# hour, hours # ## Definition: ## The term "hour" is often used in the Bible to tell what time of day a certain event took place. It is also used figuratively to mean "time" or "moment." * The Jews counted daylight hours starting at sunrise (around 6 a.m.). For example, "the ninth hour" meant "around three in the afternoon." * Nighttime hours were counted starting at sunset (around 6 p.m.). For example, "the third hour of the night" meant "around nine in the evening" in our present-day system.. * Since references to time in the Bible will not correspond exactly to the present-day time system, phrases such as "around nine" or "about six o'clock" could be used. * Some translations might add phrases like "in the evening" or "in the morning" or "in the afternoon" to make it clear what time of day is being talked about. * The phrase, "in that hour" could be translated as, "at that time" or "in that moment." * Referring to Jesus, the expression "his hour had come" could be translated as, "the time had come for him to" or "the appointed time for him had come." ## Bible References: ## * [Acts 02:14-15](rc://en/tn/help/act/02/14) * [John 04:51-52](rc://en/tn/help/jhn/04/51) * [Luke 23:44-45](rc://en/tn/help/luk/23/44) * [Matthew 20:3-4](rc://en/tn/help/mat/20/03) ## Word Data: ## * Strong's: H8160, G5610