Lexical Summary hémera: Day Original Word: ἡμέρα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a dayFeminine (with hora implied) of a derivative of hemai (to sit; akin to the base of hedraios) meaning tame, i.e. Gentle; day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole aganaktesis hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context) -- age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years. see GREEK hora see GREEK hedraios NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition day NASB Translation always* (1), court (1), daily* (10), day (207), day's (1), day...another (1), daybreak (1), days (148), daytime (2), midday* (1), time (12), years (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2250: ἡμέραἡμέρα, ἡμέρας, ἡ (from ἥμερος, ἡμορον, properly, ἡμέρα ὥρα the mild time, cf. Lob. Paral., p. 359; (but cf. Curtius, p. 594f; Vanicek, p. 943)); Hebrew יום; day; used 1. of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with night; a. properly, ἡμέρας, by day, in the daytime (cf. colloquial English of a day; Winers Grammar, § 30, 11; Buttmann, § 132, 26), Revelation 21:25; ἡμέρας καί νυκτός, day and night (cf. Winer's Grammar, 552 (513f); Lob. Paralip., p. 62f; Ellicott on 1 Timothy 5:5), Mark 5:5; Luke 18:7; Acts 9:24; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; (2 Thessalonians 3:8 L text T Tr WH); 1 Timothy 5:5; 2 Timothy 1:3; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 7:15; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 14:11; Revelation 20:10; ἡμέρας μέσης, at midday, Acts 26:13; νύκτα καί ἡμέραν (Winers Grammar, 230 (216); Buttmann, § 131, 11), Mark 4:27; Acts 20:31; 2 Thessalonians 3:8 R G; hyperbolically equivalent to without intermission, λατρεύειν, Luke 2:37; Acts 26:7; ἡμέρας ὁδός, a day's journey, Luke 2:44 (Genesis 31:23 (μιᾶς ἡμέρας ὁδόν, Josephus, contra Apion 2, 2, 9; cf. Winers Grammar, 188 (177); B. D. American edition, under the phrase, Day's Journey)); τάς ἡμέρας, accusative of time (Winers Grammar, and Buttmanns Grammar, as above), during the days, Luke 21:37; ἐκείνην τήν ἡμέραν, John 1:39 (40); πᾶσαν ἡμέραν, daily, Acts 5:42; ἐκ δηναρίου τήν ἡμέραν, so sometimes we say, for a shilling the day, Matthew 20:2; δώδεκα σισιν ὧραι τῆς ἡμέρας, John 20:9; to the number of days are added as many nights, Matthew 4:2; Matthew 12:40; γίνεται ἡμέρα, day dawns, it grows light, Luke 4:42; Luke 6:13; Luke 22:66; Acts 12:18; Acts 16:35; Acts 23:12; Acts 27:29, 33, 39 (Xenophon, an. 2, 2, 13; 7, 2, 34); περιπατεῖν ἐν τήν ἡμέρα, John 11:9; ἡ ἡμέρα φαίνει, Revelation 8:12; ἡ ἡμέρα κλινεῖ, the day declines, it is toward evening, Luke 9:12; Luke 24:29. b. metaphorically, the 'day' is regarded as the time for abstaining from indulgence, vice, crime, because acts of the sort are perpetrated at night and in darkness: 1 Thessalonians 5:5, 8; hence ὁ αἰών οὗτος (see αἰών, 3) is likened to the night, αἰών μέλλων, to day, and Christians are admonished to live decorously as though it were light, i. e. as if ὁ αἰών ὁ μέλλων were already come, Romans 13:12f ἕως ἡμέρα ἐστιν while it is day, i. e. while life gives one an opportunity to work, John 9:4. of the light of knowledge, 2 Peter 1:19. 2. of the civil day, or the space of twenty-four hours (thus including the night): Matthew 6:34; Mark 6:21; Luke 13:14, etc.; opposed to an hour, Matthew 25:13; to hours, months, years, Revelation 9:15; Galatians 4:10; ἡ ἐν ἡμέρα τρυφή, the revelling of a day, i. e. ephemeral, very brief, 2 Peter 2:13 (others refer this to 1 b. above); ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας seven times in the (space of a) day, Luke 17:4; the dative ἡμέρα of the day on (in) which (cf. Winers Grammar, § 31, 9; Buttmann, § 133 (26)): as τρίτῃ ἡμέρα, Matthew 16:21; Mark 9:31 (Rec.); Luke 17:29; Acts 2:41, etc.; ἡμέρα καί ἡμέρα, day by day, every day, 2 Corinthians 4:16 (after the Hebrew וָיום יום Esther 3:4, where the Sept. καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν, and יום יום Psalm 67:20 3. of the lust day of the present age (see αἰών, 3), the day in which Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom, the following expressions are used: ἡ ἡμέρα, simply, Romans 13:12; Hebrews 10:25, cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:4; (ἡ) ἡμέρα τοῦ κυρίου, Χριστοῦ, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, Luke 17:24 R G T Tr WH