What is the significance of 40 days?

We see "forty days" quite a bit in Scripture.

Why forty days?

What is the significance?

It rained 40 days and nights: Gen 7:4, 12.

Forty days after sighting the tops of the mountains, Noah set forth a raven and a dove: Gen 8:6-7.

Joseph mourned the death of his father Jacob for a period of 40 days: Gen 49:33 - Gen 50:3.

Moses on Sinai for 40 days: Exo 24:18, 34:28, Deu 9:9-11.

Moses pleads for Israel 40 days on Sinai: Deu 9:18-25, 10:10.

Canaan spied on for 40 days: Num 13:25, 14:34.

Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days: 1 Sam 17:16.

Elijah fasted and journeyed to Horeb for 40 days: 1 Kings 19:8.

Ezekiel bore the iniquity of Judah for 40 days: Eze 4:6.

Jonah warned Nineveh of judgment in 40 days: Jonah 3:4.

Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days: Matt 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2.

Jesus was seen for 40 days after His crucifixion: Acts 1:3.


http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/lent.htm