Original Word: לַיִל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: layil
Pronunciation: lah'-yil or lay-leh'
Phonetic Spelling: (lah'-yil)
KJV: ((mid-))night (season)
NASB: night, nights, tonight, nocturnal
Word Origin: [from the same as H3883 (לוּל - winding stairs)]

1. (properly) a twist (away of the light), i.e. night
2. (figuratively) adversity

midnight season

Or (Isa. 21:11) leyl {lale}; also laylah {lah'- yel-aw}; from the same as luwl; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. Night; figuratively, adversity -- ((mid-))night (season).

see HEBREW luwl

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
night
NASB Translation
midnight* (6), night (200), nights (14), nocturnal (1), overnight* (2), tonight (10).

לַ֫יְלָה, לַ֫יִל₂₄₂

noun masculine^{Genesis 40:5} night (Late Hebrew id.; MI¹⁵ (ב)ללה; Aramaic לֵילָא, , ; Arabic , ; Ethiopic all = night; Assyrian lîlâtu, evening Dl^HWB; meaning of √ dubious; form probably לילי, and ending הָ֯ radical, and not ה locative, Nö^{M 127} Dl^{Prol. 128} Ges^{§ 90}, 2. with R. Kö^{ii. p. 57, R. 1}); — absolute לַ֫יְלָה Genesis 19:33 214t. + 2 t. Qr. (see below); לָ֑יְלָה Genesis 1:5 3t.; לַ֫יִל Isaiah 16:3 + Proverbs 31:18; Lamentations 2:19 Kt (Qr לַיְלָה); לֵיל Isaiah 15:1 (twice in verse); Isaiah 21:1; construct לֵיל Exodus 12:42; Isaiah 30:29; plural absolute לֵילוֺת 1 Samuel 30:12 4t.; construct id., Isaiah 21:8 5t.; —

1 literally night, opposed to day, Genesis 8:22 (J), Deuteronomy 1:33 + very often (see יוֺם); alternation of day and night divinely ordained Genesis 1:5 (P), Jeremiah 33:20 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 33:25 +; ׳מִיּוֺם עַדלֿ Isaiah 38:12,18 i.e within one whole day; as close of day, ׳עַדלֿ2Chronicles 35:14; as time of sacred (לֵיל) חָג Isaiah 30:29; of suffering and weeping לֵילוֺת עָמָל Job 7:3, compare Psalm 6:7; Psalm 77:3 etc.; of pious desires, prayer, praise, meditation, etc (sometimes "" by day) Isaiah 26:9; Job 35:10; Psalm 1:2; Psalm 22:3; Psalm 42:9; Psalm 77:7; Psalm 88:2; Psalm 92:3; Psalm 119:5 (twice in verse), compare Psalm 16:7; Psalm 17:8; of night-service in Temple Psalm 134:1; of sudden assault, or destruction, Isaiah 15:1; Jeremiah 6:5; Obadiah 5; Job 27:20; Job 34:20,25; Job 36:20; divided into watches Psalm 90:4; לֵיל שִׁמֻּרִים Exodus 12:42 see below שׁמר; with number, denoting duration of time, forty days and forty nights Genesis 7:4,12; Exodus 24:18; Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9,11,18,25; Deuteronomy 10:10; 1 Kings 19:8; three days and three nights (שְׁלשָׁה לֵילוֺת) 1 Samuel 30:12; Jonah 2:1; seven days and seven nights (שִׁבְעַת לֵילוֺת) Job 2:13 ; ׳חֲלוֺם הַלּ Genesis 20:3; Genesis 31:24 (both E), 1 Kings 3:5; ׳מַרְאֹת הַלּ Genesis 46:2 (E); ׳חֶזְיוֺן ל Job 20:8; Job 33:15, ׳חֶזְיֹנוֺת ל Job 4:13, ׳חֲלוֺם חֲזוֺן ל Isaiah 29:7 (compare Micah 3:6 below) ; ׳בִּןלֿ Jonah 4:10 (twice in verse) see בֵּן