marginal reading; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; Philippians 1:6, 10; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10; ἡμέρα κυρίου ἡ μεγάλη, Acts 2:20 (from Joel 2:31 ( 4. By a Hebraistic usage (though one not entirely unknown to Greek writers; cf. Sophocles Aj. 131, 623; Euripides, Ion 720) it is used of time in general (as the Latindies is sometimes): John 14:20; John 16:23, 26; Hebrews 8:9 (cf. Buttmann, 316 (271); Winer's Grammar, 571 (531)); τήν ἐμήν ἡμέραν, the time when I should appear among men as Messiah, John 8:56; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρα τῇ πονηρά, in the time of troubles and assaults with which demons try Christians, Ephesians 6:13; ἡμέρα σωτηρίας, the time when anyone is or can be saved, 2 Corinthians 6:2; εἰς ἡμέραν αἰῶνος, for all time, forever (see αἰών, 1 a.), 2 Peter 3:18; much more often in the plural: ἡμέραι πονηραί, Ephesians 5:16; ἀφ' ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων, Acts 15:7; αἱ πρότερον ἡμέραι Hebrews 10:32; πάσας τάς ἡμέρας, through all days, always, Matthew 28:20 (כָּל־הַיָמִים, Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 5:26 (29), and very often; ἠματα πάντα, Homer, Iliad 8, 539; 12, 133; 13, 826, etc.); αἱ ἔσχαται ἡμέραι (see ἔσχατος, 1 under the end), Acts 2:17; 2 Timothy 3:1; James 5:3; αἱ ἡμέραι αὗται, the present time, Acts 3:24; the time now spoken of, Luke 1:39; Luke 6:12; Acts 1:15, etc.; ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις (see ἐκεῖνος, 2 b., p. 195a); πρό τούτων τῶν ἡμερῶν, Acts 5:36; Acts 21:38; πρός ὀλίγας ἡμέρας, for a short time, Hebrews 12:10; ἐλεύσονται ... ἡμέραι ὅταν etc., Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:20; Luke 5:35; ὅτε etc. Luke 17:22; ἥξουσιν ἡμέραι ἐπί σε, καί, followed by a future, Luke 19:43; ἔρχονται ἡμέραι, καί, followed by future, Hebrews 8:8; ἐλεύσονται or ἔρχονται ἡμέραι, ἐν αἷς etc., Luke 21:6; Luke 23:29, with a genitive of the thing done or to happen: τῆς ἀπογραφῆς, Acts 5:37; τῆς φωνῆς, Revelation 10:7; τῆς σαρκός αὐτοῦ, of his earthly life, Hebrews 5:7. αἱ ἡμέραι with the genitive of a person, one's time, one's days, i. e. in which he lived, or held office: Matthew 2:1; Matthew 11:12; Matthew 23:30; Matthew 24:37; Luke 1:5; Luke 4:25; Luke 17:26, 28; Acts 7:45; Acts 13:41; 1 Peter 3:20 (Genesis 26:1; 1 Samuel 17:10; 2 Samuel 21:1; 1 Kings 10:21; Esther 1:1; Sir. 44:7 Sir. 46:7; Tobit 1:2; 1 Macc. 14:36, etc.); αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, the time immediately preceding the return of Jesus Christ from heaven, Luke 17:26; μίαν τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, a single day of that most blessed future time when, all hostile powers subdued, the Messiah will reign, Luke 17:22. Finally, the Hebrews and the Hellenists who imitate them measure the duration and length also of human life by the number of days: πάσας τάς ἡμέρας (L mrg Tr marginal reading WH dative) τῆς ζωῆς (G L T Tr WH omit) ἡμῶν, during all our life, Luke 1:75 Rec. (Genesis 47:8f; Judith 10:3; Tobit 1:2 (3); Sir. 22:12 Sir. 30:32 (24); 1 Macc. 9:71); προβεβηκώς ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ, far advanced in age, Luke 1:7, 18; Luke 2:36 (בַּיָמִים בָּא (the Sept., προβεβηκώς ἡμερῶν or ἡμέραις), Genesis 18:11; Genesis 24:1; Joshua 13:1; (Joshua 23:1; 1 Kings 1:1; see προβαίνω, at the end)); ἀρχή ἡμερῶν, beginning of life, Hebrews 7:3 (αἱ ἔσχαται ἡμέραι τίνος, one's last days, his old age, Protevangelium Jacobi, c. 1); ἡμέραι ἀγαθαί, 1 Peter 3:10. Strong’s 2250 covers the breadth of what Scripture calls a “day,” appearing nearly four hundred times and serving as one of the most versatile time-markers in the New Testament. Whether literal or figurative, the term frames creation, covenant life, prophetic warning, gospel events, and practical discipleship. Literal Solar Day The ordinary twenty-four-hour cycle is the default sense. It governs daily needs (Matthew 6:34), labor rhythms (Luke 19:47), and the contrast between daylight security and night-time danger (John 11:9–10). In narrative, single days delimit key scenes such as the wedding at Cana (John 2:1) or Paul’s shipwreck vigil (Acts 27:33). Symbolic Periods and Seasons “Day” often denotes an undefined span characterized by a particular activity or condition. Jesus speaks of the “days of Noah” and “days of Lot” (Luke 17:26–30) to summarize