Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4900 Time  »  4918 dawn

The time marked by the rising of the sun. It signals the end of night and relief from its attendant concerns, and the approach of daylight with the opportunity for renewed daily activity. The light of dawn following darkness is a symbol of hope and vindication, fulfilled especially in the coming of the Messiah through whom God's new age dawns.

Dawn as the end of the night

It ends the darkness of the night

Amos 5:8 See also 2 Samuel 23:4; Job 41:18

It signals the end of nightly activity

Genesis 32:22-26; Judges 19:25-26; 1 Samuel 14:36; Samuel 25:36; 2 Samuel 2:32; Samuel 17:22; Songs 2:16-17

Waiting for the dawn to bring relief

Psalm 130:6 See also Job 7:3-4; Psalm 46:5; Isaiah 21:12; Isaiah 38:13; Acts 27:29

Dawn as the beginning of a new day

It provides the earliest opportunity of the day

Daniel 6:19 First light provides the earliest opportunity for action and implies urgency. See also Genesis 19:15; Joshua 6:15 Dawn was a common time for military campaigns to begin; Judges 9:33; Judges 16:2; 1 Samuel 19:11; Matthew 28:1 pp Mark 16:2 pp Luke 24:1 Women visit Jesus Christ's tomb at dawn; Mark 1:35 pp Luke 4:42 Jesus Christ prays at dawn; Luke 22:66; John 8:2; Acts 27:33

Important activity begins at dawn

Nehemiah 4:21 See also Nehemiah 8:3

Dawn as a symbol of blessings to come

The Messiah brings a new dawn

Isaiah 9:2; Revelation 22:16 See also Numbers 24:17; Matthew 4:16; Luke 1:78-79; John 1:4-5; John 8:12

A symbol of hope and vindication

Psalm 37:6; Psalm 112:4 See also Judges 5:31; Psalm 57:8 pp Psalm 108:2; Proverbs 4:18; Isaiah 58:8; Isaiah 60:1-3; Isaiah 62:1

A symbol of God's coming in glory

Habakkuk 3:3-4 See also Malachi 4:2

A symbol of renewal

Psalm 110:3

Dawn as a symbol of God's revelation

1 John 2:8 See also Isaiah 8:20; 2 Peter 1:19

Dawn as a time of reckoning

Darkness at dawn as a picture of judgment

Isaiah 13:10-11 See also Job 3:9; Amos 4:13

The light of dawn exposes the wicked

Job 38:12-13; John 3:19-20; Ephesians 5:11-13

See also

1439  revelation
4284  sun
4809  darkness
4821  east
4833  light
4921  day
4954  morning
4957  night
8154  righteousness
8419  enlightenment
9165  restoration
9610  hope