8 b. Chiefly in adverb. phrase: — ׳בַּחֲצִי הַלּ at midnight Exodus 12:29 + (see חֲצִי, חָצוֺת b), compare ׳בְּתוֺךְ הַלּ 1 Kings 3:20, ׳בְּאִישׁוֺן ל Proverbs 7:9 ; הַזֶּה ׳בַּלּ Exodus 12:8,12 on this night (P; the night of which one is speaking); הַהוּא ׳בַּלּ on that night Genesis 19:35 (J) + often, (P only Numbers 14:1); הוּא ׳בַּל Genesis 19:33; Genesis 30:16; so ׳הַלּ alone 1 Samuel 14:34, but strike out ᵐ5 We Kit, compare Dr; Klo Bu read ליהוה; ׳הַלּ to-night Genesis 19:5,34; Genesis 30:15 (all J), Numbers 22:8,19 (E), Joshua 2:2; Joshua 4:3 (both J E), 2 Samuel 17:1,16; 2 Samuel 19:8; Ruth 1:12; Ruth 3:2,13, opposed to מָחָר tomorrow 1 Samuel 19:11; ׳הַלּ = this night just past, last night 1 Samuel 15:16 (compare Dr); ׳כָּלהַֿלּ all night Hosea 7:6 (opposed to בֹּקֶר), Exodus 14:20,21 (J), Numbers 11:32; Joshua 10:9 (both J E), Judges 16:2 (twice in verse); Judges 19:25; 1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Samuel 31:12; 2 Samuel 2:29,32; 2 Samuel 4:7; opposed to כלהֿיום ההוא (of continuous action) 1 Samuel 19:24; 1 Samuel 28:20; Isaiah 62:6, opposed to יומם Psalm 78:14; ׳בְּכָללֿ Psalm 6:7 every night (probably); compare כָּלהַֿלֵּילוֺת Isaiah 21:8 all the nights (opposed to יוֺמָם) ; especially לַיְלָה by night Numbers 22:20 (E) Joshua 8:3 (JE), Deuteronomy 16:1; Numbers 9:16 (P) + 51 t.; of these Genesis 14:15 and Exodus 13:21,22 (J) + 25 t. opposed to יוֺמָם, covering all the time; otherwise Judges 6:27 (opposed to יוֺמָם); לַיְלָה וָיוֺם night and day 1 Kings 8:29; Isaiah 27:3; Esther 4:16; less often לֵילוֺת Psalm 16:17; ׳הַלּ by night 2 Kings 25:4 (׳ל in "" Jeremiah 52:7), Zechariah 1:8; Nehemiah 4:16 (opposed to הַיּוֺם) ; ׳בַּלּ id., Jeremiah 6:5 18t. (chiefly late; often opposed to בַּיּוֺם, יוֺמָם, etc.); בַּלֵּילוֺת Psalm 92:3 (opposed to בַּבֹּקֶר, Psalm 134:1; Songs 3:1,8; בְּלַיְלָה Nehemiah 9:19 (opposed to בְּיוֺמָם ); בְּלֵיל Isaiah 15:1 (twice in verse) ׳כַּל as at night Job 5:14 (opposed to צָהֳרָ֑יִם ).

2 figurative שִׁיתִי כַּלַיִל צִלֵּךְ Isaiah 16:8 simile of shadow of Zion as protection; more often in gloomy sense, of avenging calamity without divine guidance or comfort לַיְלָה מֵחָזוֺן Micah 3:6; personal distress Job 35:10; judgment perhaps also Job 36:20 (Ew De Di Da; night of death Bu; 'unintelligible' Siegf); מַהמִּֿלַּיְלָה מַהמִּֿלֵּיל Isaiah 21:11 i.e. what hour of the night of calamity is it? compare Isaiah 21:12 (opposed to בֹּקֶר).

