Topical Bible: Day: Later Subdivided Into Twelve Hours

◄ Day: Later Subdivided Into Twelve Hours ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the concept of a "day" was integral to the rhythm of life and religious observance. The Hebrew word for day, "yom," is first introduced in the creation narrative of Genesis, where God separates light from darkness, calling the light "day" and the darkness "night" (Genesis 1:5). This foundational understanding of a day as a cycle of light and darkness underpins the biblical reckoning of time.

The division of the day into twelve hours is a practice that emerged later, influenced by both Jewish and Greco-Roman customs. In the ancient Near East, a day was typically understood as the period from sunrise to sunset, which was then divided into twelve equal parts, or "hours." This division is evident in the New Testament, where Jesus refers to the twelve hours of daylight: "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks during the day, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world" (John 11:9).

The twelve-hour division was not fixed in length, as the hours varied with the seasons. During the longer days of summer, each hour was longer, while in the shorter days of winter, each hour was shorter. This flexible understanding of time reflects the agrarian lifestyle of the biblical world, where activities were closely tied to the natural cycles of daylight.

In the context of Jewish religious practice, the day began at sunset, following the pattern established in Genesis: "And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day" (Genesis 1:5). This evening-to-evening reckoning is evident in the observance of the Sabbath and other holy days, which commence at sundown.

The division of the day into hours is also seen in the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion of Jesus. Mark records, "It was the third hour when they crucified Him" (Mark 15:25), and later, "At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice" (Mark 15:34). These references to specific hours highlight the use of the twelve-hour system in the New Testament period.

The subdivision of the day into twelve hours facilitated the scheduling of daily activities, religious observances, and legal matters. It provided a framework for understanding the passage of time in a world without modern timekeeping devices. This system underscores the biblical emphasis on order and structure, reflecting the divine order established at creation.

In summary, the biblical concept of a day, later subdivided into twelve hours, illustrates the integration of natural cycles with religious and social life. This division, while practical, also carries theological significance, reminding believers of the divine orchestration of time and the importance of living in harmony with God's created order.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 20:3,5,6
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 11:9
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbles not, because he sees the light of this world.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Book of Enoch
... vi.-xxxvi., and is subdivided into three sections. ... the warning thence derived for
the mighty of later times ... while acknowledging that some in his day declined to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of enoch.htm

In Judaea
... our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night ... For, at a later period Caesarea
was declared ... provinces were no doubt again subdivided into districts or ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

The Gods of Egypt
... women in labour bowed themselves, is sometimes subdivided into two or ... day of the
god's departure and the day of his ... In later times he was considered a son of Ra ...
/.../chapter ii the gods of egypt.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... in the course of centuries; in the later times of the ... glosses, collections of Sumerian
formulas translated into Semitic speech ... as those of our own day have done ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... of delicacy often lacking among peoples of later and more ... in the morning, he ages
as the day declines, and ... twelve hours after it had sunk into the darkness of ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... and the Greeks of various cities did later on: the ... it is difficult at the present
day to know ... trends to the south-west, and is subdivided into minor branches. ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... the chapel where the double will one day rest, and ... more inclined than the Sultans
of later days to ... was, as it were, minutely subdivided into departments, each ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... number of clans, which were again subdivided into several families. ... their normal
development until a much later date ... that the Bedawin of our own day, living in ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... Later on he perished through the treachery of ... peaceful existence ever since the day
when, from ... of Lydia: both forms were subdivided into pieces representing ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... yards from the ground; these branches are subdivided, and terminate ... that of Manfalut
in Thirty years later, Mariette asserted ... To-day, no one knows of a single ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm