What does the first watch mean? What is the “third hour”? The Jewish day ran from sunset to sunset and was divided in 8 equal parts called watches and hours. Here’s what they mean.
The Watches
- First watch – sunset to 9pm
- Second watch – 9pm to midnight; Luke 12:38.
- Third watch – Midnight to 3am; Luke 12:38.
- Fourth watch – 3am to sunrise; Matt 14:25; Mark 6:48.
The 1st Century Jewish Day
1st Hour
- Roman Time: dawn to 8:00 am
- Event: The first male lamb of the Tamid sacrifice was tied to the altar at dawn.
- Mentioned in Scripture:
2nd Hour
- Roman Time: 8:00 to 9:00 am
- Event:
- Mentioned in Scripture:
3rd Hour
- Roman Time: 9:00 to 10:00 am
- Event: Morning prayer service; The incense is offered in the Sanctuary. The first male lamb is sacrificed as the temple gates open. Jesus went to the cross at the 3rd hour.
- Mentioned in Scripture: Matt 20:3; Mark 15:25; Act 2:15; Act 23:23.
4th Hour
- Roman Time: 10:00 to 11:00 am
- Event:
- Mentioned in Scripture:
5th Hour
- Roman Time: 11:00 am to Noon
- Event:
- Mentioned in Scripture:
6th Hour
- Roman Time: Noon to 1:00 pm
- Event: The second lamb is tied to the altar at noon
- Mentioned in Scripture: Matt 20:5; Matt 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44; John 4:6; John 19:14; Act 10:9
7th Hour:
- Roman Time: 1:00 to 2:00 pm
- Event:
- Mentioned in Scripture: John 4:52
8th Hour:
- Roman Time: 2:00 to 3:00 pm
- Event:
- Mentioned in Scripture:
9th Hour:
- Roman Time: 3:00 to 4:00 pm
- Event: The second Tamid lamb is sacrificed. The second hour of prayer, Also called the hour of confession. Jesus gave up his life at the 9th hour
- Mentioned in Scripture: Matt 20:5; Matt 27:45-46; Mark 15:33-34; Luke 23:44; Act 3:1; Act 10:3; Act 10:30.
10th Hour:
- Roman Time: 4:00 to 5:00 pm
- Event:
- Mentioned in Scripture:
11th Hour:
- Roman Time: 5:00 to 6:00 pm
- Event: The afternoon service concludes with the burning of the incense and priestly benediction.
- Mentioned in Scripture: John 1:39
12th Hour:
- Roman Time: 6:00 pm to sunset
- Event:
- Mentioned in Scripture: Matt 20:9
Days
The Jewish day begins at sunset. With the exception of the Sabbath, the weekdays had no names, only numbers.
- 1st day – sunset Saturday to sunset Sunday
- 2nd day – sunset Sunday to sunset Monday
- 3rd day – sunset Monday to sunset Tuesday
- 4th day – sunset Tuesday to sunset Wednesday
- 5th day – sunset Wednesday to sunset Thursday
- 6th day – sunset Thursday to sunset Friday
- 7th day – Sabbath; sunset Friday to sunset Saturday
Photo by Ann Savchenko on Unsplash
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