Definition and Significance:
Midnight, the middle of the night, is a significant time marker in the Bible, often associated with divine intervention, judgment, and deliverance. It is a time when God’s power and presence are vividly demonstrated, marking pivotal moments in biblical narratives.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus and Deliverance:
Midnight is notably mentioned in the context of the Exodus from Egypt. In Exodus 11:4, Moses warns Pharaoh of the impending final plague: "So Moses declared, 'This is what the LORD says: About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.'" This prophecy is fulfilled in Exodus 12:29, where it is recorded, "Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well." This event marks the liberation of the Israelites from bondage, showcasing God’s power and faithfulness to His covenant people.

2. Judgment and Justice:
Midnight is also a time of judgment. In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus uses midnight to symbolize the unexpected arrival of the bridegroom, representing the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 25:6 states, "At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’" This parable emphasizes the need for readiness and vigilance in anticipation of Christ’s return.

3. Paul and Silas in Prison:
In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas, imprisoned for their faith, are found praying and singing hymns to God at midnight: "About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." Their worship leads to a miraculous earthquake that opens the prison doors, resulting in the conversion of the jailer and his household. This account highlights the power of faith and worship even in dire circumstances.

4. Divine Protection and Guidance:
Midnight is also a time when God provides protection and guidance. In Psalm 119:62, the psalmist declares, "At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous judgments." This verse reflects a heart of gratitude and trust in God’s righteous decrees, even during the darkest hours.

Theological Implications:

Midnight in the Bible often symbolizes a turning point, a moment when God intervenes in human history to bring about His purposes. It serves as a reminder of God’s sovereignty and the importance of spiritual vigilance. The events associated with midnight underscore themes of deliverance, judgment, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Believers are encouraged to remain watchful and faithful, trusting in God’s timing and His ultimate plan for redemption.Midnight

See HOUR.

1. (n.) The middle of the night; twelve o'clock at night.

2. (a.) Being in, or characteristic of, the middle of the night; as, midnight studies; midnight gloom.

MIDNIGHT

mid'-nit (chatsoth laylah, "middle of the night" (Exodus 11:4 Job 34:20 Psalm 119:62), chatsi ha-laylah, "the half of the night" (Exodus 12:29 Judges 16:3 Ruth 3:8), tokh ha-laylah, "the division of the night" and hence, the middle point (1 Kings 3:20); meses nuktos (Matthew 25:6), or meson tes nuktos, "the middle of the night" (Acts 27:27), mesonuktios, "midnight"; Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, mesonuktion (Acts 16:25, etc.)): In the period before the exile midnight does not seem to have been very accurately determined. The division of the night was into three watches, the middle one of which included midnight. In New Testament times the four-watch division was used where midnight must have been more or less accurately determined.

See TIME; WATCH.

H. Porter

3317. mesonuktion -- at midnight
... at midnight. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: mesonuktion Phonetic
Spelling: (mes-on-ook'-tee-on) Short Definition: midnight Definition: midnight ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3317.htm - 6k

3571. nux -- night, by night
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition night, by night NASB Word Usage evening (1),
midnight* (2), night (55), night night (1), nights (3). midnight. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3571.htm - 6k

219. alektorophonia -- the crowing of a rooster
... alektorophonia Phonetic Spelling: (al-ek-tor-of-o-nee'-ah) Short Definition: cockcrow
Definition: the cockcrow, as a period of time, between midnight and 3 am. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/219.htm - 6k

3319. mesos -- middle, in the midst
... midst NASB Word Usage among (3), among* (5), before* (3), between (1), between*
(3), center (6), forward* (3), midday* (1), middle (6), midnight* (2), midst (19 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3319.htm - 6k

2676. chatsoth -- division, middle
... 2675, 2676. chatsoth. 2677 . division, middle. Transliteration: chatsoth Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-tsoth') Short Definition: midnight. ... midnight. ...
/hebrew/2676.htm - 6k

3915. layil -- night
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition night NASB Word Usage midnight*
(6), night (200), nights (14), nocturnal (1), overnight* (2), tonight (10). ...
/hebrew/3915.htm - 6k

