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 in the morning watch, the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians out of the fiery and cloudy pillar, and troubled their host;
And so Gideon, and the three hundred men that were with him, came unto the side of the host in the beginning of the middle watch, and raised up the watchmen. And they blew with their trumpets and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday, seeing that is passed as a watch in the night.
{Kuf} Stand up and make thy prayer in the first watch of the night; pour out thine heart like water before the LORD. Lift up thine hands for the lives of thy young children that die of hunger in the streets.
Whoso then falleth not down and boweth himself, shall even the same hour be cast in to a hot burning oven."
Then Daniel, whose name was Balteshazzar, held his peace by the space of a hour and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spake, and said, "O Balteshazzar, let neither the dream nor the interpretation thereof fear thee." Balteshazzar answered saying, "O my lord, this dream happen to thine enemies, and the interpretation to thine adversaries!
In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came unto them, walking on the sea:
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place, and said unto them: go ye also into my vineyard, and whatsoever is right, I will give you: and they went their way. read more. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And he went out about the eleventh hour and found others standing idle, and said unto them, 'Why stand ye here all the day idle?'
and he saw them troubled in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them. And about the fourth quarter of the night, he came unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
Watch, therefore, for ye know not when the master of the house will come: whether at even, or at midnight; whether at the cock crowing, or in the dawning:
But he that knew not, and yet did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whom much is given: of him shall be much required. And to whom men much commit, the more of him will they ask.
Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
These are not drunken, as ye suppose - For it is yet but the third hour of the day -
Peter and John went up together into the temple at the ninth hour of prayer:
On the morrow as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went upon the top of the house to pray, about the sixth hour.
Watsons
HOURS. See DAY.