Lexical Summary mesonuktion: Midnight Original Word: μεσονύκτιον 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 Originfrom mesonuktios (at midnight); from mesos and nux Definition at midnight NASB Translation midnight (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3317: μεσονύκτιονμεσονύκτιον, 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 Biblical BackgroundIn Scripture midnight marks the dividing line between one day and the next, a moment associated with decisive divine acts: judgment upon Egypt (Exodus 11:4), deliverance of Israel (Exodus 12:29), and unexpected turns in personal accounts (Ruth 3:8; Judges 16:3). In first-century Palestine the night was commonly divided into four Roman watches (Mark 13:35), the second of which centered on midnight. This time was normally characterized by silence, darkness, and vulnerability, yet the biblical record repeatedly shows God working powerfully in that very hour. Occurrences in the New Testament “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 in the morning.” Midnight stands as one of four watches representing the whole span of night. The point is urgency: the Lord may appear when human alertness is at its lowest. “Then He said to them, ‘Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves…’ ” Here midnight serves a parabolic backdrop for bold, persistent prayer. Social conventions would normally prevent disturbance at such an hour, yet need overrides reluctance, illustrating the believer’s freedom to approach God at any time. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” In the deepest part of the night—both literally and figuratively—two servants of Christ transform a Philippian jail into a sanctuary. Midnight worship precedes a miraculous earthquake and the conversion of the jailer (Acts 16:26-34), highlighting God’s sovereign ability to turn oppression into evangelistic opportunity. “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread, and Paul spoke to them, and because he intended to depart the next day, he prolonged his message until midnight.” The believers in Troas value apostolic teaching so highly that they listen long into the night. Eutychus’s fall and restoration (Acts 20:9-12) underscore both the human limitations of disciples and the life-giving power at work through the gospel. Cultural and Temporal Context 1. Security and vulnerability: Night travel was hazardous; social activity normally ceased. Reference to midnight therefore heightens drama and accentuates divine intervention. Theological Significance • Divine sovereignty in darkness: God’s saving and judging acts are not hindered by conditions that immobilize human effort. Midnight in Ministry and Devotion 1. Personal discipline: Following the example of Paul and Silas, believers may set aside late-night hours for intercession and worship (cf. Psalm 119:62). Practical Application for Believers • Maintain spiritual alertness; complacency often peaks when physical senses dull. Summary Throughout the New Testament midnight functions as more than a time marker; it symbolizes the intersection of human limitation and divine activity. Whether calling the church to vigilance, illustrating bold prayer, showcasing worship in suffering, or highlighting the hunger for apostolic teaching, each occurrence of Strong’s Greek 3317 invites believers to trust the Lord who works wonders in the darkest hour. Forms and Transliterations μεσονυκτιον μεσονύκτιον μεσονυκτιου μεσονυκτίου μεσονυκτίω μεσοπόρφυρα μεσοπορφύρου mesonuktion mesonuktiou mesonyktion mesonýktion mesonyktiou mesonyktíouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Mark 13:35 N-ANSGRK: 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 Acts 16:25 N-ANS Acts 20:7 N-GNS Strong's Greek 3317 |
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