Topical Bible: Fourscore

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "fourscore" is an archaic English word meaning eighty. It is derived from the Old English term "feowertig," which means four times twenty. In the context of the Bible, "fourscore" is used to denote the number eighty and appears in various passages to describe age, quantities, or periods of time.

Biblical Usage

1. Age and Lifespan: The term "fourscore" is often used in the Bible to describe the age of individuals, particularly in the context of human lifespan. In Psalm 90:10 , Moses reflects on the brevity of human life, stating, "The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away." Here, "fourscore" is used to indicate the upper limit of a typical human lifespan, emphasizing the transitory nature of life.

2. Military and Census: In the context of military and census records, "fourscore" is used to count people or soldiers. For example, in 2 Samuel 19:32 , Barzillai the Gileadite is described as "a very old man, eighty years of age," who had provided for King David during his stay in Mahanaim. This passage highlights the respect and honor given to those of advanced age, as well as the role of elders in supporting leadership.

3. Historical Events: The term is also used in historical narratives to describe periods or events. In 1 Samuel 27:7 , it is recorded, "The time that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months." While not directly using "fourscore," this passage reflects the biblical style of counting time in terms of scores and other units.

Symbolic Significance

In biblical numerology, the number eighty, or "fourscore," can symbolize strength, maturity, and the fulfillment of a life cycle. It is often associated with the culmination of a period of testing or trial, as seen in the life of Moses, who lived to be 120 years old, or three times forty, a number often associated with periods of trial and testing in the Bible.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, reaching the age of eighty was considered a significant milestone, often associated with wisdom and experience. The use of "fourscore" in the Bible reflects this cultural understanding, highlighting the respect accorded to elders and the value placed on longevity and life experience.

Conclusion

The term "fourscore" serves as a reminder of the biblical perspective on the brevity and preciousness of life. It underscores the importance of living a life of faith and purpose, recognizing that our days are numbered and that true wisdom comes from understanding our place in God's eternal plan.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Four times twenty; eighty.

2. (n.) The product of four times twenty; eighty units or objects.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

FOURSCORE

for'-skor.

See FOUR; NUMBER.

Greek

3589. ogdoekonta -- eighty
... fourscore. From ogdoos; ten times eight -- fourscore. see GREEK ogdoos. (ogdoekonta) --
2 Occurrences. 3588, 3589. ogdoekonta. 3590 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3589.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

8084. shemonim -- an eighty
... eightieth, fourscore. Or shmowniym {shem-o-neem'}; mult. From shmoneh; eighty, also
eightieth -- eighty(-ieth), fourscore. see HEBREW shmoneh. 8083, 8084. ...
/hebrew/8084.htm - 6k

Library

There are Threescore Queens and Fourscore Concubines, and virgins ...
... CHAPTER VI. 7. There are threescore queens and fourscore concubines, and
virgins without number. The Bridegroom declares that there ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/7 there are threescore queens.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 56, 58, "Ye Know How to ...
... Let us suppose that we have known the number of his years from his birth; for instance
(that we may wish him well) he has to live fourscore years, he is to ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lix on the words.htm

Divers Matters.
... The Jerusalem Talmudists write thus: "Fourscore pair of brethren, priests, married
fourscore pair of sisters, priestesses, in Gophna, in one night." You will ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 55 divers matters.htm

One Day when He had Gone Forth Because all the Monks had Assembled ...
... For it is written, "The days of our life in them are threescore years and ten, but
if they are in strength, fourscore years, and what is more than these is ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 16.htm

The Same when at Rome, Being Led by Others into the Amphitheatre ...
... was a building of an elliptic figure, five hundred and sixty-four feet in length,
and four hundred and sixty-seven in breadth, founded on fourscore arches, and ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter viii the same when at.htm

How Nebuzaradan Set Gedaliah Over the Jews that were Left in Judea ...
... But the next day fourscore men came out of the country with presents to Gedaliah,
none of them knowing what had befallen him; when Ishmael saw them, he invited ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how nebuzaradan set.htm

