Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4900 Time  »  4957 night

The period of darkness between evening and morning. It is generally a time for the cessation of daily activity and for sleep, but, because darkness also gives an opportunity for evil, there is need to be watchful. The term may also be used figuratively to refer to evil or to a period of distress. Night-time also provides opportunity for contemplation and for prayer.

Night distinguished from day

Genesis 1:5 See also Genesis 1:14-18; Psalm 74:16

Night as a time for rest and sleep

Rest from daily activity

Judges 19:9; Ecclesiastes 2:23; John 9:4; John 11:9-10

Sleep

Genesis 15:12; Genesis 28:11; Job 4:13

Activity day and night implies continuity and commitment

Weeping

Psalm 42:3; Jeremiah 9:1; Jeremiah 14:17

Prayer

Nehemiah 1:6; Psalm 88:1; Luke 18:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:10

Meditation

Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2

Worship

Luke 2:37; Acts 26:7; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 7:15

Work

1 Chronicles 9:33; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8

The watches of the night

In OT times: three watches

Lamentations 2:19 the first watch: sunset to midnight; Judges 7:19 the second watch: midnight to 3 a.m; Exodus 14:24 the last watch: 3 a.m. to dawn

In NT times: four watches

Mark 13:35 See also Matthew 14:25 pp Mark 6:48; Luke 12:38

Night associated with evil

The period when evil is at work

John 13:30 Night symbolises the darkness in Judas' soul, and denotes, too, the time of activity of the powers of darkness. See also Job 30:26; Proverbs 4:19; Luke 22:53

Opportunity for evil

1 Corinthians 4:5 Evil flourishes under cover of darkness. See also Proverbs 2:13; John 3:19-20; Job 24:14 Murder; Proverbs 7:8-9 Adultery; 1 Thessalonians 5:7 Drunkenness; Jeremiah 49:9 pp Ob 5 Theft

Believers do not belong to the night

1 Thessalonians 5:5 See also John 12:35-36; Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:8; Colossians 1:13

Believers are to remain watchful

1 Thessalonians 5:6 See also Matthew 24:42-44; Matthew 25:13; Mark 13:36-37

Night associated with distress

Gloom caused by distress

Psalm 107:13-14; Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 59:9

Night as a time of weeping

Psalm 6:6; Psalm 30:5; Lamentations 1:2

Night as an opportunity to seek God

In prayer

Luke 6:12 See also 1 Samuel 15:11; Psalm 22:2; Psalm 119:62

In worship

Acts 16:25 See also Job 35:10; Psalm 42:8; Psalm 77:6; Psalm 139:1-2; Psalm 149:5; Isaiah 30:29

In contemplation

Psalm 63:6 See also Psalm 119:55; Isaiah 26:9

Night as an opportunity to receive revelation

God's voice at night

1 Samuel 3:4

God's revelation through visions

2 Chronicles 7:12; Daniel 2:19; Daniel 7:2; Zechariah 1:8; Acts 18:9; Acts 23:11

God's revelation through dreams

Genesis 20:3; Genesis 31:24; 1 Kings 3:5; Job 33:15

No night in heaven

Revelation 21:25; Revelation 22:5

See also

1409  dream
4806  cold
4810  darkness, natural
4918  dawn
4921  day
4933  evening
5056  rest
5533  sleep, physical
8493  watchfulness, believers
8602  prayer
8662  meditation
8734  evil