Matthew 27 45

Matthew 27:45 kjv

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Matthew 27:45 nkjv

Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.

Matthew 27:45 niv

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.

Matthew 27:45 esv

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

Matthew 27:45 nlt

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

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 45 Meaning

Matthew 27:45 describes a pivotal supernatural event during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ: from noon until mid-afternoon, an unnatural darkness enveloped the region where Jesus was being crucified. This profound darkness signified a divine intervention, a cosmic reaction to the Son of God's suffering and sacrifice. It underscored the solemnity and unparalleled nature of Christ's atoning work, marking it as an act of immense cosmic significance, reflecting either divine grief, judgment, or the bearing of the world's sin by Jesus on the cross.

Matthew 27 45 Context

Matthew 27:45 falls within the crucifixion narrative, detailing the cosmic and spiritual upheaval accompanying Jesus' death. Jesus has been arrested, tried, condemned by Pilate, scourged, mocked by soldiers, and led out to Golgotha where He is crucified alongside two criminals. The preceding verses describe the crowd's mockery and the Roman soldiers' actions. Verse 45 shifts the focus dramatically from human malice to divine involvement, marking the three most agonizing hours of Christ's suffering before His death. Historically, Jewish days began at sunset, and the Roman day from midnight. The Jewish 'sixth hour' (from sunrise) would be around noon (12 PM), and the 'ninth hour' around 3 PM, which aligns with standard Roman time. Such widespread, profound darkness in the middle of the day was undeniably supernatural, directly challenging the notion of a sun-god (like Apollo revered by some Roman cults) and emphasizing the unique power of the God of Israel over creation, especially the celestial bodies.

Matthew 27 45 Word analysis

• Now from the sixth hour (Apō de ektēs hōras):

  • Now (Apō): Marks a shift in time and focus, highlighting the beginning of a specific and significant period.
  • sixth hour (ektēs hōras): Corresponds to approximately noon. This was the brightest part of the day, making the ensuing darkness all the more unnatural and astonishing. It immediately sets up the divine nature of the event.

• there was darkness (skotos egeneto):

  • darkness (skotos): Not merely a passing cloud or an ordinary eclipse. The Greek term implies a deep, heavy, oppressive darkness. In the Old Testament, darkness often symbolizes divine judgment, mourning, the absence of God's favor, or His awesome, unapproachable presence. Its sudden arrival during midday signals a divine, miraculous occurrence, far beyond natural phenomena.

• over all the land (epi pasan tēn gēn):

  • over: Indicates the spread or covering.
  • all the land (pasan tēn gēn): This phrase can be interpreted as "all the earth" (the whole world) or "all the land" (the specific region of Judea). Given the immediate context of Jerusalem/Judea, "all the land" (referring to Palestine/Judea) is likely the primary sense, implying a widespread impact locally. However, its supernatural nature implies a cosmic significance that extends beyond local boundaries, showing the event was witnessed widely and impacting all creation metaphorically. It underscores the universal implications of Christ's crucifixion for all humanity.

• until the ninth hour (heōs enatēs hōras):

  • ninth hour (enatēs hōras): Corresponds to approximately 3 PM. This marks the culmination of the darkness, precisely when Jesus utters His final cry and yields His spirit. The duration of three hours highlights the sustained, intense suffering and the profound nature of the divine intervention.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "from the sixth hour there was darkness": This phrase immediately introduces the miraculous aspect. It describes a precise onset of an extraordinary phenomenon, indicating a divine disruption of the natural order at the brightest part of the day. This serves as an ominous prelude to Christ's death, signifying the immense gravity of the atonement taking place.
• "darkness over all the land": The description of darkness covering an extensive area signifies that this was not localized, thus excluding common natural explanations like a passing storm. The scope, whether regionally or globally understood, emphasizes the widespread impact and public nature of the event, signifying God's direct and universal declaration about what was happening. It hints at the universal effects of sin being addressed.
• "from the sixth hour... until the ninth hour": The stated duration of three hours (noon to 3 PM) is significant. It’s long enough to be undeniable and terrifying, reflecting the prolonged agony and the intense period of Christ bearing the world's sin. This was the time during which Jesus endured profound spiritual and physical torment, culminating in His cry of dereliction. This timed darkness emphasizes that God was not passive but actively involved in His Son's redemptive work.

Matthew 27 45 Bonus section

The historical accounts beyond the Bible suggest there may have been records or recognition of this darkness by non-Christian writers, though specifics vary and are debated by scholars. For instance, some early Christian writers like Tertullian and Origen referenced a work by Phlegon of Tralles, a Greek historian, which reportedly mentioned a major eclipse or unusual darkness occurring in the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad (around AD 33), alongside a great earthquake. While the term "eclipse" might not precisely match the supernatural "darkness" (as an eclipse would not last for three hours, especially during a full moon, as it was Passover), it indicates an acknowledgment of an unusual celestial event at that time, which early Christians believed corroborated the Gospel accounts. This extraordinary darkness stands apart from other biblical instances, such as the plague of darkness in Egypt, by its location during midday at a specific historical crucifixion. It highlights that the events of Calvary were not confined to human actions but involved the very fabric of the cosmos responding to the Creator's death.

Matthew 27 45 Commentary

Matthew 27:45 presents the cosmic scale of the crucifixion. The supernatural darkness covering the land for three hours signifies much more than a simple weather phenomenon; it is a divine signature upon the suffering and death of Jesus. Theologically, this darkness carries multiple layers of meaning: it is a sign of divine judgment, particularly on the sin being borne by Jesus and potentially on a world rejecting its Messiah; it mirrors the 'Day of the Lord' prophecies in the Old Testament, where darkness often accompanies God's awesome power and wrath (Amos 8:9, Joel 2:30-31); it may symbolize God the Father temporarily turning away from His Son as Jesus bears the full weight of humanity's sin, an act so horrific that even the sun withdraws its light. The darkness may also convey the deep grief of creation over its Creator's suffering, or act as a veil of holiness surrounding the unparalleled, holy work of atonement. It adds a solemn, awe-inspiring backdrop to the climax of Jesus' redemptive mission, compelling recognition of Jesus' divine identity and the momentous nature of His sacrifice. Practically, this event should evoke both terror at the cost of sin and profound gratitude for Christ's suffering, demonstrating that salvation required such an epic, divinely orchestrated cosmic event.