REFERENCE 40 STRIPES
Deuteronomy 25:3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. (Instructions for beating a wicked man)
II Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (Paul was beaten 5 different times.)