King James Bible

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Exodus

16

:

35

And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
And the children afflicted Noun H1121 וּבְנֵ֣י u·ve·nei
of Israel Israel Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל yis·ra·'el
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel
did eat burn up Verb H398 אָֽכְל֤וּ a·che·lu
manna manna Noun H4478 הַמָּן֙ ham·man
forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֣ים ar·ba·'im
Analysis:

Forty: Transition or change

Often people will speak of the number forty as a generational number. There is no evidence for such an interpretation from the Scripture. The number 40 expresses a change or transition. The examples for such a view are seen throughout both the Old and New Covenants. 

  • It rained for 40 days in the days of Noah (see Genesis 7:12). These rains brought about a transition; HaShem would begin the world again with the family of Noah. 
  • Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (see Exodus 34:28). Although this was the second time Moses went up to the mountain, it was this time that the Law was actually given to the Children of Israel and a transition was made to Israel being commanded to observe the Law.
  • Yeshua was tested in the mountains of Judah for 40 days and 40 nights (see Matthew 4:2) and afterwards He began His ministry. Hence, a transition was made from when Yeshua did not minister to the time when He began to fulfill His Father's will in a formal way.
  • After the resurrection, Yeshua appeared for 40 days (Acts 1:3) and He ascended into the heavens. Yeshua's earthly ministry had finished and there was a transition to His disciples carrying on His work.
  • In the account of Absalom, the reader is told that at the end of 40 years (see 2 Samuel 15:7), Absalom requested permission to go to Hebron from his father. Although he said that he wanted to pay his vows, this was said so he could depart and begin his rebellion against David, his father. Why is 40 years mentioned? To what does the 40 years refer? Some commentaries say the 40 years was from when Saul began the monarchy. Whether this is true or not is undetermined. However, what is for sure is that there was a transition in the leadership of Israel. The number 40 appears in verse 7 to assist the reader in identifying this change in leadership.

Numerous other examples could be provided, but these few sufficiently demonstrate the meaning and use of the number 40 in the Scriptures. 

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years whole age Noun H8141 שָׁנָ֔ה sha·nah,
until against Prepostion H5704 עַד־ ad-
until they came abide Verb H935 בֹּאָ֖ם bo·'am
inhabited abide Verb H3427 נֹושָׁ֑בֶת no·v·sha·vet;
to a land common Noun H776 אֶ֣רֶץ e·retz
they did eat burn up Verb H398 אָֽכְל֔וּ a·che·lu,
manna manna Noun H4478 הַמָּן֙ ham·man
until against Prepostion H5704 עַד־ ad-
until they came abide Verb H935 בֹּאָ֕ם bo·'am
unto the borders after Noun H7097 קְצֵ֖ה ke·tzeh
of the land common Noun H776 אֶ֥רֶץ e·retz
of Canaan Canaan Noun H3667 כְּנָֽעַן׃ ke·na·'an.
Analysis:
Read more about: Canaan

Locations

Canaan

CANAAN; CANAANITESka'-nan, ka'-nan-its (kena`an; Chanaan): 1. Geography 2. Meaning of the Name 3. The Results of Recent Excavations 4. History(1) Stone Age(2) Bronze Age(3) A Babylonian Province(4) Jerusalem Founded(5) The Hyksos(6) Egyptian Conquest(7) Tell el-Amarna Tablets 5. The Israelitsh Invasion 6. Culture 7. Art 8. Commerce 9. Art of WritingLITERATUR... View Details

Israel

ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF" I. THE FIRST PERIOD1. The Two Kingdoms2. The Ist Dynasty3. The IInd Dynasty4. Civil WarII. PERIOD OF THE SYRIAN WARS1. The IIIrd Dynasty2. World-Politics3. Battle of Karkar4. Loss of Territory5. Reform of Religion6. Revolution7. The IVth Dynasty8. Renewed Prosperity9. AnarchyIII. DECLINE AND FALL1. Loss of Independence2. Decline3. Extinct... View Details

Parallel Verses

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King James Bible And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
Hebrew Greek English And the children The sons of Israel did eat ate the manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; an inhabited land; they did eat manna, ate the manna until they came unto to the borders border of the land of Canaan.
New American Standard Bible 1995 And the children The sons of Israel did eat ate the manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; an inhabited land; they did eat manna, ate the manna until they came unto to the borders border of the land of Canaan.