Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, April 5th, 2025
the Fourth Week of Lent
There are 15 days til Easter!
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Dictionaries
Watches of the Night

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Washing of the Hands and Feet
Next Entry
Weasel
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

Watches of the Night. The original division of the night was into three watches—"the beginning of the watches," from sunset to 10 o'clock, Lamentations 2:19; "the middle watch," from 10 to 2 o'clock, Judges 7:19; and "the morning watch," from 2 o'clock to sunrise, Exodus 14:24; 1 Samuel 11:11—but after the captivity the Jews adopted the custom of Rome and Greece, which divided the twelve hours of the night into four watches, beginning with 6 in the afternoon—"even," from 6 to 9 o'clock; "midnight," from 9 to 12; "cock-crowing," from 12 to 3; and "morning," from 3 to 6. Matthew 14:25; Mark 13:35; Luke 12:38.

Bibliography Information
Rice, Edwin Wilbur, DD. Entry for 'Watches of the Night'. People's Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​rpd/​w/watches-of-the-night.html. 1893.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile