"forty years, Acts 7:23; 13:18*"
Definition and meaning
forty years, Acts 7:23; 13:18*
In the original Greek the word is written: τεσσερακονταετής
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of tesserakontaetes (G5063) across the King James Bible.
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
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Common questions
Strong's G5063 (tesserakontaetes) is a Greek word that means: forty years, Acts 7:23; 13:18* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word tesserakontaetes (G5063) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5063 is tesserakontaetes, a Greek word defined as: forty years, Acts 7:23; 13:18*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
tesserakontaetes is a Greek word found in the New Testament.