Lexical Summary orthros: Dawn, early morning Original Word: ὄρθρος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance early in the morning. From the same as oros; dawn (as sun-rise, rising of light); by extension, morn -- early in the morning. see GREEK oros NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition daybreak, dawn NASB Translation daybreak (1), early in the morning (1), early dawn (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3722: ὄρθροςὄρθρος, ὄρθρου, ὁ (from ὈΡΩ, ὄρνυμι to stir up, rouse; cf. Latinorior,ortus), from Hesiod down; the Sept. for שַׁחַר dawn, and several times for בֹּקֶר; daybreak, dawn: ὄρθρου βαθέος or βαθέως (see βαθέως and βαθύς (on the genitive cf. Winers Grammar, § 30, 11; Buttmann, § 132, 26)), at early dawn, Luke 24:1; ὄρθρου, at daybreak, at dawn, early in the morning, John 8:2 (Hesiod, Works, 575; the Sept. Jeremiah 25:4; Jeremiah 33:5 Topical Lexicon Dawn in ScriptureThe New Testament employs ὄρθρος three times, each tied to decisive moments when darkness gives way to light. Key Occurrences Luke 24:1 “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.” John 8:2 “At dawn He appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around Him, and He sat down to teach them.” Acts 5:21 “At daybreak they entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people.” Theological Significance • Transition from darkness to light—dawn frames the Resurrection, Christ’s temple teaching, and apostolic proclamation, presenting the gospel as the ultimate breaking of spiritual night. Historical Setting In Jewish reckoning the fourth watch (roughly 3–6 a.m.) prepared priests for temple duties and travelers for their journeys. Roman civic life likewise stirred at first light. The women’s visit to the grave, Jesus’ public instruction, and the apostles’ preaching occur precisely when people begin to gather, maximizing witness. Patterns of Early Worship Pliny the Younger’s testimony of predawn Christian assemblies echoes the New Testament pattern. “Matins” and sunrise services grew from the conviction that first light belongs to Christ, the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2). Practical Ministry Reflections • Begin the day with God—private devotion and corporate prayer in the early hours imitate Christ (Mark 1:35) and His apostles. Intertextual Connections Ὄρθρος translates Hebrew shachar/boqer in the Septuagint. Passages like Isaiah 58:8 (“your light will break forth like the dawn”) and Psalms that resolve nighttime lament with morning joy (Psalms 30:5; 46:5) converge on the New Testament’s dawn scenes. Patristic Witness Cyril of Jerusalem links Luke 24:1 to Isaiah 26:19, teaching that Christ’s dawn rising foreshadows believers’ resurrection. Chrysostom comments on John 8:2 that Christ’s readiness at dawn urges Christians to redeem every hour. Related Themes Light, Resurrection, Watchfulness, Early Prayer, Temple Ministry, Apostolic Boldness Forms and Transliterations όρθροις ορθρον όρθρον ὄρθρον όρθρος ορθρου όρθρου ὄρθρου orthron órthron orthrou órthrouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 24:1 N-GMSGRK: τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέως ἐπὶ NAS: day of the week, at early dawn, they came KJV: [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came INT: of the week morning very early to John 8:2 N-GMS Acts 5:21 N-AMS Strong's Greek 3722 |
    |