Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4900 Time  »  4921 day

A period of 24 hours or, as distinct from night, the period of daylight. The term may also be used more generally to refer to a point in time. Daylight is used figuratively to describe the illumination afforded to believers, who are urged to use the opportunities it presents and to avoid the evil usually associated with darkness.

Day and daylight

Day as a period of 24 hours

Genesis 1:8; Matthew 20:19; John 4:43; John 11:6

Day as the period of daylight

Genesis 1:5 See also Genesis 1:14-18; Genesis 8:22; Psalm 74:16; Jeremiah 33:20

Daylight gives opportunity for activity

A time for human endeavour

John 11:9-10 See also Joshua 10:12-13; Acts 27:29

A time of spiritual opportunity

John 9:4-5 See also John 12:35-36

Daylight allows things to be seen

Daylight activities are seen by all

2 Samuel 12:11-12; Ezekiel 12:3-4; Matthew 10:27 pp Luke 12:3

Examples of those avoiding daylight

Judges 6:27 Gideon; John 3:2 Nicodemus

Daylight activities should be decent

Romans 13:12-13 See also Ephesians 5:8-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8; 2 Peter 2:13

Six working days ordained

Exodus 20:8-11 pp Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Particular days of the week

The Sabbath (Saturday)

Exodus 20:8-10 pp Deuteronomy 5:12-15 The Sabbath was reckoned from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. See also Luke 4:16; Colossians 2:16; Hebrews 4:4

The Day of Preparation for the Sabbath (Friday)

Mark 15:42 pp Luke 23:54; John 19:31

The first day of the week (Sunday)

Acts 20:7 See also Mark 16:2 pp Luke 24:1 pp John 20:1; Mark 16:9; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10

Festival days

Leviticus 23:5-6 Passover and Unleavened Bread; Leviticus 23:27-28 the Day of Atonement

The Feast of Tabernacles:

Leviticus 23:34-36; John 7:37 Numbers 28:26 the day of firstfruits

Day as a point in time

The day of salvation

2 Corinthians 6:2 See also Isaiah 25:9; Isaiah 49:8

God sends the day of disaster

Deuteronomy 32:35; Jeremiah 17:18; Jeremiah 51:2; Mark 13:19

God helps on the day of distress

Psalm 86:7 See also Genesis 35:3; 2 Samuel 22:19 pp Psalm 18:18; 2 Kings 19:3-4 pp Isaiah 37:3-4; Psalm 94:13; Jeremiah 17:17

The final days of time

The last days

Acts 2:17-18 See also Joel 2:28-29; Isaiah 2:2 pp Micah 4:1; Hosea 3:5; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:2; 1 Peter 1:20

The day of the LORD

Isaiah 13:9-11

A day of salvation for God's people:

Jeremiah 30:7-9; Zephaniah 3:16-17; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12

A day of wrath and judgment:

Joel 2:1-2; Ob 15; Zephaniah 1:14-15

The day will come unexpectedly:

1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10

The last day

John 6:39-40 See also John 11:24; John 12:48

References to specific periods of days at the end of history

Daniel 12:11-12; Revelation 11:3; Revelation 12:6

God's different perception of time

2 Peter 3:8 See also Psalm 90:4

See also

4833  light
4903  time
4918  dawn
4957  night
5046  opportunities
5231  birthday
7308  Atonement, Day of
7354  feasts and festivals
7428  Sabbath
7930  Lord's Day, the
9140  last days
9220  day of the LORD