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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Luke 23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/luke/23-44.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/42_Luk_23_44.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Luke 23:44 - The Death of Jesus" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/luke/23-43.htm" title="Luke 23:43">◄</a> Luke 23:44 <a href="/luke/23-45.htm" title="Luke 23:45">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/luke/23.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/luke/23.htm">New International Version</a> It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, <a href="/nlt/luke/23.htm">New Living Translation</a> By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. <a href="/esv/luke/23.htm">English Standard Version</a> It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, <a href="/bsb/luke/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. <a href="/blb/luke/23.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And now it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. <a href="/kjv/luke/23.htm">King James Bible</a> And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. <a href="/nkjv/luke/23.htm">New King James Version</a> Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. <a href="/nasb_/luke/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until the ninth hour, <a href="/nasb/luke/23.htm">NASB 1995</a> It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, <a href="/nasb77/luke/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, <a href="/lsb/luke/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, <a href="/amp/luke/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a> It was now about the sixth hour (noon), and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.), <a href="/csb/luke/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, <a href="/hcsb/luke/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, <a href="/asv/luke/23.htm">American Standard Version</a> And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, <a href="/cev/luke/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Around noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until the middle of the afternoon. <a href="/erv/luke/23.htm">English Revised Version</a> And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, <a href="/gwt/luke/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Around noon darkness came over the entire land and lasted until three in the afternoon. <a href="/isv/luke/23.htm">International Standard Version</a> It was already about noon, and the whole land became dark until three in the afternoon <a href="/msb/luke/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. <a href="/net/luke/23.htm">NET Bible</a> It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, <a href="/nheb/luke/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And it was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, <a href="/wbt/luke/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. <a href="/wey/luke/23.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> It was now about noon, and a darkness came over the whole country till three o'clock in the afternoon. <a href="/web/luke/23.htm">World English Bible</a> It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/luke/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And it was, as it were, the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour, <a href="/blb/luke/23.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And now it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. <a href="/ylt/luke/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And it was, as it were, the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land till the ninth hour, <a href="/slt/luke/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And it was about the sixth hour, and darkness was upon all the earth till the ninth hour.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/luke/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. <a href="/cpdv/luke/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Now it was nearly the sixth hour, and a darkness occurred over the entire earth, until the ninth hour. <a href="/nabre/luke/23.htm">New American Bible</a> It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon <a href="/nrsvce/luke/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/luke/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Now it was about the sixth hour, and darkness fell upon the whole earth, until the ninth hour. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/luke/23.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> But it was about the sixth hour and there was darkness upon all the earth until the ninth hour.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/luke/23.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land till the ninth hour. <a href="/godbey/luke/23.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. <a href="/haweis/luke/23.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. <a href="/mace/luke/23.htm">Mace New Testament</a> About the sixth hour, it was dark all over the land till the ninth hour. <a href="/wey/luke/23.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> It was now about noon, and a darkness came over the whole country till three o'clock in the afternoon. <a href="/worrell/luke/23.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And it was already about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land till the ninth hour, <a href="/worsley/luke/23.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land till the ninth hour. <a href="/parallel/luke/23-44.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3-5_0Jtd9Lc?start=9371" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/luke/23.htm">The Death of Jesus</a> 43And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” 44<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: Kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/2235.htm" title="2235: ēdē (Adv) -- Already; now at length, now after all this waiting. Apparently from e and de; even now."