entire generations marked by unbelief. Paul can compress decades of Israel’s wilderness wandering into “one day” of massive downfall (1 Corinthians 10:8), underscoring covenant accountability. Day of Divine Action in Salvation History Unique redemptive events are dated as “the day” God intervened— The Day of the Lord Rooted in the prophets and adopted by the apostles, this phrase concentrates final judgment and consummation into a single eschatological “day.” “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Peter links it to cosmic dissolution and new creation (2 Peter 3:10–13), stressing both terror for the ungodly and hope for the righteous. Day of Judgment While overlapping the Day of the Lord, several texts focus specifically on judicial reckoning. Jesus warns, “I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word” (Matthew 12:36). Revelation depicts this as the “great day of Their wrath” (Revelation 6:17), sealing God’s moral government of history. Day of Salvation Grace has its appointed time. Paul cites Isaiah: “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). The writer to the Hebrews presses the urgency: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7). “Day” thus becomes the window of opportunity between divine promise and its closing fulfillment. Daily Discipleship The term shapes practical piety. Jesus commands, “Let him take up his cross daily” (Luke 9:23). Prayer is framed as a daily dependence—“Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). Ministry labor is to be accomplished “while it is day; night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). The church’s ongoing mission is measured out one day at a time (Acts 5:42). Sabbath and Sacred Days Gospel writers record controversy over Sabbath “days” (Luke 13:14; John 9:14), reflecting the transition from Old-Covenant sign to Christ’s fulfilment. Paul affirms liberty of conscience: “One person esteems one day above another; another judges every day alike” (Romans 14:5), yet the underlying principle of rest and worship abides. Festal Days in the Gospels and Acts Passover preparations (Mark 14:12), the Day of Unleavened Bread (Luke 22:7), and the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1) anchor New-Covenant events within Israel’s calendar. Each “day” is both historical marker and theological sign, locating Christ’s work within God’s longstanding redemptive rhythm. The Resurrection on the Third Day A refrain running through the Synoptics and Acts: “The Son of Man will be raised on the third day” (Luke 24:7). Paul certifies the gospel “that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). The precise counting of days underscores the physical reality of the resurrection and the reliability of prophetic Scripture. Prophetic Timetables Scripture often compresses or extends time: three days in the grave (Matthew 12:40), forty days of post-resurrection instruction (Acts 1:3), one thousand years as a day (2 Peter 3:8). These usages remind readers that divine chronology transcends human reckoning while still accommodating it for revelation. Ministerial Application Pastoral exhortation frequently employs “day” imagery: Faithful ministry therefore balances long-range eschatological hope with daily obedience. Theological Harmony Across Testaments From Genesis’ creation days to Revelation’s endless day where “night will be no more” (Revelation 21:25), Scripture maintains a coherent theology of time. Each occurrence of 2250 situates God’s people within that unfolding story: a single day that passes swiftly, yet a divine appointment that can change eternity. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 2:1 N-DFPGRK: Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ NAS: of Judea in the days of Herod KJV: in the days of Herod INT: of Judea in [the] days of Herod the Matthew 3:1 N-DFP Matthew 4:2 N-AFP Matthew 6:34 N-DFS Matthew 7:22 N-DFS Matthew 9:15 N-NFP Matthew 10:15 N-DFS Matthew 11:12 N-GFP Matthew 11:22 N-DFS Matthew 11:24 N-DFS Matthew 12:36 N-DFS Matthew 12:40 N-AFP Matthew 12:40 N-AFP Matthew 13:1 N-DFS Matthew 15:32 N-NFP Matthew 16:21 N-DFS Matthew 17:1 N-AFP Matthew 17:23 N-DFS Matthew 20:2 N-AFS Matthew 20:6 N-AFS Matthew 20:12 N-GFS Matthew 20:19 N-DFS Matthew 22:23 N-DFS Matthew 22:46 N-GFS Matthew 23:30 N-DFP Strong's Greek 2250 |
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