time of testing, preparation, or transition. It appears again in John’s Gospel when Jesus notes the temple had been under construction for forty-six years (John 2:20), and in Revelation where prophets serve for forty-two months, a period echoing the forty-year wilderness journey. Translators consistently render it as "forty," preserving its literal weight across every context.
The spelling tessarakonta reflects common Koine Greek usage, though variant forms like tesserakonta appear in some manuscripts. This minor orthographic difference does not change the meaning. The word anchors readers in a specific duration, reminding them that biblical history moves through defined seasons of waiting and divine action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for forty appears twenty times in the New Testament, marking seasons of waiting and preparation. It describes Jesus fasting in the wilderness, Moses receiving the law, and Israel wandering in the desert. This number anchors us in a specific duration, reminding us that biblical history moves through defined periods of divine action.
When you face long waits or difficult transitions, this pattern offers comfort. God often uses extended seasons to prepare His people for what comes next. The forty days Jesus spent hungry and tempted show that He understands your struggles deeply. You are not alone in your waiting.
This numeral invites trust in God’s timing. Whether you are facing a short trial or a long season of uncertainty, remember that these periods are purposeful. They shape character and deepen faith. Hope remains steady because God is faithful through every season of testing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- forty14×
- than forty,1×
- than forty1×
- forty;1×
- forty.1×
- forty [lashes]1×
- forty -1×
- For forty1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τεσσεράκοντα18×
- τεσσεράκοντα·1×
- τεσσεράκοντα.1×
- τεσσεράκοντα,1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 4:2
When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.
This verse establishes Jesus’ personal experience of fasting for forty days, showing His identification with human weakness and temptation.
-
Acts 1:3
To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God’s Kingdom.
Here the word marks the critical period between resurrection and ascension when Jesus prepared His disciples for their mission.
-
Hebrews 3:17
With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
The author uses this number to reflect on Israel’s wilderness wandering as a warning against unbelief in our own spiritual journeys.