></a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ēn (V-IIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">It was now</a> <a href="/greek/5616.htm" title="5616: hōsei (Adv) -- As if, as it were, like; with numbers: about. From hos and ei; as if.">about</a> <a href="/greek/1623.htm" title="1623: hektē (Adj-NFS) -- Sixth. Ordinal from hex; sixth.">the sixth</a> <a href="/greek/5610.htm" title="5610: hōra (N-NFS) -- Apparently a primary word; an hour.">hour,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/4655.htm" title="4655: skotos (N-NNS) -- Darkness, either physical or moral. From the base of skia; shadiness, i.e. Obscurity.">darkness</a> <a href="/greek/1096.htm" title="1096: egeneto (V-AIM-3S) -- A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.">came</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: eph’ (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">over</a> <a href="/greek/3650.htm" title="3650: holēn (Adj-AFS) -- All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; whole or all, i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.">all</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/1093.htm" title="1093: gēn (N-AFS) -- Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.">land</a> <a href="/greek/2193.htm" title="2193: heōs (Prep) -- A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.">until</a> <a href="/greek/1766.htm" title="1766: enatēs (Adj-GFS) -- Ninth. Ordinal from ennea; ninth.">the ninth</a> <a href="/greek/5610.htm" title="5610: hōras (N-GFS) -- Apparently a primary word; an hour.">hour.</a> 45The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/27-45.htm">Matthew 27:45</a> From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. <a href="/mark/15-33.htm">Mark 15:33</a> From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. <a href="/amos/8-9.htm">Amos 8:9</a> And in that day, declares the Lord GOD, I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the daytime. <a href="/exodus/10-21.htm">Exodus 10:21-23</a> Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.” / So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days. / No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings. <a href="/joel/2-31.htm">Joel 2:31</a> The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. <a href="/acts/2-20.htm">Acts 2:20</a> The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord. <a href="/revelation/6-12.htm">Revelation 6:12</a> And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, <a href="/isaiah/13-10.htm">Isaiah 13:10</a> For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. <a href="/jeremiah/15-9.htm">Jeremiah 15:9</a> The mother of seven will grow faint; she will breathe her last breath. Her sun will set while it is still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. And the rest I will put to the sword in the presence of their enemies,” declares the LORD. <a href="/zephaniah/1-15.htm">Zephaniah 1:15</a> That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, <a href="/psalms/18-11.htm">Psalm 18:11</a> He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him. <a href="/psalms/97-2.htm">Psalm 97:2</a> Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation. <a href="/psalms/105-28.htm">Psalm 105:28</a> He sent darkness, and it became dark—yet they defied His words. <a href="/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3</a> I clothe the heavens in black and make sackcloth their covering.” <a href="/ezekiel/32-7.htm">Ezekiel 32:7-8</a> When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. / All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you, and I will bring darkness upon your land,’ declares the Lord GOD.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.it.<a href="/matthew/27-45.htm">Matthew 27:45</a> Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.<a href="/mark/15-33.htm">Mark 15:33</a> And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.there.<a href="/exodus/10-21.htm">Exodus 10:21-23</a> And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt… <a href="/psalms/105-28.htm">Psalm 105:28</a> He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.<a href="/joel/2-31.htm">Joel 2:31</a> The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.earth.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/9-12.htm">Afternoon</a> <a href="/luke/23-26.htm">Country</a> <a href="/luke/12-3.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/luke/22-53.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/luke/22-44.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/luke/17-16.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/luke/22-61.htm">Hour</a> <a href="/mark/15-34.htm">Ninth</a> <a href="/mark/15-33.htm">Noon</a> <a href="/mark/15-34.htm">O'clock</a> <a href="/luke/1-36.htm">Sixth</a> <a href="/luke/22-61.htm">Three</a> <a href="/luke/23-18.htm">Whole</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/3-1.htm">Afternoon</a> <a href="/john/4-44.htm">Country</a> <a href="/john/1-5.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/john/1-5.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/luke/24-5.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/john/11-32.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/luke/24-33.htm">Hour</a> <a href="/acts/3-1.htm">Ninth</a> <a href="/acts/10-9.htm">Noon</a> <a href="/john/1-39.htm">O'clock</a> <a href="/john/4-6.htm">Sixth</a> <a href="/luke/24-21.htm">Three</a> <a href="/luke/24-11.htm">Whole</a><div class="vheading2">Luke 23</div>1. <a href="/luke/23-1.htm">Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod.</a> 8. <a href="/luke/23-8.htm">Herod mocks him.</a> 12. <a href="/luke/23-12.htm">Herod and Pilate become friends.</a> 13. <a href="/luke/23-13.htm">Barabbas is desired of the people, </a> 24. <a href="/luke/23-24.htm">and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified.</a> 26. <a href="/luke/23-26.htm">He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem;</a> 34. <a href="/luke/23-34.htm">prays for his enemies.</a> 39. <a href="/luke/23-39.htm">Two criminals are crucified with him.</a> 46. <a href="/luke/23-46.htm">His death.</a> 50. <a href="/luke/23-50.htm">His burial.