forty
| Root | ארבע (ʾ-r-b-ʿ) |
| Core Meanings | four, fourfold, numerical grouping of four |
| Semantic Range | Literal number forty; a period of forty days or years; a conventional number for a generation, testing period, or significant span of time. |
| Conceptual Significance | In the biblical text, forty frequently marks periods of testing, transition, judgment, or preparation (e.g., forty days of rain, forty years in the wilderness). It often symbolizes a full or divinely appointed period necessary for formation, purification, or generational change. |
| Morphological Notes | Masculine plural absolute cardinal number; compound form built on ארבע (“four”) indicating four tens; no pronominal suffix. |
| Rendering Rationale | אַרְבָּעִים is the masculine plural absolute form of the cardinal number derived from the root ארבע (“four”), literally expressing “four tens.” The rendering “forty” preserves its function as a masculine plural cardinal number while reflecting its derivation from the base number four. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)