Psalm XC.
... spent in thought like a spider." [4249] "The days of our age are threescore years
and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, yet ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xc.htm

The Exile Continued.
... ancestral hatred, desires no better work, and Doeg crowns his baseness by
slaying"with the help of his herdsmen, no doubt""on that day fourscore and five ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/v the exilecontinued.htm

Seventh Letter
... LETTERS SEVENTH LETTER. At the age of nearly fourscore exhorts his correspondent,
who is sixty-four, to live and die with God and promises and asks for prayer. ...
/.../lawrence/the practice of the presence of god/seventh letter.htm

Concerning Widows.
... of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, which departed not from the temple, but continued
in supplications and prayers night and day, who was fourscore years old ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i concerning widows.htm

Thesaurus

Fourscore (33 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FOURSCORE. for'-skor. See FOUR; NUMBER.
Multi-Version Concordance Fourscore (33 Occurrences). ...
/f/fourscore.htm - 16k

Hewers (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 5:15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and
fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; (KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV). ...
/h/hewers.htm - 10k

Threescore (87 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 5:15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens,
and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; (KJV JPS ASV). ...
/t/threescore.htm - 33k

Rehobo'am (42 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 12:21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, be assembled all the house
of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen ...
/r/rehobo'am.htm - 18k

Valiant (66 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 7:5 And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant
men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven ...
/v/valiant.htm - 28k

Valour (66 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 7:5 And their brethren among all the families of Issachar, mighty men
of valor, reckoned in all by genealogy, were fourscore and seven thousand. ...
/v/valour.htm - 26k

Zebadi'ah (9 Occurrences)
... Deal courageously, and the LORD be with the good.' (See RSV). Ezra 8:8 And of the
sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him fourscore males. ...
/z/zebadi'ah.htm - 8k

Neto'phah (2 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:22 The men of Netophah, fifty and six. (See RSV). Nehemiah 7:26 The men of
Beth-lehem and Netophah, a hundred fourscore and eight. (See RSV). ...
/n/neto'phah.htm - 6k

Undisturbed (12 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Judges 3:30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel.
And the land had rest fourscore years. (See NAS). Judges ...
/u/undisturbed.htm - 9k

Owest (4 Occurrences)
... thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take
thy bill, and write fourscore. (KJV ASV WBS). Philemon ...
/o/owest.htm - 7k

Resources

Fourscore: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Fourscore (33 Occurrences)

Luke 2:37
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
(KJV ASV)

Luke 16:7
Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
(KJV ASV)

Genesis 16:16
And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Genesis 35:28
And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Exodus 7:7
And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Numbers 2:9
All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Numbers 4:48
Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore,
(KJV JPS ASV)

Joshua 14:10
And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Judges 3:30
So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
(KJV JPS ASV)

1 Samuel 22:18
And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Samuel 19:32
Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Samuel 19:35
I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
(KJV JPS ASV)

1 Kings 5:15
And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
(KJV JPS ASV)

1 Kings 12:21
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Kings 6:25
And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Kings 10:24
And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.
(KJV JPS ASV)

1 Chronicles 7:5
And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand.
(KJV JPS ASV)

1 Chronicles 15:9
Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:
(KJV JPS ASV)

1 Chronicles 25:7
So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Chronicles 2:2
And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Chronicles 2:18
And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Chronicles 11:1
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Chronicles 14:8
And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Chronicles 17:15
And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Chronicles 17:18
And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Chronicles 26:17
And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:
(KJV JPS ASV)

Ezra 8:8
And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Nehemiah 7:26
The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Nehemiah 11:18
All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Esther 1:4
When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Psalms 90:10
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY RSV)

Song of Songs 6:8
There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY)

Isaiah 37:36
Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Subtopics

Fourscore

Related Terms

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