τεσσαράκοντα

forty

Definition

τεσσαράκοντα is the Greek cardinal number meaning 'forty'. It is used exclusively in the New Testament to denote the exact quantity of forty, whether counting days, years, or other units of time. In the Gospels, it most famously describes the length of Jesus's temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2). In Acts, it is used for periods of significant divine activity or preparation, such as the forty days Jesus appeared after his resurrection (Acts 1:3) or the forty years Israel spent in the wilderness (Acts 7:36). The number consistently signifies a complete period of testing, probation, or divine revelation.

Biblical Usage

The word is used 20 times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels, Acts, and Hebrews. Its usage is almost exclusively temporal, marking significant periods of time. Key patterns include periods of testing or trial (Jesus's temptation), divine preparation and revelation (Moses on Sinai in Acts 7:30, Jesus's post-resurrection appearances), and historical judgment or wandering (the forty years in the wilderness mentioned in Acts 7:36, 13:18, and Hebrews 3:9, 17). The sole non-temporal use is in John 2:20, referencing the forty-six years of temple construction.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word for 'four' (τέσσαρες, G5064) combined with a suffix meaning '-ty' (as in ten), it literally means 'four tens'. It is a direct cognate with the cardinal number system and has a stable meaning from classical through Koine Greek. The Hebrew equivalent is אַרְבָּעִים (ʾarbāʿîm, H705).

Semantic Range

The number forty carries deep theological symbolism rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures, representing periods of testing, probation, and preparation for a new beginning. Jesus's forty-day fast mirrors Israel's forty years in the wilderness, presenting Him as the true Israel who succeeds where they failed. Understanding this Greek term connects New Testament events (like Jesus's temptation and post-resurrection ministry) to key Old Testament themes (the flood, Moses on Sinai, Israel's wandering), revealing a pattern of God working through defined periods to accomplish His purposes.

In the ancient Jewish and Greco-Roman world, the number forty was a conventional round number for a generation or a complete, significant period. It was not always a precise chronological marker but often a symbolic one denoting a full cycle of testing or transition. This cultural understanding informs its biblical usage, where it frequently signals a time of divine judgment, purification, or preparation leading to a major shift in redemptive history.

τεσσεράκοντα (tesserakonta, G5062) — This is a variant spelling of the same word with no difference in meaning. τεσσαράκοντα (tessarakonta) is the more common form in the New Testament manuscripts.

Word Details

Scripture References