[לֵילָא] noun [masculine] night (see Biblical Hebrew לַ֫יְלָה); — emphatic לֵילְיָא Daniel 2:19; Daniel 5:30; Daniel 7:2,7,13.

frequency and distribution

Approximately 233 occurrences span Genesis through Malachi, with the highest concentrations in Job, Psalms, Genesis, Exodus and Isaiah. Narrative, legal, poetic and prophetic books alike employ the word, confirming its foundational place in Israel’s vocabulary of time, experience and revelation.

night in the order of creation

“God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” (Genesis 1:5). From the outset, night is neither accidental nor evil; it is a divinely named segment of the daily cycle. Scripture’s rhythm of “evening … morning” teaches that God’s work often begins in darkness and moves toward light.

night in the calendar and daily life

For Israel, the new day began at sundown (Leviticus 23:32), so night framed sacred time. The Passover meal was eaten after dusk (Exodus 12:8) and the burnt offering was to remain on the altar “all night until the morning” (Leviticus 6:9). Harvesters worked into the night when needed (Ruth 3:14), and travelers preferred its coolness (Genesis 31:40). Thus night served both ordinary labor and holy observance.

night in divine encounters

God often disclosed Himself when human strength was low and surroundings were still:
• Jacob’s ladder dream (Genesis 28:11-16).
• The covenant vision given to Abram as “deep sleep fell upon him” (Genesis 15:12-18).
• Wrestling with the Angel “until daybreak” (Genesis 32:24-30).
• “One night at Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream” (1 Kings 3:5).
• “During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision” (Daniel 2:19).
• “In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like a Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13).

Night therefore functions as a theater for revelation, showing that God is not bound by daylight for communion with His servants.

night as a window for deliverance and judgment

Redemptive history pivots on a night: “On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn” (Exodus 12:12). The pillar of cloud and fire put “darkness on one side and light on the other” at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:20). Gideon’s victory began when “that very night the Lord said to him, ‘Arise’ ” (Judges 7:9). A single night saw 185,000 Assyrians fall (2 Kings 19:35). Night can be the time when God overthrows oppressors and rescues His people.

night in worship and devotion

Priests kept night watches at the sanctuary (Psalm 134:1). The psalmists turned sleepless hours into prayer:
• “By day the Lord commands His loving devotion; and at night His song is with me” (Psalm 42:8).
• “On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night” (Psalm 63:6).
• “My eyes anticipate the watches of night, that I may meditate on Your word” (Psalm 119:148).

From Samuel who “cried out to the Lord all night” (1 Samuel 15:11) to the Proverbs 31 woman who “rises while it is still night” (Proverbs 31:15), darkness invites sustained communion and service.

night as symbol and metaphor

Night portrays calamity, ignorance and moral confusion. “Therefore night will come upon you, with no visions” (Micah 3:6). “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5) contrasts temporary sorrow with promised joy. Song of Solomon turns night into a search for love (3:1-4), while Job uses it for anguish (Job 7:4). Yet night never has the last word; morning invariably follows.

night in prophecy and eschatology

Watchmen cry, “Watchman, what is left of the night?” (Isaiah 21:11), expressing longing for dawn. Zechariah foresees a day “with no distinction between day and night; for when evening comes, there will be light” (Zechariah 14:7). The prophetic hope anticipates a consummation where night’s limitations are swallowed by divine radiance, a trajectory echoed in Revelation 21:25 though the main word occurs in the Old Testament.

night in wisdom literature

Job wrestles with God through interminable nights (Job 7:3-4). Ecclesiastes reminds that God’s work continues whether “in the morning” or “at evening” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). Proverbs urges diligence and purity when darkness tempts to sloth or illicit pleasure (Proverbs 7:9-23). Wisdom teaches that the fear of the Lord illumines even the darkest hours.

spiritual and ministry implications

1. Dependence: Night seasons strip self-reliance, fostering trust in the unseen God.
2. Vigilance: Spiritual leaders are called to watch, intercede and guard the flock through the “night watches.”
3. Hope: Because God “neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalm 121:4), believers face literal and figurative nights with confidence that the Light is sovereign.
4. Anticipation: The pattern of night preceding day foreshadows resurrection, assuring that every darkness for the people of God culminates in dawn.

Night, therefore, is both ordinary and extraordinary—part of the daily cycle, yet pregnant with revelation, deliverance, worship and prophetic promise. Its recurring appearance in Scripture invites faith that the God who governs the night guides His people safely into the morning.

