ἑσπέρα
evening
Definition
ἑσπέρα refers to the evening, specifically the period from sunset until nightfall. In the New Testament, it consistently denotes this time of day, often marking the end of the day's activities or the beginning of a significant event. For example, in Luke 24:29, the disciples urge Jesus to stay with them as 'the day is far spent,' indicating the late afternoon transitioning into evening. In Acts 4:3 and Acts 28:23, it simply notes the time when events occurred, such as Peter and John being put in custody or Paul teaching until evening.
Biblical Usage
This word appears three times in the New Testament, all in narrative contexts within Luke-Acts. It is used to specify the time of day for significant events: the disciples' encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:29), the imprisonment of the apostles after healing a lame man (Acts 4:3), and Paul's extended teaching session while under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:23). In each case, it serves to situate the action temporally, often implying a transition or a conclusion.
Etymology
Derived from the ancient Greek ἑσπέρα, which itself comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *wespero-, meaning 'evening' or 'west.' This root is also the source of Latin 'vesper' and English 'vespers,' reflecting the association of evening with the setting sun in the west. The word's meaning remained stable from classical through Koine Greek.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Mediterranean world, the evening (ἑσπέρα) marked a practical and symbolic boundary. The Jewish day began at sunset, so evening could signify the start of a new day, especially for Sabbaths and festivals. It was also a time for communal meals, prayer, and the cessation of labor. Unlike modern precise clock time, 'evening' was a broader, more fluid period defined by natural light, encompassing late afternoon until dark.
νύξ (nyx, G3571) — refers specifically to 'night,' the period of darkness following evening. ὀψέ (opse, G3796) — an adverb meaning 'late' or 'after,' often used with implied reference to the evening time.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
Full methodology & sources →