אַרְבָּעִים (ar.ba.im)
ar.ba.im
forty
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 112 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew word arba‘im simply means forty. It is a standard numeral, formed as a multiple of the root for four, and appears frequently in the Old Testament to mark specific periods of time or quantities. With over one hundred occurrences, it is most common in the books of Genesis, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Lexical sources note that this number often functions as a round figure rather than an exact count, similar to how seven or seventy are used in ancient Near Eastern literature. This usage suggests a symbolic completeness or a significant era rather than a precise mathematical tally. For instance, the flood waters rose for forty days (Genesis 7:17), and Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33).
The word carries theological weight through these repeated associations with testing, preparation, and transition. Whether describing Moses’ time on Mount Sinai or the duration of a king’s reign, arba‘im marks a distinct period set apart for divine purpose. Its recurrence helps readers recognize patterns of waiting and maturity within the biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The number forty appears often in Scripture to mark seasons of waiting and preparation. It is not just a count but a marker of transition. When you read about Israel wandering for forty years or Noah enduring the flood for forty days, you see a pattern. These periods were times of testing, refinement, and divine instruction.
This word helps us understand that some seasons in life are meant to be endured rather than rushed. God uses these extended times to shape character and deepen trust. Whether it is Moses on the mountain or Jesus in the wilderness, forty becomes a symbol of spiritual maturity born out of patience.
When you face a long season of waiting, remember that God is present in the duration. The number forty reminds us that our current struggles are not endless but part of a larger story of preparation. We can find hope in knowing that these times lead to new beginnings and deeper faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 112 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- forty74×
- and/ forty35×
- [were] forty5×
- the/ forty2×
- [the] forty2×
- in/ forty1×
- forty [times]1×
- among/ forty1×
- about/ forty1×
- [will be] forty1×
- <the>/ forty1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַרְבָּעִ֥ים41×
- אַרְבָּעִ֣ים25×
- וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֥ים10×
- וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֖ים7×
- אַרְבָּעִ֖ים7×
- וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֣ים6×
- וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֛ים6×
- אַרְבָּעִ֨ים6×
- וְ/אַרְבָּעִים֙5×
- כְּ/אַרְבָּעִ֥ים1×
- וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֤ים1×
- הָֽ/אַרְבָּעִ֜ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 7:12
It rained on the earth forty days and forty nights.
This verse establishes the flood narrative's timeline, using forty days to mark a period of divine judgment and purification before renewal.
-
Exodus 24:18
Moses entered into the middle of the cloud, and went up on the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Moses spends forty days on Sinai receiving the Law, showing how this number marks intense communion with God and spiritual preparation.
-
Exodus 34:28
He was there with Yahweh forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Here, Moses abstains from food and water for forty days, highlighting the number's association with supernatural sustenance and covenant renewal.
-
Genesis 25:20
Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife.
Isaac is forty when he marries Rebekah, illustrating how the number also marks significant life transitions and the start of new family lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the number forty symbolize in the Bible?
Is forty always an exact number?
Where does the word arba'im appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (112 verses across 20 books)
Genesis 11 verses
Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of other sons and…
Genesis 7:4In seven days, I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will destroy every living thing…
Genesis 7:12It rained on the earth forty days and forty nights.
Genesis 7:17The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the…
Genesis 8:6At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ship which he had made,
Genesis 18:28What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will…
Genesis 18:29He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s…
Genesis 25:20Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban…
Genesis 26:34When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of…
Genesis 47:28Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred…
Genesis 50:3Forty days were used for him, for that is how many days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for Israel for seventy…