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/luke/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/luke/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/luke/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>It was now about the sixth hour The sixth hour in Jewish timekeeping corresponds to noon, the middle of the day when the sun is at its peak. This timing is significant because it highlights the supernatural nature of the events that follow. In the context of the crucifixion, this moment marks the beginning of a series of miraculous occurrences that underscore the gravity of Jesus' sacrifice. The sixth hour is also a time of prayer in Jewish tradition, adding a layer of spiritual significance to the events unfolding.and darkness came over all the land The darkness that enveloped the land is a miraculous event, symbolizing the judgment and mourning over the crucifixion of Jesus. This darkness is reminiscent of the ninth plague in Egypt (<a href="/exodus/10-21.htm">Exodus 10:21-23</a>), where darkness covered the land as a sign of God's power and judgment. Theologically, this darkness can be seen as a representation of the spiritual darkness of sin and the separation from God that Jesus was experiencing on the cross. It also fulfills the prophecy found in <a href="/amos/8-9.htm">Amos 8:9</a>, which speaks of the sun going down at noon as a sign of God's judgment.until the ninth hour The ninth hour corresponds to 3 PM, marking a three-hour period of darkness. This duration is significant as it leads up to the moment of Jesus' death. The ninth hour is also the time of the evening sacrifice in the Temple, drawing a parallel between Jesus' sacrifice and the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. This connection emphasizes Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, fulfilling the requirements of the Law and the prophets. The timing of these events underscores the divine orchestration of Jesus' crucifixion as the culmination of God's redemptive plan.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> Central figure of the crucifixion account, the Son of God who is being crucified for the sins of humanity. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_sixth_hour.htm">The Sixth Hour</a> Refers to noon, according to Jewish timekeeping, when the sun is at its peak. 3. <a href="/topical/d/darkness_over_the_land.htm">Darkness Over the Land</a> A supernatural event where darkness covered the land, symbolizing the gravity of the moment as Jesus bore the sins of the world. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_ninth_hour.htm">The Ninth Hour</a> Refers to 3 PM, marking the end of the period of darkness and the time of Jesus' death. 5. <a href="/topical/g/golgotha.htm">Golgotha</a> The place of the crucifixion, also known as "The Place of the Skull," located outside Jerusalem.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_significance_of_darkness.htm">The Significance of Darkness</a> The darkness symbolizes the weight of sin and the judgment of God being placed upon Jesus. It serves as a physical manifestation of the spiritual reality of separation from God. <a href="/topical/f/fulfillment_of_prophecy.htm">Fulfillment of Prophecy</a> The event fulfills Old Testament prophecies, demonstrating the sovereignty of God and the divine plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. <a href="/topical/t/the_cost_of_redemption.htm">The Cost of Redemption</a> The darkness underscores the immense cost of our redemption. Jesus endured separation from the Father so that we might be reconciled to God. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_suffering.htm">God's Sovereignty in Suffering</a> Even in the darkest moments, God is in control. The darkness at the crucifixion reminds us that God can use suffering for His redemptive purposes. <a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance_and_faith.htm">Call to Repentance and Faith</a> The darkness calls us to reflect on our own sinfulness and the need for repentance. It invites us to place our faith in Jesus, who bore the penalty for our sins.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_luke_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Luke 23</a> <a href="/q/how_did_the_sun_fail_in_luke_23_44-45.htm">In Luke 23:44–45, how could the sun’s light fail for three hours without any corroborating historical or astronomical records? </a> <a href="/q/why_no_historical_proof_of_crucifixion_dark.htm">Why is there no corroborating historical evidence for the darkness at Jesus' crucifixion?</a> <a href="/q/why_no_records_of_mark_15_33_darkness.htm">How can the midday darkness (Mark 15:33) be scientifically or historically explained if no external records confirm it? </a> <a href="/q/did_jesus_die_before_the_curtain_tore.htm">Did Jesus die before or after the temple curtain was torn? Yes (Matt 27:50-51; Mark 15:37-38) No (Luke 23:45-46).</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/luke/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(44-46) And it was about the sixth hour.--See Notes on <a href="/context/matthew/27-45.htm" title="Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land to the ninth hour.">Matthew 27:45-50</a>; <a href="/context/mark/15-33.htm" title="And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.">Mark 15:33-37</a>. We can only conjecturally account for the omission of the "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI," so prominent in the other two reports; but it is at least conceivable, assuming the same sources of information as before, that the women who stood by the cross may have shrunk from repeating words so terrible, and have loved to dwell rather on those which seemed to them to speak, not of abandonment, but of an absolute and unshaken trust. It is remarkable that this, like the cry of apparent despair, is a quotation from the Psalms (<a href="/psalms/31-6.htm" title="I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.">Psalm 31:6</a>).