A period of 24 hours or, as distinct from night, the period of daylight. The term may also be used more generally to refer to a point in time. Daylight is used figuratively to describe the illumination afforded to believers, who are urged to use the opportunities it presents and to avoid the evil usually associated with darkness.
Day and daylight
Day as a period of 24 hours
Genesis 1:8; Matthew 20:19; John 4:43, John 11:6
Day as the period of daylight
Genesis 1:5 See also Genesis 1:14–18, Genesis 8:22; Psalm 74:16; Jeremiah 33:20
God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day.
Daylight gives opportunity for activity
A time for human endeavour
John 11:9–10 See also Joshua 10:12–13; Acts 27:29
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world. But if anyone walks at night, he will stumble, because he has no light.”
A time of spiritual opportunity
John 9:4–5 See also John 12:35–36
While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Daylight allows things to be seen
Daylight activities are seen by all
2 Samuel 12:11–12; Ezekiel 12:3–4; Matthew 10:27 parallel Luke 12:3
Examples of those avoiding daylight
Judges 6:27 Gideon; John 3:2 Nicodemus
Daylight activities should be decent
Romans 13:12–13 See also Ephesians 5:8–14; 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8; 2 Peter 2:13
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Six working days ordained
Exodus 20:8–11 parallel Deuteronomy 5:12–15
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work— neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
Particular days of the week
The Sabbath (Saturday)
Exodus 20:8–10 parallel Deuteronomy 5:12–15 The Sabbath was reckoned from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. See also Luke 4:16; Colossians 2:16; Hebrews 4:4
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work— neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates.
The Day of Preparation for the Sabbath (Friday)
Mark 15:42 parallel Luke 23:54; John 19:31
The first day of the week (Sunday)
Acts 20:7 See also Mark 16:2 parallels Luke 24:1, John 20:1; Mark 16:9; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.
Festival days
Leviticus 23:5–6 Passover and Unleavened Bread; Leviticus 23:27–28 the Day of Atonement; Leviticus 23:34–36; John 7:37; Numbers 28:26 the day of firstfruits
Day as a point in time
The day of salvation
2 Corinthians 6:2 See also Isaiah 25:9, Isaiah 49:8
For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!
God sends the day of disaster
Deuteronomy 32:35; Jeremiah 17:18, Jeremiah 51:2; Mark 13:19
God helps on the day of distress
Psalm 86:7 See also Genesis 35:3; 2 Samuel 22:19 parallel Psalm 18:18; 2 Kings 19:3–4 parallel Isaiah 37:3–4; Psalm 94:13; Jeremiah 17:17
In the day of my distress I call on You, because You answer me.
The final days of time
The last days
Acts 2:17–18 See also Joel 2:28–29; Isaiah 2:2 parallel Micah 4:1; Hosea 3:5; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:2; 1 Peter 1:20
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
The day of the LORD
Isaiah 13:9–11 Jeremiah 30:7–9; Zephaniah 3:16–17; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12; Joel 2:1–2; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:14–15; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10
Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming— cruel, with fury and burning anger— to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.
The last day
John 6:39–40 See also John 11:24, John 12:48
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
References to specific periods of days at the end of history
Daniel 12:11–12; Revelation 11:3, Revelation 12:6
God's different perception of time
2 Peter 3:8 See also Psalm 90:4
Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.