Lexical Summary mén: Month Original Word: μήν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance month. A primary word; a month -- month. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition a month NASB Translation month (4), months (14). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3376: μήν (n)μήν (n), genitive μηνός, ὁ (with the Alex. the accusative μηναν, Revelation 22:2 Lachmann; on which form see references under ἄρσην, at the end); (from Homer down); 1. a month: Luke 1:24, 26, 36, 56; Luke 4:25; Acts 7:20; Acts 18:11; Acts 19:8; Acts 20:3; Acts 28:11; James 5:17; Revelation 9:5, 10, 15; Revelation 11:2; Revelation 13:5; Revelation 22:2. 2. the time of new moon, new moon (barbarous Latinnovilunium: after the use of the Hebrew חֹדֶשׁ, which denotes both a 'month' and a 'new moon,' as in Numbers 28:11; Numbers 29:1): Galatians 4:10 (Lightfoot compares Isaiah 66:23) (the first day of each month, when the new moon appeared, was a festival among the Hebrews; cf. Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 28:11; Psalm 80:4 Strong’s Greek 3376 designates the natural unit of time known as a month. In the New Testament it appears eighteen times, spanning narrative, didactic, and apocalyptic literature. Its distribution shows how the Spirit-inspired writers understood calendar months not merely as neutral markers but as divinely appointed frames in which God accomplishes redemption, executes judgment, and orders the life of His people. Old Testament Foundations Carried into the New Behind every New Testament reference stands the Hebrew concept of “chodesh,” the new-moon marker that structured Israel’s worship calendar (Numbers 28:11–15; Isaiah 1:14). New moons governed feasts, agricultural rhythms, and prophetic chronologies. By the first century the Jewish community used a lunisolar calendar, while the wider Greco-Roman world followed the Julian solar system. New Testament authors move freely between the two, confident that God rules all calendars and that His purposes transcend cultural differences in timekeeping. Luke’s Infancy Narrative: Months in the Fulfilment of Promise Luke alone records nine of the eighteen occurrences, six of them in chapter 1. Months track the parallel pregnancies of Elizabeth and Mary (Luke 1:24, 26, 36, 56) and highlight the precise timing of the Incarnation. The angelic announcement comes “in the sixth month” (Luke 1:26), displaying the meticulous sovereignty of God. Months also mark the period of Elijah’s drought cited by Jesus (Luke 4:25: “three years and six months”), a foreshadowing of the later prophetic timetable in Revelation. Acts: Missionary Durations that Verify Historical Reliability Luke’s second volume uses the term to anchor missionary chronology: • Moses was hidden “for three months” (Acts 7:20), reminding the readers that God’s deliverers have often been preserved in infancy. Galatians 4:10: Months Misused “You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!” The Galatian error illustrates how even God-given time units become bondage when detached from the substance found in Christ. The warning protects the church from calendar-based legalism while affirming freedom to honor the Lord in any season (Romans 14:5–6). James 5:17: Months of Judgment Answering Prayer James revisits Elijah’s drought: “it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.” The precise figure vindicates the efficacy of righteous prayer and foreshadows the limited yet severe judgments detailed in Revelation. Revelation: Apocalyptic Measurements of Mercy and Wrath 1. Five-month torments (Revelation 9:5, 9:10) mirror the natural lifespan of the desert locust, indicating a judgment that is both intense and strictly bounded by divine decree. Chronological and Prophetic Significance Three and one-half years (forty-two months) recurs as a symbol of limited oppression. It reassures believers that tribulation, however fierce, is under strict temporal limits set by God. Conversely, the twelve monthly fruits in the eternal state declare unending abundance. Thus the biblical month serves both as a ceiling on evil and a pledge of perpetual blessing. Practical and Pastoral Implications • Stewardship: Paul’s extended stays prove that fruitful ministry often requires months of patient teaching. Believers should likewise budget time for deep discipleship. Theological Observations 1. God’s absolute sovereignty over time: Each month is at His disposal, whether to conceal providentially (Luke 1:24), to nurture Gospel advance (Acts 18:11), or to execute cosmic judgment (Revelation 9:5). Lessons for Contemporary Disciples • Submit personal calendars to God, recognizing that He often works in well-defined seasons. Conclusion From the hidden months in Elizabeth’s womb to the healing months of the eternal city, Strong’s Greek 3376 traces the arc of redemptive history in miniature. Each occurrence reassures the faithful that times and seasons are securely in the Father’s hand, directing them to labor, watch, and hope within the months He appoints until time itself gives way to everlasting day. Englishman's Concordance Luke 1:24 N-AMPGRK: περιέκρυβεν ἑαυτὴν μῆνας πέντε λέγουσα NAS: in seclusion for five months, saying, KJV: herself five months, saying, INT: hid herself months five saying Luke 1:26 N-DMS Luke 1:36 N-NMS Luke 1:56 N-AMP Luke 4:25 N-AMP Acts 7:20 N-AMP Acts 18:11 N-AMP Acts 19:8 N-AMP Acts 20:3 N-AMP Acts 28:11 N-AMP Galatians 4:10 N-AMP James 5:17 N-AMP Revelation 9:5 N-AMP Revelation 9:10 N-AMP Revelation 9:15 N-AMS Revelation 11:2 N-AMP Revelation 13:5 N-AMP Revelation 22:2 N-AMS Strong's Greek 3376 |
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