Hebrew · Strong's H6256
עֵת
(ayt)
noun, feminine
עת (ayt) refers to a point in time, a season, or a specific duration, often emphasizing opportune or appointed timing.
The Hebrew word עת (ayt) commonly denotes "time" in a general sense, but often carries the nuance of an appointed, opportune, or specific moment. It can refer to a particular point in history, a season of life, or a designated duration for an event. Unlike some other Hebrew words for time that emphasize the flow or progression, עת often highlights the specific instance or period. Its versatility allows it to describe various temporal aspects, from the daily to the eschatological.
This term is frequently used in contexts where God is actively working in history, marking out specific "times" for His plans to unfold. It can point to an urgent, immediate call for action, as well as a pre-ordained future event. The concept of "appointed time" suggests divine sovereignty and purpose behind the unfolding of events, reinforcing the idea that God is in control of all periods and seasons. It often highlights the rightness or suitability of a particular moment.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 famously illustrates the wide semantic range of עת by juxtaposing many pairs of activities, each appropriate for its own "time." This passage emphasizes that there is a divinely ordained order to all aspects of human experience, and each event has its proper season. This highlights a theological lesson: acknowledging and living according to God's appointed times brings wisdom and peace. Similarly, prophetic texts utilize עת to indicate the specific timing of judgment or salvation, underscoring the certainty of God's promises and warnings. The "time of the end" is a significant concept often conveyed by this word, pointing to climactic eschatological events.
Common English renderings
- time
- season
- tide
- when
Key verses
"Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son."
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"a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace."
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"It is time for Jehovah to work; Forthey have made void thy law."
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"And some of them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed."
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"And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps; and I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil."
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