Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4900 Time  »  4960 noon

The mid-point between sunrise and sunset when the sun is at its brightest. Noon is a time to seek shelter from the heat of the day. The darkening of the midday sun and the surprise attack of the enemy at noon are signs of God's judgment. The brilliance of the noonday sun is likened to the glory of Jesus Christ and to the vindication of God's people.

Noon as a time of severe heat

Shelter from the noonday heat

Isaiah 4:5-6 See also Isaiah 16:3 Moab likens asylum sought from Judah to shelter from the noonday sun; Isaiah 25:4

Time to rest from the sun's heat

2 Samuel 4:5 See also Genesis 18:1

Songs 1:7 See also Ruth 2:7 Ruth rests from her gleaning at noon; 1 Samuel 11:11 Saul's army halts its destruction of the Ammonites at midday; 1 Kings 20:16 Israel's enemies relax at midday, unaware of the imminence of battle; Matthew 20:12 Workers in the vineyard might have been expected to rest during the hottest part of the day; John 4:6 Jesus Christ rests from his journey by the well of Sychar.

Noon as a natural break in the day

1 Kings 18:26-29; Nehemiah 8:3

Noon as a time for prayer

Psalm 55:16-17 The devout Jew prayed three times daily. See also Daniel 6:10; Acts 10:9

Noon as a time of God's judgment

A time of unexpected destruction

Jeremiah 15:8 Armies usually attacked at dawn; a noon raid would take the people by surprise. See also Jeremiah 6:4; Jeremiah 20:16; Zephaniah 2:4

Darkness at noon is a sign of God's judgment

Job 5:14; Amos 8:9 See also Deuteronomy 28:29; Isaiah 59:9-10

Matthew 27:45 pp Mark 15:33 pp Luke 23:44-45 The noonday sun is darkened following the crucifixion.

The noonday sun as a symbol of glory

The glory of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:16 See also Matthew 17:2

The vindication of God's people

Judges 5:31 See also Job 11:17; Psalm 37:6; Isaiah 58:10; Matthew 13:43

Events that occurred at noon

Joseph invites his brothers to eat with him at noon:

Genesis 43:16,26 Joshua 10:12-13 The sun stops in the middle of the sky, allowing Joshua to defeat the Amorites; 2 Kings 4:18-20 The Shunammite woman's son dies at noon.

Paul's encounter with the risen Christ about noon:

Acts 22:6; Acts 26:13

See also

1193  glory, revelation of
4284  sun
4829  heat
4918  dawn
4921  day
4954  morning
5056  rest
5295  destruction
8602  prayer
9210  judgment, God's