Bible fact · Literary or interpretive observation
Forty days, three times
Forty days marks Moses on the mountain, Elijah's journey to Horeb and Jesus in the wilderness. Exodus 24:181 Kings 19:8Matthew 4:2
Discover why
"Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights." Elijah went "in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb". Exodus 24:181 Kings 19:8
Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights in the wilderness. Later, Acts says the risen Jesus appeared over forty days. Matthew 4:2Acts 1:3
What the Bible does not say
The repetition of forty is noticeable; what it signifies is an interpretation.
Read the passage
Exodus 24:18 WEB
18Moses entered into the middle of the cloud, and went up on the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
1 Kings 19:8 WEB
8He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, God’s Mountain.
Matthew 4:2 WEB
2When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.