Significance of 6th and 9th Hours in Jesus' Death
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is recorded in all four Gospels, with the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) noting a period of darkness from the sixth hour to the ninth hour [2, 3]. This period corresponds to approximately noon to 3 pm. Mark 15:33 states, "When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour" [2]. Luke 23:44 similarly records, "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour" [3].
The significance of this darkness is interpreted in various ways by different traditions. One interpretation is that it was a supernatural event signifying God's judgment or sorrow over the crucifixion of Jesus. The darkness is often seen as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and types, such as the plague of darkness in Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23) [1].
The timing of the crucifixion and the darkness is also noteworthy. The sixth hour, or noon, was a significant time in Jewish culture, and the ninth hour, or 3 pm, was the time of the daily sacrifice [7]. According to John Gill, the ninth hour was "about the time of the slaying and offering of the daily sacrifice, which was an eminent type of Christ" [7].
The darkness during the crucifixion has been interpreted by various Christian traditions. Adam Clarke notes that the division of the day into four parts was a Jewish custom, with the third division being from mid-day to three o'clock [5]. John Gill interprets the darkness as a sign of God's displeasure and a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies [6, 7].
The significance of the 6th and 9th hours in Jesus' death is closely tied to the theological understanding of the crucifixion as a sacrifice. The timing of the events surrounding Jesus' death, including the darkness, is seen as having typological and symbolic significance, pointing to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the significance of Jesus' sacrifice [8].
The darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour remains a significant event in the narrative of Jesus' crucifixion, with various interpretations across Christian traditions. The event is deeply rooted in the biblical text and has been understood in different ways by scholars and theologians throughout history [4, 6].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Darkness — The plague (the ninth) of darkness in Egypt (Ex. 10:21) is described as darkness "which may be felt." It covered "all the land of Egypt," so that "they saw not one another." It did not extend to the land of Goshen (ver. 23). When Jesus hung upon the cross (Matt. 27:45; Luke 23:44), from the "sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." On Mount Sinai, Moses (Ex. 20:21) "drew near unto the thick darkness where God was." This was the "thick cloud upon the mount" in which Jehovah was when he spake unto Moses there. The Lord dwelt in t”
- Mark “When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. -- Mark 15:33”
- Luke “It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. -- Luke 23:44”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 15:25: 15:25 Mark records Jesus’ crucifixion as occurring at the third hour, or nine o’clock in the morning. John 19:14 gives the time as around the sixth hour, or noon. These are rough estimates of time, and events in the later morning were typically described as occurring around either the third (Matt 20:3; Acts 2:15) or sixth hour (Mark 15:33; Matt 20:5; 27:45; Luke 23:44; John 4:6; 19:14; Acts 10:9).”
- Mark (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Mark 15:25: The third hour - It has been before observed, that the Jews divided their night into four watches, of three hours each. They also divided the day into four general parts. The first began at sunrise. The second three hours after. The third at mid-day. The fourth three hours after, and continued till sunset. Christ having been nailed to the cross a little after mid-day, Joh 19:14-16, Joh 19:17, and having expired about three o'clock, Mar 15:33, the whole business of the crucifixion was finished within the space of this third division of the day, which Mark calls here t”
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 15:23: And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. The time of the daily sacrifice of the morning, at which the priests ought to have been; and the time when the sanhedrim usually began to sit (x); for "the grand sanhedrim sat from the daily sacrifice of the morning, to the daily sacrifice of the evening:'' but this being an extraordinary case, and they in a hurry to put Jesus to death, had been sitting up all night; and early in the morning had procured the sentence of death on him, which they were going to execute by the time they used to sit: this was about nine”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 27:45: And about the ninth hour,.... Or three o'clock in the afternoon, which was about the time of the slaying and offering of the daily sacrifice, which was an eminent type of Christ. The Jews say (i), that "every day the daily sacrifice was slain at eight and a half, and was offered up at nine and a half: about which time also the passover was killed, which was another type of Christ; and as they say (k), "was offered first, and then the daily sacrifice." Though the account they elsewhere (l) give of these things, is this, "the daily sacrifice was slain at eight and”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 4:9: 4:9 a special rest: Jesus’ sacrifice functioned as a Day of Atonement sacrifice (5:1-3; 9:13-22; see Lev 23:26-28, 32). Through Christ’s sacrifice, God’s promised rest for his people is available.”