King James Bible

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Deuteronomy

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8

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2

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And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
And thou shalt remember burn Verb H2142 וְזָכַרְתָּ֣ ve·za·char·ta
all all manner Noun H3605 כָּל־ kol-
all the way along Noun H1870 הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ had·de·rech
which after Particle H834 אֲשֶׁ֨ר a·sher
which the LORD Jehovah Noun H3068 יְהוָ֧ה Yah·weh
thy God angels Noun H430 אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ e·lo·hei·cha
has led along Verb H1980 הֹלִֽיכֲךָ֜ ho·li·cha·cha
in the wilderness desert Noun H4057 בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר bam·mid·bar;
these he Pronoun H2088 זֶ֛ה zeh
thee these forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֥ים 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 שָׁנָ֖ה sha·nah
to humble defile Verb H6031 עַנֹּֽתְךָ֜ an·no·te·cha
thee [and] to prove adventure Verb H5254 לְנַסֹּֽתְךָ֗ le·nas·so·te·cha
thee to know acknowledge Verb H3045 לָדַ֜עַת la·da·'at
what after Particle H834 אֲשֶׁ֧ר a·sher
what [was] in thine heart heart Noun H3824 בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֛ bil·va·ve·cha
whether thou wouldest keep beward Verb H8104 הֲתִשְׁמֹ֥ר ha·tish·mor
or lo Conjunction H518 אִם־ im-

People

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
King James Bible And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Hebrew Greek English And thou shalt "You shall remember all the way which the LORD thy your God has led thee you in the wilderness these forty years in the wilderness, to years, that He might humble thee, and to prove thee, you, testing you, to know what was in thine your heart, whether thou wouldest you would keep his commandments, His commandments or no.not.
New American Standard Bible 1995 And thou shalt "You shall remember all the way which the LORD thy your God has led thee you in the wilderness these forty years in the wilderness, to years, that He might humble thee, and to prove thee, you, testing you, to know what was in thine your heart, whether thou wouldest you would keep his commandments, His commandments or no.not.