Dictionary of Bible Themes: 4933 evening

4933 evening

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 4000 Creation » 4900 Time » 4933 evening

The time between the fading of daylight and nightfall. The onset of darkness marks the end of the working day and is a time for rest and refreshment. It is an assigned time for sacrifice and an opportunity for reflection and prayer. The evening also brings dangers.

Evening marks the end of the day

Evening and God's work of creation

Genesis 1:5

The onset of darkness

Proverbs 7:9

Evening shadows soon disappear in the darkness:

Psalm 102:11; Psalm 109:23 Jeremiah 6:4

Days reckoned from evening to evening

Exodus 12:18; Leviticus 23:32 The Sabbath began at sunset on Friday.

Ritual uncleanness lasts until evening

Leviticus 11:39-40; Leviticus 17:15; Numbers 19:7-8; Deuteronomy 23:11

Waiting on God until evening

Joshua 7:6 See also Judges 20:23,26-27; Judges 21:2-3

Mourning until evening

2 Samuel 1:12

City gates shut at evening

Joshua 2:5; 2 Kings 7:9-11; Nehemiah 13:19; Ezekiel 46:2

Executed criminals to be buried by evening

Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Joshua 8:29; Joshua 10:26; Matthew 27:57-58 pp Mark 15:42-43 pp Luke 23:52-54; John 19:31

Evening as a time for refreshment

A time to rest from labour

Psalm 104:23; Luke 21:37 See also Judges 19:16; Ruth 2:17; Job 7:2; Zephaniah 2:7; Matthew 20:8; Mark 4:35-38 pp Matthew 8:23 pp Luke 8:22-23

A time to rest from travel

Judges 19:9 See also Genesis 19:1-2; Numbers 9:21; Luke 24:29

A time to return home

Matthew 21:17 See also Genesis 30:16; Mark 11:11,19; John 6:16-17

A time to eat

Exodus 16:12; 1 Kings 17:6; Matthew 14:15; John 13:2

A time for reflection and prayer

Genesis 24:63 See also Psalm 55:17; Psalm 141:2; Matthew 14:23 pp Mark 6:46

Evening religious duties

The evening sacrifice

Exodus 29:38-41 See also Numbers 28:8; 1 Chronicles 16:40; Ezra 3:3

The time of the evening sacrifice, probably about 3 p.m.:

1 Kings 18:29; Ezra 9:4-5; Daniel 9:21

Lighting the lamps in the sanctuary

Exodus 30:8 See also Exodus 27:21 pp Leviticus 24:3

The Passover sacrifice

Exodus 12:6 See also Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 9:2-5; Deuteronomy 16:6; Joshua 5:10; Matthew 26:20 pp Mark 14:17-18; Luke 22:14

Adulterous behaviour in the evening

2 Samuel 11:2-4; Job 24:15; Proverbs 7:14-20

Other evening activities

Matthew 8:16 pp Mark 1:32 pp Luke 4:40 People came to Jesus Christ after sunset, when the Sabbath was over. See also Genesis 24:11 Water collected in the evening, the coolest time of the day; Matthew 16:2 Red sky in the evening as a sign of fair weather

The dangers of the evening

Isaiah 17:14; Zephaniah 3:3 Israel's rulers are likened to wolves who prowl in the evening looking for food. See also 2 Kings 7:7; Psalm 59:6; Habakkuk 1:8