Topical Encyclopedia
The term "forty-first" in the context of the Bible typically refers to the ordinal number following forty, often used to denote a specific year, event, or sequence in biblical narratives. While the number forty is more prominently featured in Scripture, symbolizing periods of testing, trial, or judgment, the forty-first year or event often marks a transition or continuation beyond a significant period.
Biblical Context and Usage:1.
Reigns of Kings: · The forty-first year can be significant in the context of the reigns of kings, particularly in the books of Kings and Chronicles. For example, the reign of a king might be described in terms of its duration, with the forty-first year marking a continuation of governance or the beginning of a new phase in leadership.
2.
Symbolism and Transition: · While the number forty is associated with completion or fulfillment of a divine period (e.g., the Israelites' 40 years in the wilderness, Jesus' 40 days of fasting), the forty-first year can symbolize what comes after a period of divine testing or judgment. It may represent a time of renewal, restoration, or the beginning of a new chapter in the biblical narrative.
3.
Historical and Prophetic Significance: · In some instances, the forty-first year might be noted in historical or prophetic contexts, indicating a specific time frame within a prophecy or historical account. This can be seen in the detailed genealogies and timelines provided in the Old Testament, where precise years are often recorded to maintain historical accuracy and theological significance.
Examples in Scripture:·
2 Chronicles 16:13 : "So in the forty-first year of his reign, Asa died and rested with his fathers." This verse marks the end of King Asa's reign, highlighting the significance of the forty-first year as a time of transition from one king to the next.
·
1 Kings 15:10 : "And he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom." This passage refers to King Asa's reign, emphasizing the duration and continuity of his rule, with the forty-first year marking the completion of his governance.
Theological Implications:From a theological perspective, the forty-first year can be seen as a time of reflection on the past and preparation for the future. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness through periods of trial and the hope of renewal and restoration. The transition from the fortieth to the forty-first year can symbolize the ongoing journey of faith and the unfolding of God's plan in the lives of His people.
In summary, while the number forty is more frequently highlighted in Scripture, the forty-first year or event holds its own significance as a marker of transition, continuity, and the unfolding of divine purposes in biblical history.
Strong's Hebrew
705. arbaim -- forty... 46,500* (2), 642* (2), 648* (1), 743* (2), 745* (1), 845* (1), 945* (1), fortieth
(3), forty (73), forty times (1), forty-eight* (2),
forty-
first* (1), forty
...259. echad -- one
... man (1), each (48), each one (4), each other (1), each* (4), eleven* (9), eleventh*
(4), every (1), everyone (1), few (3), first (38),forty-first* (1), forty...
Library
TheForty-First Chapter: Contempt for all Earthly Honor
... BOOK THREE. INTERNAL CONSOLATION TheForty-First Chapter: Contempt for All
Earthly Honor. The Voice of Christ MY CHILD, do not take...
The Deity of the Holy Spirit.
... It is a noteworthy fact that in the Gospel of John, the twelfth chapter and the
thirty-ninth toforty-first verses where another reference is made to this...
The Imitation of Christ
... The Fortieth Chapter: Man Has No Good in Himself and Can Glory in Nothing.
TheForty-First Chapter: Contempt for All Earthly Honor....
Matthew's Genealogy of Jesus Christ
... an elaborate table of descents through forty-one generations, and then to show that
the forty-second had no real connection with theforty-first, strikes us as...
The Time of his Appearance among Men.
... 25, and Tertullian, Adv. Jud. 8, on the other hand, give theforty-first year of
Augustus, 751 UC (3 bc). But all these dates are certainly too late....
Chastisements.
... dreary days. But theforty-first and fifty-fifth are, with reasonable
probability, referred to this period by many commentators. They...
The Power of Harmony in Relation to Prayer.
... so that the Word was in the midst of them making them one, attend to the superscription
of the Psalms, as for example to that of theforty-first, which is as...
Of the Times of Christ's Birth and Passion, and of Jerusalem's...
... Let us see, moreover, how in theforty-first year of the empire of Augustus, when
he has been reigning for xx and viii years after the death of Cleopatra, the...
How Albinus Succeeded to the Godly Abbot Hadrian, and Acca to...
... Bishop Theodore of blessed memory, died, and was buried in the church of the Blessed
Mother of God, in his own monastery, this being theforty-first year after...
National Apostasy
... physicians." Verse 12. The king died in theforty-first year of his reign
and was succeeded by Jehoshaphat, his son. Two years before...
Thesaurus
Forty-first (1 Occurrence)Forty-
first. Forty-eight,
Forty-
first. Forty-five . Multi-Version
Concordance
Forty-
first (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles
...Forty-five (15 Occurrences)
Forty-five.Forty-first, Forty-five. Forty-four . Multi-Version Concordance...
(WEB BBE DBY RSV).Forty-first, Forty-five. Forty-four . Reference Bible.
Forty-eight (4 Occurrences)
Forty-eight. Forty, Forty-eight.Forty-first . Multi-Version Concordance... (WEB
BBE DBY RSV). Forty, Forty-eight.Forty-first . Reference Bible.
Asa (54 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 17:5). He died in theforty-first year of his reign, greatly honoured by
his people (2 Chronicles 16:1-13), and was succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat....
Rested (81 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 2 Chronicles 16:13 So Asa went to rest with his fathers, and death
came to him in theforty-first year of his rule. (See NIV)....
Resources
Are the Ten Commandments taken from the forty-two precepts of Ma'at? | GotQuestions.orgHow old was Moses when he died? How long did Moses live? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the image of the beast? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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