Reference: HOURS
American
The word hour, in Scripture, signifies one of the twelve equal parts into which each day, from sunrise to sunset, was divided, and which of course were of different lengths at different seasons of ht year, Mt 20:3-6; Joh 11:9. This mode of dividing the day prevailed among the Jews at least after the exile, and perhaps earlier, Da 3:6; 4:19. The third, sixth, and ninth hours were the appointed seasons for prayer, Ac 2:15; 3:1; 10:9. Anciently, however, the usual division of the day was into four parts, namely, the morning-the heat of the day, commencing about the middle of the forenoon-midday, and evening. In a similar manner, the Greeks appear at first to have divided the night also into three parts or watches, namely, the first watch, La 2:19; the middle, or second watch, Jg 7:19; and the morning, or third watch, Ex 14:24. But after the Jews became subject to the Romans, they adopted the Roman manner of dividing the night into four watches, namely, the evening, or first quarter, after sunset; the midnight; cock-crowing, or third quarter, from midnight on; and the morning, or fourth quarter, including the dawn, Mt 14:25; Mr 6:48; 13:35; Lu 12:48. A watch in the night seems but an instant to one who spends it in slumber, Ps 90:4; equally short does the life of man appear in view of eternity.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And it came to pass in the morning watch, that Yahweh looked down into the camp of the Egyptians, through the pillar of fire and cloud, and confused the camp of the Egyptians;
So Gideon came, and the hundred men that were with him, unto the outermost part of the camp, at the beginning of the middle watch, they had but, newly set, the watchers, - and they blew with the horns, and brake in pieces the pitchers, that were in their hand.
For, a thousand years, in thine eyes, are , As yesterday, in that it passed away, Or as a watch in the night.
Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches, pour out, like waters, thy heart, right before the face of My Lord, - Lift up, above thee, the palms of thy hands, for the life of thy children, who are swooning for hunger, at the top of all the streets!
and, whosoever shall not fall down and adore, shall, instantly, be cast into the burning furnace of fire.
Then, Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for about one moment, and, his thoughts, troubled him. The king spake and said, O Belteshazzar, let neither, the dream, nor the interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My Lord, The dream, be for them who hate thee, and, the interpretation, for them who are thy foes.
And, in the fourth watch of the night, he came unto them, walking upon the sea.
And, going forth about the third hour, he saw others, standing in the market-place, unemployed; and, to them, he said - ye also, go your way into the vineyard, and, whatsoever may be right, I will give you; read more. and, they, departed. And, again, going forth about the sixth and ninth hour, he did likewise. And, about the eleventh, going forth, he found others, standing, and saith unto them - Why, here, stand ye, all the day, unemployed?
And, seeing them distressed in the rowing, for the wind was against them, about the fourth watch of the night, he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, - and was wishing to pass by them.
Be watching, therefore, for ye know not, when, the master of the house, is coming, - whether at even, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or at early morn; -
Whereas, he who had not come to know, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And, every one to whom was given much, much, shall be sought from him; and, he to whom they committed much, for more than common, will they ask him.
Jesus answered - Are there not, twelve hours, in the day? If one walk in the day, he doth no stumble, because, the light of this world, he seeth;
For not, as, ye, suppose, are these men drunken, for it is the third hour of the day; -
Now, Peter and John, were going up into the temple, for the hour of prayer - the ninth;
Now, on the morrow, as those men were journeying, and, unto the city, drawing near, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour;
Watsons
HOURS. See DAY.