Lexical Summary mesémbria: Noon, midday Original Word: μεσημβρία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance noon, south. From mesos and hemera; midday; by implication, the south -- noon, south. see GREEK mesos see GREEK hemera NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom mesos and hémera Definition noon, the south NASB Translation noontime (1), south (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3314: μεσημβρίαμεσημβρία, μεσημβρίας, ἡ (μέσος and ἡμέρα), from Herodotus down, midday (on the omission of the article cf. Winers Grammar, 121 (115)); a. (as respects time) noon: Acts 22:6. b. (as respects locality) the south: Acts 8:26 (others refer this also to a.; see κατά, II. 2). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope Strong’s Greek 3314 (μεσημβρία, mesembriá) denotes the zenith of daylight—“midday” or the noonday direction, “south.” In Scripture it functions both temporally (the sixth hour) and geographically (“toward the south”). Biblical Occurrences Acts 8:26 – An angel of the Lord instructs Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Acts 22:6 – Paul testifies, “About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.” Midday as a Moment of Divine Intervention 1. Philip’s redirection at midday sets in motion the conversion of the Ethiopian official. The timing underscores that God interrupts ordinary activity with sovereign purpose—even in the heat of the day when travel was least convenient. Midday and Orientation in Mission Mesembriá can describe both time and trajectory. Philip is told to go “toward the south.” The gospel’s expansion to Gaza, and from there to Africa through the Ethiopian, illustrates Acts 1:8 in real time. Midday thus frames the Church’s outward advance. Midday as Symbol of Full Revelation Throughout Scripture, noon signifies clarity and exposure: The convergence of light and judgment at midday foreshadows final accountability before Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Historical and Cultural Setting Ancient travelers rested at midday due to heat; fields lay quiet; city gates closed. Divine interruptions at noon broke social routine, magnifying the authority of the message. That Philip and Paul immediately obeyed illustrates readiness demanded of every disciple, whatever the hour. Pastoral and Homiletical Implications • Divine appointments often arrive when least expected yet most noticeable. Broader Theological Resonance Noon links to covenant privilege and responsibility: Abraham entertains three visitors “in the heat of the day” (Genesis 18:1); Elijah mocks Baal “at noon” (1 Kings 18:27); Joshua renews covenant at Shechem under the blazing sun (Joshua 24). In each scene, the true God distinguishes Himself amid full daylight, inviting exclusive allegiance. Conclusion Strong’s 3314, though appearing only twice in the Greek New Testament, marks decisive junctures in salvation history. Midday becomes the stage on which God confronts and commissions, turning ordinary moments into milestones of redemptive advance. Forms and Transliterations μεσημβρία μεσημβριαν μεσημβρίαν μεσημβρίας μεσημβρινή μεσημβρινόν μεσημβρινού μεσθάαλ mesembrian mesembrían mesēmbrian mesēmbríanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 8:26 N-AFSGRK: πορεύου κατὰ μεσημβρίαν ἐπὶ τὴν NAS: up and go south to the road KJV: go toward the south unto the way INT: go toward [the] south unto the Acts 22:6 N-AFS |
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