Hour

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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Used with various significations in scripture: as
1. An indefinite period, when the word “time” gives the sense: “the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father” (John 4:2121Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. (John 4:21)).
2. A definite point of time, when “moment” or “at once” would give the sense. “The woman was made whole from that hour” (Matt. 9:2222But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. (Matthew 9:22)).
3. The division of the day into twelve hours, generally considered to be from sunrise to sunset. This varied in Palestine, from ten of our hours in the winter to fourteen in the summer; so that the hours in summer would be nearly half as long again as in the winter. The hours of scripture are now usually reckoned from 6 o’clock A.M. to 6 o’clock P.M., which would make the third hour our 9 o’clock; the sixth hour our 12 o’clock; the ninth hour our 3 o’clock P.M., and so on.
This would be applicable to all the definite hours mentioned in the New Testament except in the Gospel by John. This evangelist followed the plan of reckoning from midnight to midnight. This explains the difficulty found in John 19:1414And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! (John 19:14), which represents the trial proceeding at the sixth hour, whereas Mark 15:2525And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. (Mark 15:25) says “It was the third hour and they crucified him.” A comparison of all the passages shows that the trial commenced early, and our 6 o’clock suits very well; and the crucifixion at 9 o’clock, the third hour of the Jews, agrees with Mark. The other definite times mentioned in John are in John 1:3939He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. (John 1:39); John 4:6, 52-536Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6)
52Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. (John 4:52‑53), and the now common method of reckoning the time will agree with all of them.