ἡμέρα

hēméra

G2250 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A period of daylight, day; also a cycle of a full 24 hours; figuratively, a distinct period or era as marked by particular events. The primary sense is 'day' as the interval from sunrise to sunset, but by extension also denotes a calendar day, and figuratively refers to particular times or defined epochs depending on context.

Semantic Range

daylight, calendar day (24-hour period), daytime, a specific date, an appointed or festival day, a figurative period or era, a time characterized by particular events or qualities

Root / Etymology

From the root ἡμερ-; possibly related to ἦμαρ (earlier epic/Ionic for 'day'); ultimately of pre-Greek origin. Strong's linked to ἑδραῖος ('stable, seated'), but this is likely folk etymology; actual etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἡμέρα usually refers to the period from sunrise to sunset, distinguishing it from νύξ ('night'). By metonymy, it came to denote a full 24-hour period, especially in technical or official contexts such as legal documents, calendars, and narratives requiring precise timekeeping. In the Septuagint, ἡμέρα often translates Hebrew יוֹם (yom), carrying over the semantic flexibility, sometimes referring to a daylight span, sometimes to 'a day' as a calendar unit, and sometimes to a figurative epoch (e.g., 'in the day of...'). In the New Testament, ἡμέρα retains both literal and metaphorical usages: it may refer to ordinary days, particular festival or Sabbath days, or symbolically to periods ordained for judgment or salvation ('the day of the Lord'). English translations usually render ἡμέρα as 'day,' but this may obscure contexts where it refers to an era or significant, defined period. Unlike the modern, strictly quantitative 'day,' ἡμέρα in ancient sources is context-dependent, and at times includes only partial days when counting intervals, as in Jewish or Roman reckoning. Its oppositional use with νύξ ('night') further clarifies whether the term conveys daylight hours or a calendar day.

Translation Consistency

primary "day" 386 occurrences

'day' is the primary, natural English equivalent for ἡμέρα covering daylight, a calendar/24‑hour period, and figurative eras. It is by far the most common rendering ("day"/"days" in the source data) and will allow consistent, natural inflection across all forms.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"court" (1x) "daytime" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine (with ὥρα implied) of a derivative of (to sit; akin to the base of ἑδραῖος) meaning tame, i.e. gentle; day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context):--age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.

Root Family

ἡμέρα (hēmera) — day, daylight, period

Root ἡμερ- day, daylight, period

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2250-05 ἡμέρας emeras N ACC F PL days days days 127
G2250-01 ἡμέρᾳ emera N DAT F SG day in a day in a day 106
G2250-04 ἡμέραν emeran N ACC F SG day a day a day 58
G2250-03 ἡμέραις emerais N DAT F PL days in days in days 49
G2250-02 ἡμέραι emerai N NOM F PL days days days 26
G2250-06 ἡμερῶν emeron N GEN F PL days of days of days 22

Occurrences in Scripture

388 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2250-03 Matthew 2:1 ἡμέραις emerais N DAT F PL the days in days in days
G2250-03 Matthew 3:1 ἡμέραις emerais N DAT F PL days in days in days
G2250-05 Matthew 4:2 ἡμέρας emeras N ACC F PL days days days
G2250-01 Matthew 6:34 ἡμέρᾳ emera N DAT F SG day in a day in a day
G2250-01 Matthew 7:22 ἡμέρᾳ emera N DAT F SG day in a day in a day
G2250-02 Matthew 9:15 ἡμέραι emerai N NOM F PL days days days
G2250-01 Matthew 10:15 ἡμέρᾳ emera N DAT F SG day in a day in a day
G2250-06 Matthew 11:12 ἡμερῶν emeron N GEN F PL days of days of days
G2250-01 Matthew 11:22 ἡμέρᾳ emera N DAT F SG day in a day in a day
G2250-01 Matthew 11:24 ἡμέρᾳ emera N DAT F SG day in a day in a day