The answer
The number forty represents a life of toil that leads to union with God because 4 represents the creation of the world, times 10, which represents union with God.Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)
Questions & Answers
Numbers in the Bible
Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Holy Scripture › Numbers in the Bible
The question
We see the number forty used many times in the bible (forty days, forty nights, etc.) Why did God choose 40 and not any other number?
Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 2589 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.