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/luke/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 44. - The time of the Crucifixion. And it was about the sixth hour. We have before given (see note on Luke 22:47) the approximate hours of the several acts of the last night and day. This verse gives us the time of the duration of the "darkness" - from the sixth to the ninth hour; that is in our reckoning, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. With this date the other two synoptists agree (comp. <a href="/matthew/27-45.htm">Matthew 27:45</a>; <a href="/mark/15-33.htm">Mark 15:33</a>). Our Lord had then been on the cross three hours (see <a href="/mark/15-25.htm">Mark 15:25</a>, where it is stated that he was crucified in the third hour, i.e. 9 a.m.). But while the three synoptists are in perfect harmony, we are met with a grave difficulty in St. John's account, for in <a href="/john/19-14.htm">John 19:14</a>: of his Gospel we read how the final condemnation of our Lord by Pilate took place about the sixth hour. At first sight, to attempt here to harmonize St. John with the three synoptists would seem a hopeless task, as St. John apparently gives the hour of the final condemnation by Pilate, which the three give as the hour when the darkness began, i.e. when the Sufferer had already hung on the cross for three hours. Various explanations have been suggested; among these the most satisfying and probable is the supposition that, while the three synop-tists followed the usual Jewish mode of reckoning time, St. John, writing some half a century later in quite another country, possibly twenty years after Jerusalem and the temple had been destroyed, and the Jewish polity had disappeared, adopted another mode of reckoning the hours, thus following, probably, a practice of the province in which he was living, and for which he was especially writing. Dr. Westcott, in an additional note on John 19:14, examines the four occasions on which St. John mentions a definite hour of the day; and comes to the conclusion that the fourth evangelist generally reckoned his hours from midnight. The Romans reckoned their civil days from midnight, and there are also traces of reckoning the hours kern midnight in Asia Minor. "About the sixth hour" would then be about six a.m. Before touching upon the strange darkness which at the sixth hour seems to have hung over the land like a black pall, we note that somewhere in the first three hours, possibly after the words spoken to the dying penitent, must be placed the incident of the entrusting the virgin-mother to St. John (<a href="/john/19-25.htm">John 19:25</a>, etc.). There is no doubt that on the surface of this, his third word from the cross, lay a loving desire to spare his mother the sight of his last awful suffering. Hence his command to John to watch over from henceforth the mother of his Lord. We may assume, then, that, in obedience to his Master's word, John led Mary away before the sixth hour. So Bengel, who comments here, "Great is the faith of Mary to be present at the cross; great was her submission to go away before his death." And there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. St. Matthew gives us additional particulars respecting this phenomenon. He says that besides this darkness there was also an earthquake, and that several graves were opened, and the dead during those hours of solemn gloom appeared to many in the holy city. Early Christian writers of high authority, such as Tertullian ('Apol.,' ch. 21) and Origen ('Contra Cels.,' 2:33), appeal to this strange phenomenon as if attested by heathen writers. It was evidently no slight or imaginary portent, but one that was well known in the early Christian years. The narrative does not oblige us to think of anything more than an indescribable and oppressive darkness, which like a vast black pall hung over earth and sea. The effect on the scoffing multitude was quickly perceptible. We hear of no more cries of mocking and derision; only just at the end of the three dark hours is the silence broken by the mysterious and awful cry of the Sinless One related by SS. Matthew and Mark, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Godet's comment is remarkable: "The darkness, the rending of the veil of the temple, the earthquake, and the opening of several graves, are explained by the profound connection existing on the one side between Christ and humanity, on the other between humanity and nature. Christ is the Soul of humanity, as humanity is the soul of the external world." The darkness, he suggests, was perhaps connected with the earthquake with which it was accompanied, or it may have resulted from an atmospherical or cosmical cause. The phenomenon need not necessarily have extended over all the earth: it probably was confined to Palestine and the adjacent countries. <a href="/commentaries/luke/23-44.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>It was now ἦν (ēn) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. about ὡσεὶ (hōsei) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_5616.htm">Strong's 5616: </a> As if, as it were, like; with numbers: about. From hos and ei; as if. [the] sixth ἕκτη (hektē) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1623.htm">Strong's 1623: </a> Sixth. Ordinal from hex; sixth. hour, ὥρα (hōra) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5610.htm">Strong's 5610: </a> Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. darkness σκότος (skotos) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4655.htm">Strong's 4655: </a> Darkness, either physical or moral. From the base of skia; shadiness, i.e. Obscurity. came ἐγένετο (egeneto) Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1096.htm">Strong's 1096: </a> A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude. over ἐφ’ (eph’) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> On, to, against, on the basis of, at. all ὅλην (holēn) Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3650.htm">Strong's 3650: </a> All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb. the τὴν (tēn) Article - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. land γῆν (gēn) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1093.htm">Strong's 1093: </a> Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe. until ἕως (heōs) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_2193.htm">Strong's 2193: </a> A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until. [the] ninth ἐνάτης (enatēs) Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1766.htm">Strong's 1766: </a> Ninth. Ordinal from ennea; ninth. hour. ὥρας (hōras) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5610.htm">Strong's 5610: </a> Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/luke/23-44.htm">NT Gospels: Luke 23:44 It was now about the sixth hour (Luke Lu Lk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/luke/23-43.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Luke 23:43"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Luke 23:43" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/luke/23-45.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Luke 23:45"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Luke 23:45" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>