3317. mesonuktion

Lexicon

mesonuktion: Midnight

Original Word: μεσονύκτιον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: mesonuktion
Pronunciation: meh-so-NOOK-tee-on
Phonetic Spelling: (mes-on-ook'-tee-on)
Definition: Midnight
Meaning: midnight, the middle of the period between sunset and sunrise.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

midnight.

Neuter of compound of mesos and nux; midnight (especially as a watch) -- midnight.

see GREEK mesos

see GREEK nux

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from mesonuktios (at midnight); from mesos and nux
Definition
at midnight
NASB Translation
midnight (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3317: μεσονύκτιον

μεσονύκτιον, μεσονυκτίου, τό (neuter of the adjective μεσονύκτιος in Pindar, et al., from μέσος and νύξ, νυκτός), midnight: μεσονυκτίου, at midnight (Winers Grammar, § 30, 11; Buttmann, § 132, 26), Mark 13:35 (here T Tr WH accusative; cf. Winers Grammar, 230 (215f); Buttmann, § 131, 11); Luke 11:5; κατά τό μεσονύκτιον, about midnight, Acts 16:25; μέχρι μεσονυκτίου, until midnight, Acts 20:7. (The Sept.; Hippocrates, Aristotle, Diodorus, Strabo, Lucian, Plutarch; cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 53 (Winer's Grammar, p. 23 c.).)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the Greek words μέσος (mésos), meaning "middle," and νύξ (nýx), meaning "night."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for μεσονύκτιον, the concept of midnight is expressed in the Hebrew Bible with terms related to night and specific times. The closest Hebrew term is חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה (chatzot laylah), which also means "midnight" and is used in passages such as Exodus 11:4 and Psalm 119:62. These references similarly highlight moments of divine action or significant events occurring at midnight.

Usage: The term μεσονύκτιον is used in the New Testament to denote the time of midnight. It is often associated with significant events or moments of divine intervention.

Context: The Greek term μεσονύκτιον appears in several New Testament passages, highlighting its importance in biblical narratives. It is used to describe the time when pivotal events occur, often symbolizing a moment of transition or divine action.

• Acts 16:25 (BSB): "About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." Here, μεσονύκτιον marks the time when Paul and Silas, despite their imprisonment, engage in worship, leading to a miraculous earthquake that opens the prison doors.

• Matthew 25:6 (BSB): "At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’" In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, μεσονύκτιον signifies the unexpected arrival of the bridegroom, emphasizing the need for readiness and vigilance.

• Mark 13:35 (BSB): "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn." Here, μεσονύκτιον is part of a warning to remain alert for the Lord's return, underscoring the unpredictability of the timing.

The use of μεσονύκτιον in these contexts often conveys a sense of urgency and the unexpected, serving as a reminder of the need for spiritual preparedness. It is a time when God’s intervention can dramatically alter circumstances, as seen in the liberation of Paul and Silas and the eschatological themes in the parables.

Forms and Transliterations

μεσονυκτιον μεσονύκτιον μεσονυκτιου μεσονυκτίου μεσονυκτίω μεσοπόρφυρα μεσοπορφύρου mesonuktion mesonuktiou mesonyktion mesonýktion mesonyktiou mesonyktíou

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 13:35 N-ANS
GRK: ὀψὲ ἢ μεσονύκτιον ἢ ἀλεκτοροφωνίας
NAS: in the evening, at midnight, or
KJV: or at midnight, or
INT: at evening or at midnight or when the rooster crows

Luke 11:5 N-GNS
GRK: πρὸς αὐτὸν μεσονυκτίου καὶ εἴπῃ
NAS: and goes to him at midnight and says
KJV: unto him at midnight, and say
INT: to him at midnight and say

Acts 16:25 N-ANS
GRK: δὲ τὸ μεσονύκτιον Παῦλος καὶ
NAS: But about midnight Paul and Silas
KJV: And at midnight Paul and
INT: moreover midnight Paul and

Acts 20:7 N-GNS
GRK: λόγον μέχρι μεσονυκτίου
NAS: his message until midnight.
KJV: his speech until midnight.
INT: talk until midnight

Strong's Greek 3317
4 Occurrences

μεσονύκτιον — 2 Occ.
μεσονυκτίου — 2 Occ.