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

Ge 1:5 See also Ge 1:14-18; Ps 74:16

Night as a time for rest and sleep

Rest from daily activity Jdg 19:9; Ecc 2:23; Jn 9:4; Jn 11:9-10

Sleep Ge 15:12; Ge 28:11; Job 4:13

Activity day and night implies continuity and commitment

Weeping Ps 42:3; Jer 9:1; Jer 14:17

Prayer Ne 1:6; Ps 88:1; Lk 18:7; 1Th 3:10

Meditation Jos 1:8; Ps 1:2

Worship Lk 2:37; Ac 26:7; Rev 4:8; Rev 7:15

Work 1Ch 9:33; 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8

The watches of the night

In OT times: three watches La 2:19 the first watch: sunset to midnight; Jdg 7:19 the second watch: midnight to 3 a.m; Ex 14:24 the last watch: 3 a.m. to dawn

In NT times: four watches Mk 13:35 See also Mt 14:25 pp Mk 6:48; Lk 12:38

Night associated with evil

The period when evil is at work Jn 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; Pr 4:19; Lk 22:53

Opportunity for evil 1Co 4:5 Evil flourishes under cover of darkness. See also Pr 2:13; Jn 3:19-20; Job 24:14 Murder; Pr 7:8-9 Adultery; 1Th 5:7 Drunkenness; Jer 49:9 pp Ob 5 Theft

Believers do not belong to the night 1Th 5:5 See also Jn 12:35-36; Ro 13:12; Eph 5:8; Col 1:13

Believers are to remain watchful 1Th 5:6 See also Mt 24:42-44; Mt 25:13; Mk 13:36-37

Night associated with distress

Gloom caused by distress Ps 107:13-14; Isa 9:2; Isa 59:9

Night as a time of weeping Ps 6:6; Ps 30:5; La 1:2

Night as an opportunity to seek God

In prayer Lk 6:12 See also 1Sa 15:11; Ps 22:2; Ps 119:62

In worship Ac 16:25 See also Job 35:10; Ps 42:8; Ps 77:6; Ps 139:1-2; Ps 149:5; Isa 30:29

In contemplation Ps 63:6 See also Ps 119:55; Isa 26:9

Night as an opportunity to receive revelation

God’s voice at night 1Sa 3:4

God’s revelation through visions 2Ch 7:12; Da 2:19; Da 7:2; Zec 1:8; Ac 18:9; Ac 23:11

God’s revelation through dreams Ge 20:3; Ge 31:24; 1Ki 3:5; Job 33:15

No night in heaven

Rev 21:25; Rev 22:5

See also