Meaning of Numbers: The Number 41
The English phrases "forty and one" and "one and forty" used for 41 are recorded six times in six King James Bible verses. It is found the most in the book of Numbers and 1Kings (2 each) followed by 2Kings and 2Chronicles (one each). The phrases "forty first" or "forty and first" for 41st are not found in the KJV.
Kingdoms of Israel and Judah
The possible meaning of number 41 is partly derived from its relationship with the kings of ancient Israel and Judah.
Rehoboam, the son of King Solomon, took the throne in 930 B.C. at the age of 41. It was during this first year of his rule that the united kingdom of Israel split into two pieces (1Kings 12). This split in 930 A.D., which was prophesied to occur, created the Kingdoms of Israel (ten tribes) and Judah (the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi).
And Ahijah caught hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces.
And he said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you . . .' " (1Kings 11:30 - 31, see also 12:15, HBFV).
Rehoboam ruled over Judah's kingdom from 930 to 913 B.C. while Jeroboam reign over the Kingdom of Israel from 930 to 909 B.C.
Asa, one of the good kings over Judah, reigned for 41 years (910 to 869 B.C.). He had the third longest monarchy of any of Judah's twenty rulers.
And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa reigned over Judah. And he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. And his grandmother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. (1Kings 15:9 - 10, HBFV).
Jeroboam II ruled over the Kingdom of Israel for 41 official years (40 actual years, 2Kings 14:23). His reign, from 793 to 753 B.C., was the longest of all those who took the throne over the northern ten tribes. He was also part of Israel's longest ruling dynasty promised to Jehu for carrying out God's will (see 2Kings 10:30).
Appearances of Number Forty-One
The Apostle Paul was born in the city of Tarsus likely around 2 A.D. In 43 A.D. this would make him 41 years old.
The phrase "His mercy endureth for ever" occurs forty-one times in 41 King James Bible verses. It is found the most, by far, in the book of Psalms with 33 occurrences. Its first appearance in Scripture is in 1Chronicles.
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever (1Chronicles 16:34, KJV).
Job 41, in the King James, mentions a strange animal known as a leviathan. This creature is also described in Psalm 74 and 104 as well as Isaiah 27. This fearsome beast had a large tongue and a thick, impenetrable skin composed of scales. It was also quite strong, possessing a jaw with two rows of teeth that could not be forced open!
Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? (Job 41:1, KJV)
Herod and Grandsons
In 41 B.C., Marc Antony (of Antony and Cleopatra fame) promotes Herod the Great to the position of Roman Tetrarch over Jerusalem and Galilee.
Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, is elevated by Caligula in 39 A.D. to Roman Tetrarch over Galilee and Perea. In 41, after Emperor Caligula is assassinated, he is made king over Judea and Samaria by Claudius. This Herod is notorious for murdering the Apostle James in 44 A.D., thus becoming the first person to kill one of the original apostles.
Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to persecute some of those of the church; And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. (Acts 12:1 - 2, HBFV).
Chapter and Verses
Book 41 of the King James Bible translation is the gospel of Mark. His book, written in 42 A.D., is one of the earliest writings included in the New Testament.
The book of James, written by Jesus' half-brother, was penned between 40 and 41 A.D. Only Matthew's gospel, created in 35 A.D., is earlier.
Out of the large number of prophecies found in the Old Testament, forty-one of them concern individuals and not nations or other groups of people.
In the Old Testament, the Biblical chapters of Numbers 15, 22, Job 38 and 2Kings 17 contain 41 verses in the King James Bible.
In the New Testament, the chapters Mark 4, John 9, Acts 15 and 19 have 41 verses in the KJV.
The 41st largest King James book, in terms of chapters, is Galatians written by the Apostle Paul. It contains 6 chapters and 149 verses.
The 41st largest King James book, in terms of verses, is the Song of Solomon. It contains 117 verses in 8 chapters.
Martin Luther and the Number 41
The second New Testament book to be included in Scripture was written from 40 to 41 A.D. It was authored by Jesus' half-brother James and named after him. His writing focused on Christians being justified by faith AND works. The book of James challenges Christianity's prevailing concept that salvation requires nothing more than belief in God.
