What Is a Biblical Day? When Does It Begin and End?
AnchorMap
- Claim → Answer
- 1) The Biblical Witness
- 2) The Hebrew Expression for “Day” (yom)
- 3) Extra‑Biblical Hebrew Tradition
- 4) Contrast with Non‑Hebrew Systems
- 5) Scholarly Conclusion (Summary)
- Why Some Argue Sunrise‑to‑Sunrise
- Problems with the Sunrise View
- Why Some Hold It Today
- Scholarly Conclusion (Detail)
- Side‑by‑Side Comparison
- Final Conclusion
1) The Biblical Witness
Creation Account
Genesis 1: “And there was evening and there was morning, the first day …” Evening precedes morning in Hebrew reckoning, indicating a new day begins at sundown.
Torah Commands
Leviticus 23:32: “From evening to evening you shall keep your Sabbath.” Clear direct command showing sacred time is evening‑to‑evening.
Narrative Evidence
- Exodus 12:18: “… on the fourteenth day at evening, until the twenty‑first day at evening.”
- Nehemiah 13:19: Sabbath gates shut “as soon as it began to grow dark …”
2) The Hebrew Expression for “Day” (yom)
- Yom can mean daylight only (Gen. 1:16) or full 24 hours (Gen. 7:4).
When applied to feast instructions, it is reckoned evening‑to‑evening.
3) Extra‑Biblical Hebrew Tradition
Mishnah, Talmud, halakha confirm sunset‑to‑sunset. Sabbath and feasts universally observed sundown‑to‑sundown.
4) Contrast with Non‑Hebrew Systems
- Roman/Western: midnight‑to‑midnight.
- Egyptian: sunrise‑to‑sunrise.
- Hebrew: sunset‑to‑sunset.
5) Scholarly Conclusion (Summary)
Hebrew Bible = sundown to sundown day. Distinct from modern civic day.
Why Some Groups Argue for Sunrise‑to‑Sunrise
- Daylight emphasis in yom (Gen. 1:5, 1:16; John 9:4).
- Work/rest tied to light.
- Egyptian civic practice.
- Joshua 6:15, Genesis 19:15.
Problems with the Sunrise‑to‑Sunrise View
- Ignores Lev. 23:32.
- Misreads Genesis 1 (evening first).
- Narrative evidence favors sunset.
- Jewish continuity.
- Practical contradictions (manna cycle).
Why Groups Hold Sunrise Reckoning Today
Some Hebrew Roots groups adopt sunrise reckoning to distinguish from rabbinic Judaism, but evidence is against this.
Scholarly Conclusion (Detail)
Evening‑to‑evening is commanded, modeled, confirmed, and practiced. Sunrise theory rests on selective use.
Side‑by‑Side Comparison
| Aspect | Sunrise‑to‑Sunrise | Sunset‑to‑Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Core Argument | “Day” = light only | Creation pattern + Torah = evening start |
| Key Verses | Gen. 1:5; Josh. 6:15 | Gen. 1:5, Lev. 23:32 |
| Narratives | Dawn emphasis | Sabbath gates shut at dark |
| Tradition | Egyptian/Roman | Jewish halakha = sunset |
| Strengths | Simple dawn start | Explicitly commanded |
| Weaknesses | No command | Context‑dependent yom |
Final Conclusion
Therefore: A biblical day begins at sunset and ends at the next sunset. Sunrise reckoning does not withstand evidence.