Generational Preparation: τεσσερακονταετής (Strong’s G5063: tesserakontaetēs) Marks Divine Timing

Strong’s G5063: A compound adjective combining “forty” (τεσσαράκοντα) and “year” (ἔτος), meaning “forty years old” or “of forty years.” Used in Acts to mark significant periods in salvation history, particularly regarding Moses’ life stages.

U – Unveiling the Word

τεσσερακονταετής represents significant periods in biblical history where God prepares His servants and people. In Acts, it appears twice describing Moses’ life: at forty when he first attempted to deliver Israel (Acts 7:23), and the forty years Israel spent in the wilderness (Acts 7:36). The early church saw these forty-year periods as divine patterns of preparation and testing. This compound word continues to remind us that God works through defined seasons to prepare His people for His purposes, often using lengthy periods to shape character and faith.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: τεσσερακονταετής, tesserakontaetēs, tes-ser-ak-on-tah-et-ace’
• Phonetic Guide: tes + ser + ak + on + tah + et + ace
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• τεσσαράκοντα (tessarakonta) – forty
• ἔτος (etos) – year
• Combined to describe a forty-year period

D – Defining Meanings

• Forty years old
• Of forty years’ duration
• Lasting forty years

For compound words:

• τεσσαράκοντα provides the numerical value forty
• ἔτος adds the temporal aspect of years

Translation Options:

• “forty years old” – when describing age
• “forty-year period” – when describing duration
• “of forty years” – when describing span of time

E – Exploring Similar Words

• τεσσαράκοντα (tessarakonta) – forty See G5062
• ἔτος (etos) – year See G2094
• διετής (dietēs) – two years old See G1332

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Adjectival Features:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine, Feminine, Neuter
• Declension: First/Second declension

Examples:

• Masculine nominative: τεσσερακονταετής
• Feminine nominative: τεσσερακονταετής
• Neuter nominative: τεσσερακονταετές

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexical sources illuminate τεσσερακονταετής’s significance. BDAG emphasizes its use in marking significant biblical periods. Thayer’s notes its application to both age and duration. LSJ documents its use in historical narratives. Vine’s connects it to patterns of divine working. Strong’s emphasizes its compound nature. Moulton and Milligan cite examples from administrative documents recording age and service periods. The combined evidence suggests τεσσερακονταετής carried both chronological and theological significance in biblical narrative.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“But when he was approaching the age of forty [τεσσερακονταετὴς], it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.” Acts 7:23

Additional References:
Acts 7:36, Acts 13:18

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

τεσσερακονταετής powerfully expresses God’s sovereignty over time and preparation. Through Moses’ life stages and Israel’s wilderness journey, we see how God uses extended periods to shape His servants and people. This word reminds us that the Messiah fulfills these patterns, bringing perfect completion to what these forty-year periods foreshadowed. It encourages believers to trust God’s timing and preparation in their own lives.

D – Did You Know?

• The word appears only in Acts, specifically relating to Moses and Israel
• Ancient writers often used forty-year periods to mark generations
• Early church fathers saw Moses’ three forty-year life periods as prophetic patterns

Strong’s G5063: A compound adjective combining “forty” (τεσσαράκοντα) and “year” (ἔτος), meaning “forty years old” or “of forty years.” Used in Acts to mark significant periods in salvation history, particularly regarding Moses’ life stages.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: forty-years, Moses, time-periods, preparation, wilderness, generations, Acts, Israel, divine-timing, testing​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​