בְּלֵ֛יל בְּלֵ֞יל בְּלַ֙יְלָה֙ בְּלַ֣יְלָה בְּלַ֥יְלָה בַּ֫לָּ֥יְלָה בַּלֵּיל֔וֹת בַּלֵּילֽוֹת׃ בַּלַּ֔יְלָה בַּלַּ֖יְלָה בַּלַּ֗יְלָה בַּלַּ֣יְלָה בַּלַּ֥יְלָה בַּלַּ֧יְלָה בַּלַּֽיְלָה־ בַּלָּ֑יְלָה בַּלָּֽיְלָה׃ בַלַּ֣יְלָה בַלָּ֔יְלָה בַלָּֽיְלָה׃ בַלַּ֗יְלָה בַלַּ֣יְלָה בליל בלילה בלילה־ בלילה׃ בלילות בלילות׃ הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה הַלֵּילֽוֹת׃ הַלַּ֔יְלָה הַלַּ֕יְלָה הַלַּ֖יְלָה הַלַּ֗יְלָה הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ הַלַּ֛יְלָה הַלַּ֜יְלָה הַלַּ֣יְלָה הַלַּ֤יְלָה הַלַּ֥יְלָה הַלַּיְלָה֒ הַלָּ֑יְלָה הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ הלילה הלילה׃ הלילות׃ וְ֝כַלַּ֗יְלָה וְ֝לַ֗יְלָה וְ֭לַיְלָה וְהַלַּ֥יְלָה וְלֵיל֥וֹת וְלַ֖יְלָה וְלַ֛יְלָה וְלַ֥יְלָה וָלַ֔יְלָה וָלַ֖יְלָה וָלַ֗יְלָה וָלַ֙יְלָה֙ וָלַ֛יְלָה וָלַיְלָה֮ וָלָ֑יְלָה וָלָֽיְלָה׃ וּ֝בַלַּ֗יְלָה וּ֭בַלַּיְלָה וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה וּבַלָּ֑יְלָה ובלילה והלילה וכלילה ולילה ולילה׃ ולילות כְּלֵ֖יל כַלַּ֛יִל כליל לְּ֝לַ֗יְלָה לֵ֝יל֗וֹת לֵ֣יל לֵיל֑וֹת לֵילֽוֹת׃ לַ֔יְלָה לַ֖יְלָה לַ֗יְלָה לַ֛יְלָה לַ֜יְלָה לַ֝֗יְלָה לַ֣יְלָה לַ֤יְלָה לַ֥יְלָה לַ֭יְלָה לַּ֗יְלָה לַיְלָה֒ לָ֑יְלָה לָ֥יְלָה לָֽיְלָה׃ ליל לילה לילה׃ לילות לילות׃ ללילה מִלֵּֽיל׃ מִלַּ֔יְלָה מליל׃ מלילה bal·lā·yə·lāh ḇal·lā·yə·lāh bal·lay·lāh ḇal·lay·lāh bal·lay·lāh- bal·lê·lō·wṯ balLayelah ballāyəlāh ḇallāyəlāh balLaylah ballaylāh ḇallaylāh ballaylāh- balleiLot ballêlōwṯ bə·lay·lāh bə·lêl beLaylah bəlaylāh beLeil bəlêl chalLayil hal·lā·yə·lāh hal·lay·lāh hal·lê·lō·wṯ halLayelah hallāyəlāh halLaylah hallaylāh halleiLot hallêlōwṯ ḵal·la·yil ḵallayil kə·lêl keLeil kəlêl lā·yə·lāh Lailah lay·lāh Layelah lāyəlāh Laylah laylāh lə·lay·lāh lê·lō·wṯ leil leiLot lêl leLaylah ləlaylāh lêlōwṯ mil·lay·lāh mil·lêl milLaylah millaylāh milLeil millêl ū·ḇal·lā·yə·lāh ū·ḇal·lay·lāh ūḇallāyəlāh ūḇallaylāh uvalLayelah uvalLaylah vaLayelah vaLaylah valLayelah valLaylah vechalLaylah vehalLaylah veLaylah veleiLot wā·lā·yə·lāh wā·lay·lāh wālāyəlāh wālaylāh wə·hal·lay·lāh wə·ḵal·lay·lāh wə·lay·lāh wə·lê·lō·wṯ wəhallaylāh wəḵallaylāh wəlaylāh wəlêlōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts