Mark 15 33

Mark 15:33 kjv

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Mark 15:33 nkjv

Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Mark 15:33 niv

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

Mark 15:33 esv

And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Mark 15:33 nlt

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock.

Mark 15 verses

Mark 15 33 Meaning

Mark 15:33 describes a supernatural, widespread darkness that fell upon the land during the crucifixion of Jesus, lasting for three hours. This divine phenomenon underscored the cosmic significance and solemnity of Christ's suffering and atonement on the cross. It signaled a profound moment of divine judgment, grief, or revelation occurring during the peak of the day.

Mark 15 33 Context

Mark chapter 15 vividly portrays the trial, mockery, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Verse 33 is situated precisely at the climactic point of the crucifixion, right before Jesus' final words and death. The preceding verses detail the intense suffering, scorn, and mockery Jesus endured from onlookers, religious leaders, and even the criminals crucified alongside Him. This profound darkness serves as a stark interruption and cosmic response to the heinous event unfolding on Golgotha, signifying divine acknowledgment and gravity. It transforms the scene from mere human brutality to an event with universal, supernatural implications. The setting is Roman Judea, with Jerusalem as the center, and Jewish timekeeping is implied where the "sixth hour" is noon and the "ninth hour" is 3 PM, spanning the period of Jesus' most intense suffering and final moments on the cross.

Mark 15 33 Word analysis

• When the sixth hour had come:
  • Greek: Genomenēs hōras hektēs (γενομένης ὥρας ἕκτης).
  • This refers to noon (12:00 PM), based on the Jewish practice of counting hours from approximately 6 AM (sunrise).
  • This marks the precise beginning of the extraordinary three-hour darkness.
• there was darkness:
  • Greek: skotos egeneto (σκότος ἐγένετο).
  • Skotos denotes literal, deep darkness, gloom.
  • This phenomenon was demonstrably not a natural solar eclipse, as eclipses are short-lived and cannot occur during a full moon, which Passover required.
  • It clearly signifies a supernatural act, a direct intervention from God.
  • This divine act connects to Old Testament prophecies of cosmic signs indicating judgment or significant divine events (e.g., "Day of the Lord").
• over the whole land:
  • Greek: eph' holēn tēn gēn (ἐφ’ ὅλην τὴν γῆν).
  • Gēn can signify "land," "earth," or "countryside."
  • In this context, it primarily indicates the "whole land" of Judea or Palestine. However, the supernatural nature implies a significance that transcends mere local boundaries, even if the observed extent was regional.
  • This breadth points to the event's undeniable and widespread impact and recognition.
• until the ninth hour:
  • Greek: heōs hōras enatēs (ἕως ὥρας ἐνάτης).
  • This refers to 3:00 PM (15:00), which aligns with the traditional hour of evening prayer for Jews and the very moment of Jesus' death.
  • The exact duration of three hours highlights the sustained and purposeful nature of this divine sign, precisely timed with the deepest moments of Christ's suffering and atonement.

Mark 15 33 Bonus section

This miraculous darkness was noted even by ancient non-Christian historians. Figures like Phlegon of Tralles, cited by early church fathers such as Tertullian and Eusebius, reportedly described an unusual and unprecedented solar darkness that coincided with the period of Jesus' crucifixion. This external corroboration strengthens the historical reality and supernatural nature of the event. The darkness during Christ's crucifixion serves as a counter-narrative to typical human assumptions, signaling divine action rather than just human failure. It also parallels the plague of darkness in Egypt (Exod 10:21), linking the Passover sacrifice of the lamb (Exodus) to the ultimate Passover Lamb (Christ) whose sacrifice brings salvation, contrasting divine judgment with the new covenant established in His blood. The abrupt return of light following Jesus' last breath underscores the completion of His redemptive work and the dawn of a new era.

Mark 15 33 Commentary

Mark 15:33 unveils a profound and critical moment during Christ's crucifixion, emphasizing its cosmic and supernatural significance. The inexplicable three-hour darkness, occurring from noon to 3 PM, served as a powerful, unmistakable sign from God. This was not a natural event like a solar eclipse due to its extended duration and the lunar phase (full moon at Passover). The darkness symbolically conveyed multiple theological truths: it underscored God's holy wrath against sin, which Jesus bore in full measure; it might have represented the Father's deep sorrow and mourning over His Son's suffering; or it could signify the spiritual blindness and moral darkness of humanity responsible for crucifying the Light of the World. Critically, it points to the unique identity of Jesus as the Son of God, affirming Old Testament prophecies where cosmic disturbances accompany divine judgment and major interventions. It shrouded the horrific scene in a divine mystery, marking the crucifixion not merely as a brutal historical execution but as the central, pivotal act of redemption in salvation history, orchestrated and witnessed by God Himself.