AbstractRecently, the LHCb Collaboration has confirmed the state X(4140), with a mass $M=4146.5± 4.5^{+4.6}_{-2.8}$M=4146.5±4.5-2.8+4.6 MeV, and a much larger width $Γ =83± 21^{+21}_{-14}$Γ=83±21-14+21 MeV than the previous experimental measurements, which has confused the understanding of its nature. We will investigate the possibility of the $χ _{c1}(3P)$χc1(3P) interpretation for the X(4140), considering the mass spectra predicted in the quark model, and the strong decay properties within the $^3P_0$3P0 model. We also predict the strong decay properties of the charmonium states $χ _{c0}(3P)$χc0(3P) and $χ _{c2}(3P)$χc2(3P). Our results show that the X(4140) state with the small width given in PDG can be explained as the charmonium state $χ _{c1}(3P)$χc1(3P) in the $^3P_0$3P0 model, and high precision measurement of the width of the X(4140) is crucial to understand its nature.