Divine Timing: ὥρα (Strong’s G5610: hōra) Marks Messiah’s Appointed Moments

Strong’s G5610: A feminine noun denoting a period of time, specifically an hour or season. Derived from Proto-Indo-European roots, ὥρα (hōra) signifies both literal hours and figurative seasons, particularly highlighting divinely appointed times in the New Testament. Cultural significance includes marking ceremonial periods and eschatological events.

U- Unveiling the Word

The word ὥρα (hōra) carries profound theological weight in New Testament usage, extending beyond mere chronological time measurement. While its primary meaning denotes a specific hour, it evolved to encompass divinely appointed moments and seasons of spiritual significance. In the Gospels, it particularly marks crucial moments in Jesus’ ministry, most notably His “hour” of glorification through death and resurrection. The early church recognized ὥρα as a theological marker for God’s sovereign timing, especially in apocalyptic contexts. Today, this concept remains vital in understanding God’s perfect timing in salvation history and personal spiritual journeys.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὥρα, hōra, /ˈho.ra/
• Detailed pronunciation: hō (as in “hope”) + ra (as in “father”)
• Part of Speech: Noun (Feminine)

Etymology:

• From Proto-Indo-European *yeh₁r- (“year, season”)
• Related to Ancient Greek ὥρος (hōros, “time, season”)
• No prefixes or suffixes – simple root word

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary hour, time
• Fixed point in time
• Season or period
• Right moment or opportunity
• One-twelfth of daylight

For compound words: Not applicable as ὥρα is a root word

Translation Options:

• “Hour” – Most precise for specific time references
• “Time” – Better for contextual or figurative usage
• “Season” – Appropriate for extended periods or appointed times

E – Exploring Similar Words

• καιρός (kairos, /kaiˈros/) – specific, opportune moment See G2540
• χρόνος (chronos, /ˈkʰro.nos/) – chronological time, duration See G5550
• νύξ (nyx, /nyks/) – night, contrasting with hour of day See G3571

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Noun Morphology:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Feminine
• First Declension

Examples:

• Nominative: ὥρα (hōra)
• Genitive: ὥρας (hōras)
• Dative: ὥρᾳ (hōra)
• Accusative: ὥραν (hōran)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes ὥρα’s dual nature as both specific time marker and theological concept. Thayer’s highlights its development from temporal measure to eschatological significance. LSJ traces its classical usage through Greek literature, showing evolution from seasonal markers to precise time units. Vine’s emphasizes its metaphorical usage in spiritual contexts. Strong’s connects it to seasonal changes and appropriate timing. LEH adds Septuagint usage context, while Moulton and Milligan provide papyri evidence of common usage in daily life. Together, these sources reveal ὥρα’s rich semantic range from mundane timekeeper to profound theological symbol.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:

“And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame [ὥρα] hour.” Matthew 8:13

Additional References:
Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32, John 2:4, John 12:23, John 17:1

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The concept of ὥρα in Scripture reveals God’s sovereign control over time itself. It appears in crucial moments of Jesus’ ministry, particularly regarding His passion and glorification. This word teaches us that God’s timing is perfect – neither too early nor too late. The good news of King Jesus is illuminated through ὥρα, showing us that He came at the perfect time in history to accomplish our salvation, and He continues to work in our lives according to His divine schedule.

D – Did You Know?

1. The English word “hour” derives directly from ὥρα through Latin “hora”
2. Ancient Greeks divided daylight into twelve ὥραι, regardless of season
3. The Johannine writings use ὥρα theologically more than any other New Testament author

Strong’s G5610: A feminine noun denoting a period of time, specifically an hour or season. Derived from Proto-Indo-European roots, ὥρα (hōra) signifies both literal hours and figurative seasons, particularly highlighting divinely appointed times in the New Testament. Cultural significance includes marking ceremonial periods and eschatological events.

Part of speech: Feminine Noun

Tags: time, hour, season, divine timing, appointed time, eschatology, chronology, biblical time, Greek nouns, Johannine theology, temporal markers, kairos moments​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​