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12

:

6

“

Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Then said answer Verb H559 וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ vai·yo·me·ru
they unto him Say answer Verb H559 אֱמָר־ e·mar-
I beseech thee I beseech thee Interjection H4994 נָ֨א na
and he said answer Verb H559 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר vai·yo·mer
Sibboleth Sibboleth Noun H5451 סִבֹּ֗לֶת sib·bo·let
[it] right certain Verb H3559 יָכִין֙ ya·chin
to pronounce answer Verb H1696 לְדַבֵּ֣ר le·dab·ber
after that after that Adjective H3651 כֵּ֔ן ken,
Then they took seize Verb H270 וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּ vai·yo·cha·zu
him and slew kill Verb H7819 וַיִּשְׁחָט֖וּהוּ vai·yish·cha·tu·hu
him at the passages ford Noun H4569 מַעְבְּרֹ֣ות ma'·be·ro·vt
of Jordan Jordan Noun H3383 הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן hai·yar·den;
and there fell cast down Verb H5307 וַיִּפֹּ֞ל vai·yip·pol
at that time after Noun H6256 בָּעֵ֤ת ba·'et
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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of the Ephraimites Ephraim Noun H669 מֵֽאֶפְרַ֔יִם me·'ef·ra·yim,
Analysis:
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Parallel Verses

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King James Bible Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.
Hebrew Greek English Then said then they unto would say to him, Say now Shibboleth: and "Say now, 'Shibboleth.'" But he said Sibboleth: said, "Sibboleth," for he could not frame to pronounce it right. correctly. Then they took him, seized him and slew him at the passages fords of Jordan: and the Jordan. Thus there fell at that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.Ephraim.
New American Standard Bible 1995 Then said then they unto would say to him, Say now Shibboleth: and "Say now, 'Shibboleth.'" But he said Sibboleth: said, "Sibboleth," for he could not frame to pronounce it right. correctly. Then they took him, seized him and slew him at the passages fords of Jordan: and the Jordan. Thus there fell at that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.Ephraim.