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You are here: Home / 101Study Help / Background & History / Jewish Day (1st Century) explained

Jewish Day (1st Century) explained

May 10, 2021 by Krisan Marotta

The Jewish Day Explained -Bible Study Tools | WednesdayintheWord.com

What does the first watch mean? What is the “third hour”? The Jewish day ran from sunset to sunset and was divided in 8 equal parts called watches and hours. Here’s what they mean.

The Watches

  • First watch – sunset to 9pm
  • Second watch – 9pm to midnight; Luke 12:38.
  • Third watch – Midnight to 3am; Luke 12:38.
  • Fourth watch – 3am to sunrise; Matt 14:25; Mark 6:48.

The 1st Century Jewish Day

Jewish TimeRoman TimeEventMentioned in Scripture
1st hourdawn to 8:00 amThe first male lamb of the Tamid
sacrifice was tied to the altar at dawn.
2nd hour8:00 to 9:00 am
3rd hour9:00 to 10:00 amMorning prayer service;
The incense is offered in the Sanctuary.
The first male lamb is sacrificed
as the temple gates open.
Jesus went to the cross at the 3rd hour.
Matt 20:3;
Mark 15:25;
Act 2:15;
Act 23:23.
4th hour10:00 to
11:00 am
5th hour11:00 am to Noon
6th hourNoon to 1:00 pmThe second lamb is tied
to the altar at noon
Matt 20:5;
Matt 27:45;
Mark 15:33;
Luke 23:44;
John 4:6;
John 19:14;
Act 10:9
7th hour1:00 to 2:00 pmJohn 4:52
8th hour2:00 to 3:00 pm
9th hour3:00 to 400 pmThe second Tamid lamb is sacrificed.
The second hour of prayer,
also called the hour of confession.
Jesus gave up his life at the 9th hour.
Matt 20:5;
Matt 27:45-46;
Mark 15:33-34;
Luke 23:44;
Act 3:1;
Act 10:3;
Act 10:30.
10th hour4:00 to 5:00 pm
11th hour5:00 to
6:00 pm
The afternoon service concludes
with the burning of the
incense and priestly benediction.
John 1:39
12th hour6:00 pm to sunsetMatt 20:9

Days

The Jewish day begins at sunset. With the exception of the Sabbath, the weekdays had no names, only numbers.

  • 1st day – sunset Saturday to sunset Sunday
  • 2nd day – sunset Sunday to sunset Monday
  • 3rd day – sunset Monday to sunset Tuesday
  • 4th day – sunset Tuesday to sunset Wednesday
  • 5th day – sunset Wednesday to sunset Thursday
  • 6th day – sunset Thursday to sunset Friday
  • 7th day – Sabbath; sunset Friday to sunset Saturday

Where to next?

Bible Study 101

Resource Library

Resources Book of the Bible


Photo by Ann Savchenko on Unsplash

(This article has been read 901 times plus 21 today.)

Related posts:

  1. Hebrew Calendar explained
  2. Jewish Feasts Introduction
  3. New Testament Jewish culture
  4. Weights and measures of the Bible
  5. Leviticus quotes in the New Testament

Filed Under: Background & History, Charts NT Tagged With: Jewish Day

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