Lexical Summary nuchthémeron: A day and a night; a full 24-hour period Original Word: νυχθήμερον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance night and day. From nux and hemera; a day-and-night, i.e. Full day of twenty-four hours -- night and day. see GREEK nux see GREEK hemera NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nux and hémera Definition lasting a night and a day NASB Translation a night and a day (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3574: νυχθήμεροννυχθήμερον, νυχθημερου, τό (νύξ and ἡμέρα), a night and a day, the space of twenty-four hours: 2 Corinthians 11:25. (Alex. Aphr.; Geoponica) Cf. Sturz, De dial. Mac. etc., p. 186; (Sophocles Lexicon, under the word; cf. Winer's Grammar, 25). Topical Lexicon Concept and Scriptural Context The word denotes a single, complete cycle of darkness and daylight—a full span of twenty-four hours. Scripture often speaks of “night” and “day” separately to emphasize continual or unbroken activity (for example, Luke 2:37; 1 Thessalonians 3:10). Here, however, the two are fused into a single term, underscoring the unity of the period rather than its parts. This holistic perspective reflects the biblical view that God governs every moment, whether in darkness or in light (Psalm 139:12). Occurrence in the New Testament The compound appears once, in 2 Corinthians 11:25: “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked; I spent a night and a day in the open sea”. The rarity of the term draws attention to the specific incident Paul recalls in his catalog of sufferings, highlighting both the severity and the duration of the ordeal. Old Testament and Intertestamental Background Although the precise compound is absent from the Hebrew Scriptures, the idea of an inseparable twenty-four-hour cycle runs through the creation narrative: “And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day” (Genesis 1:5). Later Jewish writings used similar compound expressions to describe periods of uninterrupted fasting, prayer, or danger. The usage in 2 Corinthians therefore rests on a conceptual foundation that was already familiar to Paul’s readers. Paul’s Apostolic Hardship Paul’s “night and day in the open sea” probably refers to drifting on wreckage before rescue (cf. Acts 27, another maritime crisis occurring later). The vivid recollection functions pastorally and apologetically: Theological Implications 1. Providence over Time. A continuous twenty-four-hour exposure to the sea proclaims the sustaining hand of God, echoing Psalm 121:4, “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Practical and Pastoral Applications • Encouragement in Extended Trials. Seasons that feel unending find precedent in Paul’s ordeal; God’s faithfulness spans the entire cycle. Christological Reflection Jesus Himself embraced the full scope of human experience—light and darkness, life and death—to redeem every hour. Paul’s peril at sea mirrors, in miniature, the Savior’s descent into the storm for our salvation (Mark 4:35-41). Just as Christ’s command calmed the waves, His sovereign care sustained His apostle through the twenty-four-hour trial. Doctrinal Connections • Sovereignty: God ordains the extent and outcome of each trial (Job 1:12). Worship and Spiritual Formation Meditating on the term invites believers to dedicate every portion of the day to praise and trust. Practices might include: – Morning thanksgiving for sustaining grace. – Evening examination, recalling God’s presence through the day’s events. – Intercessory prayer that spans “night and day,” reinforcing unceasing dependence (1 Timothy 5:5). Summary In its lone New Testament appearance, the compound for “night-and-day span” crystallizes Paul’s testimony of endurance and God’s overarching care. The term gathers together themes of providence, perseverance, and gospel authenticity, encouraging believers to entrust every hour—whether marked by darkness or light—to the Lord who reigns over the full cycle of time. Forms and Transliterations νυχθημερον νυχθήμερον nuchthemeron nuchthēmeron nychthemeron nychthēmeron nychthḗmeronLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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