James' teaching that "faith alone" is not enough caused Martin Luther to label the book an epistle of straw because it contradicted what he thought the Bible taught.
Parables and Forty-One
Chronologically, the 41st parable Jesus gave during his ministry is the parable of the mustard seed. He gave it between mid-November and December 18 of 29 A.D. Only Luke's gospel records the parable during this time period.
The mustard seed parable is one of five Jesus taught on two separate occasions. The first time he offered it was between October 28 A.D. and early 29 A.D. (Matthew 13:31 - 32, Mark 4:30 - 32).
Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
"It is like a tiny mustard seed, which a man took and cast into his garden; and it grew and developed into a great tree, and the birds of heaven roosted in its branches." (Luke 13:18 - 19, HBFV).
Claudius and Forty One
Tiberius Claudius Caesar, the fourth emperor over the Roman Empire, began his rule in 41 A.D. after the murder of Caligula. He is mentioned in Acts 11 in relation to when a prophesied great famine would come upon the earth. His expelling of all Jews from Rome was the reason Priscilla and Aquila, who would become friends of Apostle Paul, ended up in Corinth (Acts 18).
And one from among them, named Agabus, stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be a great famine throughout the whole world, which also came to pass under Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:28, HBFV).
Now after these things, Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth;
And there he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with Priscilla his wife (because Claudius had ordered all the Jews out of Rome). (Acts 18:1 - 2, HBFV).
Small But Famous
The Hebrew words beyth lechem, Strong's Concordance #H1035, are recorded 41 times in 39 Hebrew Old Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of Judges (9 times) followed by the books of Ruth and 1Chronicles (7 times each). The words, which mean "house of bread," are translated as "Bethlehem" in the King James.
There are two cities named Bethlehem in Scripture. There is the much lesser-known city within the tribe of Zebulun's borders (Joshua 19:10 - 15) and the far more well-known location in Judea. The city is first mentioned as the place where Jacob's beloved wife Rachel was buried. Much later in God's word it is prophesied to be the birthplace of Jesus.
And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem (beyth lechem) (Genesis 35:19, KJV).
But thou, Bethlehem (beyth lechem) Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2, KJV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 41
In the summer of 40 A.D. Barnabas brings the Apostle Paul to Syrian Antioch so that he can help the city's newly formed church. The pair stay in the city from the summer of 40 to the summer of 41 A.D. (Acts 11:26). It is in Antioch that believers in Jesus are first called Christians.
There are 28 words and phrases in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 41 times.
41 is the 13th prime number. Primes that immediately precede it include 29, 31 and 37, and those that come after it are 43, 47, 53 and so on.
41 is the product of 4 x 4 (4 squared or 16) added to 5 x 5 (5 squared or 25).
The forty-first Psalm, written by King David, praises those who help the poor and the needy. Those who do so are promised that the Lord will protect and heal them.
Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will watch over him and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth; and You will not deliver him over to the will of his enemies.
The Lord will strengthen him upon his sickbed; You will sustain him in all his sickness . . . Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen! (Psalm 41:1 - 3, 13).
The Greek word probaton (Strong's #G4263) occurs 41 times in 37 verses in the New Testament's original language. It is recorded the most in John (21 times) followed by Matthew (11). The word refers to any four footed and tame grazing animals. In the New Testament the word is always translated as "sheep."
And how much better is a man than a sheep (probaton)? So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbaths (Matthew 12:12, HBFV).
The Hebrew word tsela (Strong's #H6763) occurs 41 times in 32 verses in the Old Testament's original language. It is used the most in Exodus (19 times) followed by Ezekiel (11). The word is generally used to refer to something that is on the side (location wise) of something else. It can refer to a human rib, a side of a hill, a side chamber, the leaves of a door and so on. Its first two uses famously reference how God created a woman out of a man.
And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall over Adam, and he slept. And He took one of his ribs (min tsela), and afterward closed up the flesh underneath. Then the Lord God made the rib (tsela, which He had taken out of the man) into a woman, and He brought her to the man (Genesis 2:21 - 22, HBFV).