2677. chatsi -- half
... Word Origin from chatsah Definition half NASB Word Usage half (76), half-tribe
(1), half-tribe* (32), halfway (2), middle (6), midnight* (3), midst (2), two ...
/hebrew/2677.htm - 6k

8433. towkechah -- rebuke, correction
... khaw') Short Definition: among. amongst, where, into, middle, midnight, midst
among, out of, through, within And towkachath {to-kakh ...
/hebrew/8433.htm - 5k

The Midnight Cry.
... THE MIDNIGHT CRY. THE MIDNIGHT CRY. 8,6,8,6. "And what I say unto you I say unto
all, Watch.""Mark 13:37. "Der Herr bricht ein, um Mitternacht.". ...
/.../borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/the midnight cry.htm

Midnight.
... MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS. 956. " Midnight. 956. LM Kenn. Midnight.
1 My God, I now from sleep awake; The sole possession of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/956 midnight.htm

Midnight.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCXII. Midnight. 7.7.7.7 James Montgomery. Midnight. In
a land of strange delight,. My transported spirit stray'd; ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn ccxii midnight.htm

The Friend at Midnight.
... XVIII. THE FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT. "And he said unto them, Which of you shall
have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xviii the friend at midnight.htm

The Man who Knocked at Midnight
... THE MAN WHO KNOCKED AT MIDNIGHT. "Lord, teach us to pray.""Luke 11.i. "Which of
you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight . . ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/xiv the man who knocked.htm

Midnight Hymn
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CLXXIX MIDNIGHT HYMN. My GOD, now I from
sleep awake, The sole possession of me take; From midnight terrors me secure,. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/clxxix midnight hymn.htm

Midnight.
... MIDNIGHT. Um Mitternacht bin ich erwacht [363]Friedrich R?�ckert. trans. by Catherine
Winkworth, 1869. At dead of night. Sleep took her flight. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/winkworth/christian singers of germany/midnight.htm

Psalm 63:2. 6-10. Second Part. Midnight Thoughts Recollected.
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 63:2. 6-10. Second Part. Midnight
thoughts recollected. 1 'Twas in the watches of the night ...
/.../watts/the psalms of david/psalm 63 2 0 6-10 second part.htm

It came Upon the Midnight Clear
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR Christmas 79. It came upon the midnight clear. CMD ... Edmund
H. Sears, 1846. It came upon the midnight clear,. That glorious song of old,. ...
/.../christmas 79 it came upon.htm

Psalm 63 Part 2 Midnight Thoughts Recollected.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 63 PART 2 Midnight thoughts recollected. v.6-10 CM. Midnight
thoughts recollected. 'Twas in the watches of the night. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 63 part 2 midnight.htm

Midnight (14 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Being in, or characteristic of, the middle of the night; as, midnight studies;
midnight gloom. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MIDNIGHT. ...
/m/midnight.htm - 12k

Cockcrowing (1 Occurrence)
... The cock usually crows several times soon after midnight (this is the first crowing),
and again at the dawn of day (and this is the second crowing). ...
/c/cockcrowing.htm - 8k

Cock-crowing (3 Occurrences)
... The cock usually crows several times soon after midnight (this is the first crowing),
and again at the dawn of day (and this is the second crowing). ...
/c/cock-crowing.htm - 8k

Tore (59 Occurrences)
... Judges 16:3 Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the
doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar ...
/t/tore.htm - 25k

Disorder (6 Occurrences)
... (DBY NAS RSV NIV). Job 10:22 the land dark as midnight, of the shadow of death,
without any order, where the light is as midnight.'" (See NIV). ...
/d/disorder.htm - 8k

Plucked (46 Occurrences)
... Judges 16:3 Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the
doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar ...
/p/plucked.htm - 21k

Bars (50 Occurrences)
... Judges 16:3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of
the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up ...
/b/bars.htm - 22k

Chaos (4 Occurrences)
... Chaos (4 Occurrences). Job 10:22 the land dark as midnight, of the shadow of death,
without any order, where the light is as midnight.'" (See RSV). ...
/c/chaos.htm - 7k

Shoulders (38 Occurrences)
... Judges 16:3 Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the
doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar ...
/s/shoulders.htm - 18k

Pulled (84 Occurrences)
... Judges 16:3 But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold
of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up ...
/p/pulled.htm - 33k

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