Lexical Summary nouménia: New Moon Original Word: νουμηνία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance new moon. Feminine of a compound of neos and men (as noun by implication, of hemera); the festival of new moon -- new moon. see GREEK neos see GREEK men see GREEK hemera NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for neoménia, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3561: νεομηνίανεομηνία, see νουμηνία. STRONGS NT 3561: νουμηνίανουμηνία, and according to a rarer uncontracted form (cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 148 (Lightfoot on Col. as below; WH's Appendix, p. 145)) νεομηνία (so L text Tr WH), νουμηνίας, ἡ (νέος, μήν a month), new moon (Vulg.neomenia; barbarous Latinnovilunium): of the Jewish festival of the new moon (BB. DD., under the phrase, New Moon), Colossians 2:16. (The Sept. chiefly for חֹדֶשׁ; also for חֹדֶשׁ אֶחָד, Exodus 40:2; and חֹדֶשׁ רֹאשׁ, Numbers 10:10; Numbers 28:11; see μήν, 2. Pindar, Aristophanes, Thucydides, Xenophon, others.) The monthly new-moon day marked the first visible sliver of the lunar cycle and served as Israel’s divine calendar reset (Genesis 1:14). By the law given at Sinai it became a sacred convocation with special burnt, grain, and drink offerings (Numbers 28:11-15). Silver trumpets announced the day (Numbers 10:10), and celebratory meals were customary (1 Samuel 20:5, 1 Samuel 20:24). Market activity paused (Amos 8:5), making the day a blend of worship, rest, and communal fellowship. The new moon thus helped Israel keep time around Yahweh’s redemptive acts and sustained covenant identity between the great annual pilgrim feasts. Old Testament Ritual and Moral Emphases • Sacrificial worship: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs without blemish, plus a male goat for sin atonement (Numbers 28:11-15). Eschatological Expectation Isaiah foretells a purified future in which “from one New Moon to another… all mankind will come to bow down before Me” (Isaiah 66:23). The rhythm of renewed time will remain, yet fully aligned with universal worship of the Creator and Redeemer. New Testament Usage: Colossians 2:16 The only New-Testament occurrence of νεομηνία is in Paul’s warning against legalistic judgment: “Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a festival, a new moon, or a Sabbath” (Colossians 2:16). Paul groups three pillars of Israel’s sacred calendar—annual festivals, monthly new moons, and weekly Sabbaths—and declares them “a shadow of the things to come, but the body belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:17). The new-moon observance, once a God-ordained shadow, finds its substance in the Person and finished work of Jesus Christ. Theological Significance 1. Typology and Fulfillment: As the moon reflects the sun’s light, the monthly rite reflected greater glory yet to be revealed. Christ, the “light of the world,” fulfills the pattern by inaugurating new creation life (2 Corinthians 5:17). Ministry Application • Guard the gospel: Resist teachings that bind consciences to obsolete calendar laws. Key Biblical References Numbers 10:10; Numbers 28:11-15; 1 Samuel 20:5-29; 2 Kings 4:23; Psalm 81:3; Isaiah 1:13-14; Isaiah 66:23; Ezekiel 46:1-6; Hosea 2:11; Amos 8:5; Colossians 2:16-17. Related Concepts Feast, Sabbath, Festival, Trumpets, Sacrifice, Covenant Calendar, Shadow and Substance, Legalism, Christian Liberty, New Creation. Englishman's Concordance Colossians 2:16 N-GFSGRK: ἑορτῆς ἢ νεομηνίας ἢ σαββάτων KJV: or of the new moon, or INT: of feast or new moon or Sabbath |
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